Levelling the Balance

We know that negative emotions don’t feel good, and the immune system agrees. Anger has been shown to increase the production of inflammatory proteins, while stress and low psychological well-being increase the risk of autoimmune disease.

What to do

Honouring negative emotions and processing them through a healthy medium is helpful, whether that’s seeking counselling or practising healthy lifestyle habits at home, including the following.

• Enjoy laughter therapy, as simple as watching funny movies, to activate genes involved in the natural killer cell immune response and to decrease inflammatory proteins.
• Try your hand at mindfulness meditation to reduce inflammation and improve immune cell defence.
• And if that’s not your cup of tea, hypnosis and guided relaxation also significantly modulate the immune response and increase T immune cell production.

Fuelling the fire

We Canadians—champions of poutine and maple syrup—consume sugar, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats just like our neighbours to the south. The eating patterns of the “Standard American Diet” cause immune dysfunction by inducing a state of chronic inflammation, which primes the pump of inflammation-driven conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and atherosclerosis. Chronic inflammation, in turn, weakens the immune system’s ability to fend off infections.

What to do

Feed your immune system with nutrients required for immune functioning.

• minerals zinc and selenium
• vitamins A, C, D, E, and B vitamins including folic acid
• fibre

Load half your plate with veggies and leafy greens. Plant-based foods are rich in many of these nutrients, along with prebiotic fibre. Fibre protects against food allergies, reduces susceptibility to pathogens, speeds the resolution of influenza infection, and protects against immune-associated disease.

Remember, only nourish your body with foods it can tolerate. Foods your body is sensitive to, whether identified or not, can exacerbate inflammation and dysfunction in the gut, which can contribute to autoimmunity.

Smooth moves

While the jury is still out on the intensity of exercise that is best for the immune system, what we do know for sure is that both gentle exercise and regular moderate exercise are beneficial. There is a theory that intense exercise depresses the immune system, but more detailed study is needed before drawing conclusions, as any negative impact to the immune system might speak more to lifestyle factors common among athletes and military personnel (travelling, sleep disruption, anxiety, etc.).

Exercise also helps circulate lymph (fluid made up of white blood cells, proteins, and fats) throughout the body via the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes in the lymphatic system are involved in fighting infection, quelling inflammation, and maintaining self-tolerance. If you are differently abled and struggle with physical movement, try dry skin brushing to encourage lymphatic circulation.

What to do

Be sure to include at least 150 minutes per week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in your schedule. Gentle exercise can also be helpful; the martial arts tai chi and qigong increase immune cell activity and have a moderate effect on the balance of T immune cells involved in autoimmune conditions.

Home base

Our environment holds a great deal of power in priming our immune system. Exposure to cigarette smoke, solvents, air pollution, and heavy metals increases the risk of autoimmune disease.

And we now know that endocrine-disrupting chemicals in commercial household cleaners, laundry detergent, and personal care products are pro-inflammatory and may be associated with the development of food intolerance, as well as metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

What to do

Keep your living space clean by dusting regularly, using air purifiers, opening the windows when possible, tending to water damage to stifle mold growth, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces during cold and flu season. Pay attention to disinfecting doorknobs, remote controls, light switches, fridge handles, touchscreens, and toys.

Sleep mode

Both sleep duration and quality are important for immune health. Getting enough sleep reduces risk of infectious disease and improves infection outcomes. Disturbed sleep also increases the risk of autoimmune disease.

What to do

Try some of the following sleep hygiene practices.

• Prioritize your bedtime routine to get enough sleep every night.
• Avoid screen time before bedtime.
• Engage in calming activities before bed (Epsom salt bath, puzzles).
• Darken your sleep environment completely (cover clock and lights).
• Wake and sleep at the same times each day.
• Cut back on daytime use of stimulants such as coffee/tea, pop, and chocolate.

If sleep hygiene practices aren’t cutting it, and sleep is still an enigma, that’s when consulting a health care professional can help.

Underlying causes of sleep problems, such as dysfunctions in 24-hour cortisol secretion, reproductive hormones, and vitamin D deficiency, can be identified and addressed with naturopathic tests and treatments.