Our human immune system, or defense system, protects the organism against external invaders and foreign substances. We also know it as the body's own defense, immune system, or health police.
Immune system & gut
What does our immune system do?
How can you actively support your immune system?
1. Get some fresh air.
Regular exercise gets the circulation going and keeps our mucous membranes moist. (See also point 4.) However, if you have symptoms of a cold, you should avoid strenuous exercise.
2. Wash your hands
Viruses are transmitted through handshakes or by touching door handles, shopping carts, etc. Avoid touching your face with your hands. Wash your hands several times a day with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (singing "Happy Birthday" twice is about 20 seconds).
3. Pay attention to your gut flora.
The gut and the immune system are closely linked. Approximately 80% of immune cells reside in the gut microbiome. A healthy gut flora is therefore extremely important for an effective immune system.
4. Drink enough fluids.
Heated air repeatedly dries out the mucous membranes in our nose and throat. Dry mucous membranes weaken the body's natural barrier against viruses and bacteria. Drink approximately 2 liters of water or unsweetened tea per day.
5. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
Alcohol weakens our immune system. Nicotine weakens the function of certain white blood cells. This makes it easier for pathogens to take hold.
Immune system = gut health
The engine of life
The gut is the engine of our lives. If it's not functioning properly, it affects our entire body. Our lifestyle is crucial to the health of our gut. Today's world is characterized above all by an overabundance of industrially produced foods and harmful environmental influences, which makes maintaining a healthy gut flora (microbiome) difficult. Numerous authors and scientists, such as Giulia Enders in " Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ" and Bas Kast with his " Nutrition Compass," have addressed this issue. They have been studying this problem for decades and have developed effective measures for maintaining a healthy gut flora. The large intestine, with its trillions of different microorganisms, is primarily responsible for making the various nutrients and vital substances from the food pulp available to the body. Unfortunately, this process is frequently disrupted by a wide variety of factors, which can lead to impaired detoxification of the body and poor absorption of essential nutrients.
What can I do to promote gut health?
A varied diet , avoiding chronic stress, and regular exercise can help keep the intestinal flora healthy.
What harms the gut flora?
Taking antibiotics damages the gut flora because it cannot distinguish between good and bad bacteria, thus destroying even the beneficial ones. Our diet also influences our gut flora. A diet often lacking in fiber, too high in animal fats and proteins, as well as containing emulsifiers and preservatives, negatively impacts our gut. Psychological factors such as stress can also affect our microbiome (gut flora). In such cases, the beneficial lactobacilli become scarce, allowing undesirable gut bacteria to proliferate more easily.
Why do you need a healthy gut flora?
First and foremost, we need our microbiome for the efficient absorption of vitamins and nutrients from our food. But our gut is also essential for other important functions, such as filtering out toxins, producing various fatty acids that we cannot obtain from food, and, last but not least, cleansing the intestines of fermenting food residues.
The intestinal flora can best cope with all these tasks when it is supplied daily with as many active intestinal bacteria as possible, such as lactobacilli, enterococci and bifidobacteria.