Does Your Immune System Need Extra Support?
Read Below to Find Out!
Whether it’s fall, winter, spring or summer, your immune system works around the clock to protect the health of your body. However, immune challenges can be unpredictable and a number of lifestyle factors (both within and without of your control) can negatively impact the health of your immune system.
The good news is that there are scientifically proven ways to give your immune system the additional support it needs and deserves, helping it stay strong and healthy — and you feeling and performing your best.
How do you know if your immune system needs extra support? Determine if your body’s natural defenses could use added immune support.
1. Are you under a lot of stress?
Whether it’s your job, finances, family, current events or life circumstances, after so long, stress and anxiety begin to wear your immune system down. Cortisol, which is that main hormone released when you’re stressed, suppresses all nonessential functions, including your body’s immune response, along with your digestive and reproductive systems. But it’s only meant to last a short period of time.
According to the American Psychological Association, short-term stress can be beneficial to the immune system; however, long-term chronic stress alters your immunity, suppressing your body’s natural defense system and leaving you more vulnerable to unhealthy outcomes.1
If you’ve been under a lot of stress, or life’s just hectic, consider giving your body the immune support it needs to keep you going.
2. Do you eat a diet of mostly plant-based whole foods?
No? You’re not alone. Plant-based foods, such as whole grains, beans, legumes, fruits and vegetables, are rich in fiber. However, studies show that 95% of Americans don’t consume enough daily fiber (which experts say is 21-25 grams for women and 30-38 grams for men).2
Fiber is considered a prebiotic, or nutrients that feed and promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria living in your gut, which play a crucial role in regulating your body’s immune response. Meanwhile, there’s no fiber in meat, poultry or dairy products, so if you’re not eating plenty of plant-based whole foods, your immune system could probably use some added support in the from a supplement.
3. Do you receive adequate amounts of sleep throughout the week?
Studies show that lack of sleep weakens the body’s immune response similar to stress, dysregulating the normal production of immune cells and important proteins, called antibodies, that help defend against harmful substances.3 Therefore, if you’re not getting the CDC recommended 7 hours or more of sleep a night then you may want to consider giving your immune system a little extra support.
4. Do you move your body the recommended 150 minutes per week?
Researchers have discovered that regular aerobic exercise strengthens your body’s immune defenses. A review published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science found that moderate exercise (under 60 minutes) increases the circulation of leukocytes and other important white blood (or immune) cells. It also verified that routine physical activity enhances the body’s immune response over time.4
Reversely, inactivity can contribute to a weakened immune response.5 The CDC recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, if you’re not able to make that (for whatever reason) – your body might need additional immune support.
5. Does your diet consist of a variety of fruits and vegetables?
Nutrition also plays a big role in the health and function of your immune system. A diet full of a range of fruits and vegetables ensures that you’re receiving the right vitamins and minerals, including zinc, beta-carotene, vitamins A, C and D, to support your body’s natural defense system. A diet lacking in proper nutrients can hinder the production of white blood cells and antibodies.
While most of us would benefit from eating more fruits and veggies, it can be difficult to get all of the nutrients the immune system needs to stay healthy. If you’re not consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, consider using a daily supplement to support your immune system.
6. Do you spend the majority of your time indoors?
Vitamin D can help boost your immune system, while a deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with a weakened immune response.6 The best source of vitamin D? Sun exposure. Plus, researchers now believe that the low levels of blue light found in sun rays may energize important immune cells, called T cells, which play a central role in the body’s immunity.7
In addition to sunlight, spending time in outdoor green spaces, like forests and parks, strengthens your body’s natural defense system. Inhaling phytoncides (chemicals released by trees and plants) has been shown to increases the number of natural killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cells partly responsible for eliminating harmful substances, in the bloodstream.8
Giving your body extra immune support when you’re stuck inside, or aren’t able to spend much time in the sun, is a great way to help your immune system stay strong and healthy.
7. Are you a smoker?
Smoking, including vaping, weakens the immune system. There are over 7,000 chemical compounds in cigarette smoke — many of which interfere with the body’s natural defense system. Nicotine in particular is known to act as an immunosuppressant that can lead to decreased immune cell activity.9
If you’re a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your overall health; however, we know it’s not always easy. Whether you smoke currently, or smoked for years in the past, chances are your immune system is in need of extra support.
The bottom line: Given the unpredictable nature of immune challenges, almost everyone’s natural defense system could use additional immune support throughout the year. But choosing the right support for your immune system can be overwhelming. Look for food and dietary supplements containing IMMUSE™ (LC-Plasma).
Backed by science, IMMUSE™ stands out for its proactive, comprehensive immune support at the cellular level. The novel food and dietary ingredient is the first strain of lactic acid bacteria (think probiotic) clinically shown to directly activate a rare subset of immune cells, called pDCs, that act as leaders of the immune system. In return, pDCs help prime some of the most important immune cells for stronger defenses.
For more comprehensive immune support, click the button below to find products with IMMUSE™.
Where to Find Products with IMMUSE™
1Miller G E and Segerstrom S C, Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130(4) 601–630.
2Quagliani D and Felt-Gunderson P, Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap, American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2017 Jan-Feb; 11(1): 80–85.
3Besedovsky L, et. al. Sleep and immune function. Pflugers Arch. 2012; 463(1): 121–137.
4Niemana D C and Wentzb l M, The compelling link between physical activity and the body's defense system. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2019 May; 8(3): 201-217.
5Nieman D C, Coronavirus disease-2019: A tocsin to our aging, unfit, corpulent, and immunodeficient society. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2020 Jul; 9(4): 293–301.
6Aranow C, Vitamin D and the Immune System. J Investig Med. 2011 Aug; 59(6): 881–886.
7Phan T X, et. al., Intrinsic Photosensitivity Enhances Motility of T Lymphocytes. Scientific Reports. 2016 Dec 20; 6, 39479.
8Li Q, Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Jan; 15(1): 9–17.
9Qiu F, et. al., Impacts of cigarette smoking on immune responsiveness: Up and down or upside down? Oncotarget. 2017 Jan 3; 8(1): 268–284.
