Keeping your immunity levels up can help maintain health and energy. A depleted immune system leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of diseases and maladies. There are several ways to boost your immunity and stay healthy.
Maintaining the body's immune system and at maximum efficiency is a very important keys to good health. Although this may seem like common sense many individuals have lifestyles that actually may suppress or even damage the immune system.

The body’s immune system's first line of defense is on the surface of the skin (oils) and in the mouth (saliva), eyes (tears) and nasal orifices. The goal is to fend off foreign and threatening organisms. Invaders getting past the initial defenses are attacked by stomach acid and intestinal bacteria.

Past these defenses, special cells are triggered whose function is to literally eradicate the bacteria. These, in turn, signal other cells to seek out and destroy the bacteria. Some cells are even genetically built to handle only specific attacks and will hunt out and destroy any foreign bodies or cells that the body does not recognize.

The body has very specific parts for the production of infection fighting cells:

• Bone marrow - produces white blood cells
• Thymus gland - produces T-lymphocytes for virus protection
• Lymph nodes - produce white blood cells
• Spleen - its white blood cells clean the blood of infection

If any of the defense centers are injured or not functioning properly, the effectiveness of the whole immune system is compromised and the body is made more vulnerable to invasion by dangerous organisms.

A fully working and maintained immune system will mean fewer illnesses, protection from cancer, slower aging, reduced stress, increased energy and quicker recovery.

The means to boosting your immune system is not a difficult one and it is not surprising that diet and exercise form key parts of the process.

Your diet should be well balanced and avoid as much saturated and polyunsaturated fats as possible with the exception of some fish oil such as tuna, mackerel etc whose oils can actually improve immune activity.

Fruits and vegetables form an important part of a well balanced, immune system boosting, diet. These contain Vitamin C and beta carotene both of which increase the efficacy of white blood cells. Citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, dark leafy greens, broccoli, spinach, red and orange sweet peppers are all good sources of Vitamin C and/or beta carotene.

Two additional ingredients in your balanced diet are garlic and yogurt both of which stimulate the macrophages (the cells that eat the invaders) and other cells targeting such things as viruses and cancer cells.

Regular, but moderate, exercise is vital in boosting the immune function as this will increase blood-flow and, thereby, accelerate the movement of immune cells around the body. This, in turn, will increase the production of endorphins which create an all round feeling of well-being.

Another spin off, from exercise, is to raise body heat and stimulate reaction from the immune system.

Avoid extremely strenuous exercise which can actually have a suppressing affect. Stress is also an immune system depressant and time should be taken each day to relax and meditate.

The consumption of alcohol and smoking are extremely toxic to the immune system though it is said that a little wine can boost resistance. Smoking should be avoided, and alcohol consumed in moderation.

Sleep is another important factor in bringing your immune system to its maximum efficiency for, in the deepest sleep, the pituitary gland increases production of the growth hormone which then stimulates the thymus gland. This gland has a key role in the immune system it that it ‘programs' the thymus mediated killer cells (T cells) which are the very root of the immune system.

The road to a strong immune system, good health and the ability to fight of the infections taking out everyone else, is a simple one. Follow it and you will immediately start to feel the positive effects and to know that you are also reducing your real age and, therefore, increasing your life expectancy. <

Lastly there is evidence supporting the claim that specific supplements can be useful in boosting immunity levels. It is important to retain a balance with supplements as very large doses can actually have an opposite effect and suppress the immune function. Make sure you inform your doctor about all the supplements you are taking.