The outbreak of the COIVID-19 pandemic has everyone
thinking more about their immune systems. Living a healthy lifestyle prior to
the outbreak meant eating right, having enough sleep, and staying active. Now, more
than ever, people need to focus on boosting their immune systems as well, to
ward off the coronavirus, and also to protect themselves from whatever is to
follow.
Practicing life extension techniques can strengthen your immune system and give it the boost it needs
to defend your body against the uncertainty of this quickly changing world.
How Your
Immune System Works
When it comes to warding off viruses and bacteria, T-cells
are primary players in your body’s defenses. Their job is to respond to foreign
pathogens, break them down, and remember how to fight them in the future.
Naïve T-cells react to new invaders and learn how to combat
them effectively. Once they’ve successfully destroyed a pathogen, they turn
into memory T-cells. Memory T-cells are then stored in your body and deployed
if you ever encounter that same pathogen again. For some diseases, this means
the next time you’re infected you’ll suffer much milder symptoms. For others,
it can mean a lifetime of immunity.
That’s why when you have the chickenpox as a child, you’re
immune to it for the rest of your life. Every time thereafter, when you
encounter the virus that causes chickenpox, your body remembers how to fight it
and can shut it down quickly and effectively.
Effects
of Your Immune System on
Longevity
As you age, your body naturally produces
fewer T-cells and proteins that support effective
immune function. The more viruses you encounter, the more naïve T-cells are
turned into memory T-cells. Without the same number of naïve T-cells, your body
can become inefficient at fighting novel pathogens.
Not only does cell production slow down, but existing T-cells become less effective as you age. Your body produces fewer proteins to help the T-cells
divide and conquer their foes. This leads to an increased susceptibility to
pathogens, even ones you’ve already encountered that your body knows how to
combat. Practicing proper life extension techniques can help to replenish the
nutrients to promote naïve T-cell production and boost protein development
within your body, leading to a stronger immune system.
Tips for
Maintaining a Healthy Immune System
There are several steps you can take to bolster your immune
system and live a much longer and
healthier life.
- Healthy eating
- Adequate sleep
- Managing stress
- Taking vitamin supplements
Much of your immune system is located in the gut. Maintaining a healthy diet is
key to keeping the microbiome in your
digestive system strong and happy. Consistently getting enough sleep will help
your body maintain a natural rhythm, and managing stress levels can help boost the production
of infection-fighting T-cells.
Taking vitamin supplements can help to replenish the levels of nutrients and proteins
that your body can no longer produce for necessary T-cell production,
strengthening your immune system and leading to a long, healthy life.
Boost
Your Immune System with Life Extension Practices
It’s only natural that your body slows down as you age, but
that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. Practice life extension
practices such as maintaining healthy eating habits, getting enough sleep,
managing stress levels, and taking the proper supplements to boost your immune
system and protect yourself from pathogens. Most people practice some sort of
longevity principles, but in the era of COVID-19 and all the uncertainty it
brings, it’s more important now than ever to focus on strengthening your immune system for both longevity and whatever
might come next.
