Thousands of microbes enter the body every day, but not all of them lead to disease. This can happen because of the immune system, a strong defense system that our body protects itself from. This is because various types of immune cells distributed inside the body, such as white blood cells, phagocytes, T cells, and B cells, protect the body from antigens coming in from outside. Since immunity, which plays such an important role, is greatly affected by daily lifestyle, it is important to understand the factors that weaken immunity and to continuously improve it. So today, let’s take a look at various habits that lower immunity. Habits that lower immunity
1. Eating too much sugary food
The first habit that causes a decrease in immunity is the habit of consuming too much sugar-rich foods. When fatigue or stress builds up, there are cases where we eat too much sugary food to relieve it. When you eat too much sweet food, the function of white blood cells, which are immune cells in your blood, decreases. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consuming about 100 g of sugar significantly reduces the ability of white blood cells to remove bacteria, and it is reported that this phenomenon lasts for up to 5 hours after ingestion.
2. Habit of overeating and eating late at night
Excessive intake of sweet foods as mentioned above, as well as the habit of eating large amounts of food or having a late-night snack before sleeping, can also cause the immune function to decline. Maintaining these eating habits increases the chances of increasing fat accumulation in the body and causing problems with insulin secretion, which in turn increases the likelihood of causing confusion throughout the immune system. In addition, these problems of fat accumulation and insulin secretion are essential risk factors for hypertension, diabetes, and various adult diseases, so they must be improved.
3. Habit of not drinking water often
When a certain amount of water is consumed, normal metabolism and blood circulation are achieved, and waste products from the body are smoothly discharged. Therefore, if you do not drink too much water, you will have a problem with the excretion of waste products and toxins from your body, and it may even affect your immune system. However, if you drink too cold water frequently, it can cause indigestion by lowering the activity of enzymes in the body, lowering the temperature of the body organs and lowering the reaction rate, thereby lowering the immune function. Therefore, it is recommended to drink lukewarm water frequently.
4. Excessive stress
Excessive mental and physical stress adversely affects each part of the body to the extent that it is called the root of all diseases. When excessive mental tension and stress persist, the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal cortex rapidly increases, and the autonomic nervous system is disrupted, which can significantly lower the immune function. Therefore, it is important to properly relieve and relieve stress through a balanced balance of rest, sleep, and leisure activities, and it is important to find the cause of stress and improve it as much as possible.
5. Lifestyle that does not see too much sunlight
Lifestyle patterns that do not get too much sunlight can also be a cause of lowering immune function. When exposed to sunlight, the synthesis of vitamin D occurs inside the body, and this smoothly synthesized vitamin D helps the thymus to produce immune cells. In addition, exposure to sunlight releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter called happiness hormone, which plays an important role in improving depression and sleep disorders. Therefore, it is recommended to be exposed to the sun for 20 to 30 minutes a day. And while sunscreen protects the skin from UV rays, it is not recommended to apply it when you are in the sun for sunbathing.
6. Excessive use of mouthwash
I use mouthwash after eating or when my mouth feels stuffy. When using mouthwash, it has several effects such as refreshing the mouth and removing bad breath, but if used excessively, it removes all the beneficial bacteria inside the mouth, making it vulnerable to infection. Therefore, it is recommended to limit excessive use of too many times and use it 1-2 times a day. In some cases, mouthwash gargle is used instead of brushing teeth, but it is recommended to use it as a supplement to brushing instead of brushing.
Other Habits to Watch out for In addition to the various habits introduced above, dry nose and mouth can also cause a decrease in immune function. This is because dry nose and mouth create an environment that makes it easier for viruses and bacteria to invade. Therefore, it is necessary to properly control the indoor temperature and humidity, which causes dryness of the nose and mouth, and in case of dryness due to a disease, it is recommended to receive appropriate treatment. In addition, the habit of pushing too much dirt in the bath and the habit of selling earwax frequently are also habits that lower immunity, so be careful.
We learned about various habits that affect the lowering of the immune system. I hope that the various information introduced will be helpful and I hope you have a healthy and happy day today.
