Boosting the immune system is all the rage these days. When the reality of our potential weakness to invisible bugs becomes the issue at the top of our minds, it makes sense that the next logical step is to figure out how we can make our defence system as robust as possible.
The defence system we are talking about is our immune system.
Many fitness gurus, Instagram pages, and YouTubers will be sending you different ways to boost your immune system. They will offer workout programs, diet plans, and even “magical” elixirs.
But how safe is it to boost the immune system? Is there a limit to these efforts where too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing?
Immunity Backfiring
Our immune systems are complex and work best when a myriad of signals and responses work together to eliminate foreign pathogens from the body. In the ideal situation, you want your body to send just the right amount of a response to the crisis hot spot, enveloping the foreign invader in pathogen-fighting juices and killing it before it can proliferate and cause any real damage.
There are some interim processes that occur, such as inflammation, and fever, which all signal that the body is working hard to send make your internal environment uncomfortable for the pathogen.
Sometimes these efforts backfire and cause something called a cytokine storm.
Cytokine Storm
Cytokines are one of the many proteins that are involved in our regular immune responses. These particular proteins are responsible for the inflammatory response to foreign invaders.
In some cases, these proteins can be released in excess, and the inflammatory response is actually overwhelming for the body. This is especially worrisome in the case of coronaviruses like the novel coronavirus, SARS, and MERS.
By overproducing inflammation and creating these cytokine storms, the body is actually over-reacting to the virus and this allows the virus to proliferate. This is why very young people typically experience little to no symptoms to COVID-19, as their immune systems are less developed and so they have less of a response from the cytokine proteins.
The upside
“Boosting” the immune system to a level where it is able to get out of control is actually really difficult. A lot of our immune strength is based on genetics and how many pathogens our immune system has already come into contact with (our adaptive immune system).
In fact, many of the “immune-boosting” remedies out there are not supported by science. They certainly will not make you immune to the coronavirus.
The One Vitamin We Should All Be Focusing On
Research suggests that if we want to boost our immunity against the coronavirus we should be getting adequate levels of vitamin D. The research shows that vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a greater risk of developing respiratory infections.
For optimal health, aim for 25-100 micrograms of vitamin D/day.
With the summer sun making its way back to the northern hemisphere we will not need to supplement vitamin D. While we wait for the temperamental spring weather to pass, it is best to supplement with a good quality vitamin D supplement.
Should you worry if you have been trying to boost your immune system?
The short answer – No.
Chances are the immune-boosting activities you have been participating in – such as exercise, meditation, consuming foods high in probiotics, or even drinking turmeric elixirs – have helped the body keep chronic inflammation at bay, and have supported natural levels of gut bacteria that support the immune system.
Avoiding these chronic levels of inflammation is a great way to make sure the body delivers just enough inflammation to incoming pathogens. However, every individual’s immune response will vary. So there is no need to stress about whether or not you are doing “enough” to strengthen your immune system.
Author: Riley Pearce
riley.pearce.fff@gmail.com
Director of Social Media & Marketing
