Our bodies fight infectious diseases through the actions of our immune systems. When we recover, we often retain an immunological memory of the disease that enables us to fight off that same disease in the future.





This is how vaccines work, creating this immune memory without requiring getting sick with the disease.





If enough people develop an immune memory, then the disease like corona virus and other flu will stop spreading, even if some of the population is not immune. This is herd immunity, and it is a very effective way to protect the whole of a population against infectious disease.





How the immune system works?

The immune system is the body’s natural defense system. It’s an intricate network of cells, tissue, and organs that band together to defend the body against invaders.

These invaders can include bacteria, viruses , parasites, even a fungus, all with the potential to make us sick.





They are everywhere – in our homes, offices, and backyards.

A healthy immune system protects us by first creating a barrier that stops those invaders, or antigens, from entering the body. And if one slips by the barrier the immune system produces white blood cells and other chemical proteins that attack and destroy these foreign substances.





They try to find the antigen and get rid of it before it can reproduce, failing that the immune system revs up, even more, to destroy the invaders as they multiply.

elaborate defense system can keep health problems ranging from cancer to the common cold or other The immune system can recognize millions of different antigens, and it can produce what it needs to eradicate nearly all of them when it’s working properly, thiselaborate defense system can keep health problems ranging from cancer to the common cold or other deadly viruses.





Is it possible to ‘Boost’ the immune system?

The idea of boosting the immune system globally to make more resistance to everything or anything that might be out but there is really flawed.



Immune system very finely tuned. The difference immune cells are geared to recognize things in our bodies that are potentially harmful and to clear out those things.

“If they weren’t. We either wouldn’t be able to respond to the organism that might invade us. Or if our immune systems were active they attack our own tissue.”

The immune system attacking our own tissue is what happens in the case of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease.

Some research has investigated whether supplements with specific vitamins and nutrients may help protect against specific cold and viruses, but the world has seen to suggest that if the supplement is helpful they may do more in the way of reducing the severity of an infection or illness once you catch it rather than fighting it off in the first place.





According to the Yufang Lin, MD, what’s really important to remember about the novel coronavirus is that scientists hadn’t studied it before the outbreak at the end of 2019 and don’t yet have answers about whether or not certain remedies may or may not help.



Vaccines have not yet been developed or tested; there is no data to say that supplements that may have lessened severity, for instance of cold have the effect when it comes to COVID-19.





What makes up the immune system?

There are several components to the immune system. Some you will have heard of before but others are more obscure. Here is a brief summary of the different parts and the important roles they play in keeping your body protected:





Skin – the skin is a physical barrier that keeps bacteria and germs at bay. Tears and salvia offer further protection as they’re anti-bacterial so they can neutralize any invaders.



Mucus – Anti-bacterial, sticky mucus lines your lungs and thus catches germs and stops them from entering your bloodstream. Mucus is also found in your nasal passage and works in the same way.



Gut – Around 70% to 80% of immune system cells are found in your gut. It’s often a place where bacteria and viruses attack so it’s important that your gut is in good condition and has plenty of friendly bacteria at its disposal.





Lymph system – lymph system carries water, food, and oxygen to your cells and removes waste. It is made up if your bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

In your bone marrow, your body’s disease-fighting white blood cells are produced and released. There are many different kinds of leukocytes (white blood cells) but they all produce antibodies to fight off specific bacteria and viruses.



The main three types are granulocytes, lymphocytes (T-cells and B-cells) and monocytes.





Your spleen regulates how much blood is in your body and removes damaged cells. The thymus gland is where bacteria-fighting T-cells mature. It’s located behind your breastbone and in the front part of your chest.



It’s a vital part of a child’s immune system but is less important in adults. Lymph nodes are designed to detect any bacteria or infection in cell fluid and remove them. This can cause them to swell temporarily.





Can stress affect the way your immune system works?

Stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone that is important for the overall function of our body; but too much of it can lead to a number of health problems, including decreased immunity. “The high level of steroids can blunt your immune system”.



Some research suggests that optimism can actually make our immune system work better. The happier, or more positive you are, the more likely you are to eat right and be less stressed, which will help your immune system.”

Not getting enough sleep can wreak havoc on the body, and the immune system is no exception. Studies show that a lack of sleep may make you more likely to catch a cold and also makes it more difficult to fight off infection.





Vaccine play an important role in educating the immune systems

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against a foreign invader without actually infecting the individual with the disease. As a result, when the body encounters that infection in the future, it knows how to fight it off.





“Vaccines educate the immune system using a unique component of that pathogen so, upon exposure to that pathogen in the future, you have very minimal to no symptoms,”





What can weaken immune health?

You’ve likely been hearing that people with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions when it comes to avoiding COVID-19 risk. What makes one person’s immune system “weaker” than someone else’s?





There are several known factors that make it harder for our bodies’ immune systems to work at their best and fight off potentially harmful pathogens (like the new coronavirus). They include:

Smoking suppresses your immune systems and weakens your lungs, so people who smoke are more susceptible to having pneumonia or a viral infection.





Medications Some drugs can keep your immune system from functioning in the way that healthy people. “Immunomodulators, steroids, or medications for autoimmune conditions can suppress your immune system.



Age Young children can be more susceptible to catching viruses because their immune systems are still developing; it’s part of the maturation process, Lin says. As they grow older, children’s immune systems are exposed to different viruses, they become accustomed to being exposed to more viruses, and they become much more able to fight those off.





“But when they are very young, every time [children] see a new pathogen their body is mounting a significant response,”

Older people, too, tend to have weaker immune systems than other groups. Older people can have multiple chronic medical problems, says Lin. If the body is constantly dealing with a variety of medical conditions that can make it harder to fight off a virus. “

Along with that, as we get older our immune system gets a little bit weaker, and it can take longer for our bodies to mount a significant immune response when we get sick.





That gives the virus or infection more time to grow or to replicate, which could lead to more severe symptoms.



Malnutrition People who are malnourished are more susceptible to viruses and certain diseases. The deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals in the body keeps the immune system from functioning at its best. Replenishing those missing nutrients with supplements in those cases can help the immune system function in a healthy way and better ward off diseases and infections.









Also Read - Global Impact of Deadly Coronavirus

Some natural ways to strengthen your immunity

Building a strong immune system is your best defense against infectious illness and disease. Your immune health depends on the lifestyle choices you make every day.



By supporting your body’s own natural ability to defend itself pathogens, you will not only have resistance to colds and flu but to other infectious illness that comes your way.

Consume a diet rich in fresh, whole foods with abundant organic vegetables, and fruits, avoid sugar, chemical, and processed foods.



It is essential to give your body excellent daily nutrition to keep your immune system healthy and strong. Nutritional deficiencies make it easier for us to be susceptible to viruses and bacteria.



Make sure you have a variety of organic whole-foods including grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. It is vital to have a balanced macrobiotic/wholefood vegan diet with a variety of ingredients.





Many of us are attracted to eating snacks. Today many foods are highly processed and loaded with sugar such as biscuits, boxed cereals and juices. These additive rich foods will actually weaken the immune system.



Snacking can become problematic if you fill up on these 'nutritionally empty foods' and don't eat delicious healthy meals. Make sure to always have good quality snacks such as vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, rice cakes with spreads, sushi or roasted nuts and seeds.





Cold foods; excessive amounts of raw fruits and juices have a weakening effect on the immune system and should be eaten in moderation and only in hot weather, if at all. It is best to eat the whole fruit.

The greatest concentration of cells related to our immune system is in our small intestines. The healthy bacteria from fermented foods interact with the cells in our intestines in a way that has been shown to activate our immune system.