OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE State of mind is a powerful weapon against infection
To stand the best chance of beating harmful viruses, now’s the time to start strengthening your immune system
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f the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that we have to be prepared. And that means getting in the best shape possible to deal with whatever life decides to hurl in our direction. The best chance we have of combatting any bacterial or viral onslaught comes from deep within, from a complex defence mechanism known simply as the immune system. Every minute of our lives, we are bombarded by viruses, fungi and bacteria that can make us ill and, simplistically, it is the job of our internal network to sift through the trillions of micro-organisms in the body, working out which are good, which are harmful and which can be nurtured. When it’s doing its job properly the immune system – comprising white blood cells, antibodies, the spleen, bone marrow, thymus, and the complement and lymphatic systems – ignores the good bacteria and targets the bad, remembering them in case they return. However, fighting these pathogens is hard work, and we can make it easier – or more difficult if you are a heavy drinker, smoke, use drugs, or are obese – for our immune systems to perform as it should. But there is no quick, easy fix. Despite what you may have heard, putting sage between your toes every night doesn’t really work. Neither does rubbing garlic into your eyes. And neither does the notion of increasing our immunity. That would mean increasing the number of cells in our bodies – and that can do more harm than good. What we need to do is maintain the immune system’s strength to enhance its ability to stave off infection, and the easiest ways to do that are having balanced diets, exercising, sleeping well, and managing our mental health.
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