AMMAN — The
impact of a person’s lifestyle on their immune system can be fascinating. Experts
increasingly believe that factors such as diet, exercise, age, and stress prompt
immunological responses in people. As such, healthy life practices are proving beneficial
to immune function and come with other health advantages.
اضافة اعلان
Adopting
good and healthy habits can help the immune system function more effectively, nutritionist
Farah Khirfan told Jordan News.
“Food,
water, sleep, and exercise are the most essential factors that affect the
immune system of the human body,” she contended. “Many hormones in the body,
such as leptin and ghrelin, are affected by these four factors.”
She added
that ghrelin is linked to hunger, whereas leptin is linked to fullness. Sleep
deprivation has been linked to elevated ghrelin levels and decreased leptin
levels, resulting in increased hunger and appetite.
“The body
secretes growth hormones and dopamine during sleep, which impacts eating and
the immune system. Sleep prevents cortisol secretion,” Khirfan said.
According to
Khirfan, one of the pillars of a healthy life is regular exercise. It boosts
cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps with weight loss, and
protects against several ailments. Exercise can assist with naturally boosting
the immune system and maintaining its health. It can also contribute to overall
health and therefore a strong immune system.
“Exercise is
so important to boost the immune system,” she said. “It lowers the risk of
several diseases, including osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease. In
addition, it is suitable for people of all ages especially the elderly.”
People are
unaware of the impact of food on the body and that food is the basis for good
health, she added.
“Healthy
food is available in every home, and anybody can prepare it. Nonetheless, it is
important to pay attention to the amounts consumed and how they are prepared,”
Khirfan said. “All types of foods should be eaten, but in moderation.”
The
nutritionist stated that one of the most essential steps to take to improve the
immune system is to pay attention to how food is prepared. For example, instead
of consuming fried foods, meals can be made in the oven with healthy oils like
soybean oil that does not contain large amounts of fat. This helps reduce the
percentage of fat in the body and lower risk of diseases like high blood
pressure and heart disease.
“People who
eat large amounts of oils are at risk of having fat around their internal
organs,” said Khirfan.
Additionally,
she said, the body needs fat for energy, so people can replace unhealthy fats with
healthy fats, otherwise known as unsaturated fats. These fats are found in
abundance in a variety of foods, including avocados, olive oil, and peanut oil,
and help strengthen immune defenses.
“Healthy
fats should be consumed in different proportions according to the individual's
body,” according to Khirfan.
The
nutritionist said that “Everyone should pay attention to the nutrition label
and to the type of products you buy and the number of fats and salts in them.”
Khirfan also
advised people to refrain from consuming salt and to replace full-fat dairy
products with low-fat ones.
“Ginger,
honey, garlic, and onion are the foods that boost immunity,” she added.
She said
that a healthy immune system can defeat invading diseases, and during the
COVID-19 pandemic, everyone should take care of their body and must follow
health tips in order promote their immune system.
“Our immune
system is influenced by an ideal balance of many foods, minerals, and
vitamins that make it able to fight diseases,” Khirfan said.
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