Immune Response and Aging – The Secret to Healthier and Longer Life

Lowering of immune response and aging take place hand-in-hand. The body’s immune response system is mainly responsible for keeping the body fit and healthy. However, with aging, immune system slowly looses its teeth, making the body more vulnerable to infections and sickness. That is why, older people fall sick more frequently than younger folks.

The loss of immune response in an aging body is mainly due to the cells losing their repair and replacement capacity. A number of cellular and biochemical changes also set in with aging that trigger hormonal and systemic changes in the body. Moreover, aging brings increased anti-oxidant activity in the body. All these factors contribute largely to immune response loss with aging.

Take the example of diabetes. Diabetes is associated with increased blood sugar, which causes significant changes in the blood biochemistry. Many cells and nerves in the body are damaged due to such altered biochemistry. A young person can have its cells replicate quickly and bear the damage. But an aged person’s cells do not have the capacity of such quick regeneration and repair. So his system is likely to be more affected. Lowering of immunity response is a common feature among diabetics, and aged people suffer more from its complications.

The immune response can be preserved longer despite aging through a number of ways. The most important is balanced dieting. The diets should be low in sugars, low in trans-fats and low in junk stuff. It must have a healthy mix of carbohydrates (particularly wholegrain carbohydrates), low fats, proteins (particularly derived from plants like soy, lentils and pulses and fishes), minerals and vitamins (from fresh vegetables, fruits and natural food supplements), dairy products (yogurt must), nuts in alteration, and lots of water to flush out the metabolic toxins.

The other important way is exercising. Exercise gives the muscles strength and flexibility, improves secretion of pleasure hormones, reduces antioxidant activity and gives strength to the heart. Exercise also improves blood circulation that helps the nutrients to easily reach different parts of the body. The ultimate aim is to keep the cells healthy and make them retain their normal functioning, which will keep the immune response strong and kicking.