Building a Healthy Offensive: The Physical and Mental Benefits of a Strong Immune System

Immune System Basics

The body’s ultimate defense system discriminates between native cells and foreign particles (bacteria, viruses) that can cause disease—mounting a
quick, broad response to attack and clear what it perceives as harmful, then aiding in subsequent tissue repair.

Innate, or natural, immunity: The defense system we are born with.
Adaptive, or acquired, immunity: The defense system our bodies develop by being exposed to a disease or after being vaccinated.

“In this post-pandemic world, a top-notch immune system matters more than ever—not just physically, in terms of safeguarding against illness, but emotionally, for strength, resilience and hope.”

– Paris Kharbat, DO

Meet Your Microbiome

70% of our immune system is in our gut; this is referred to as the microbiome. “Because the gut bacteria, known as microbes, are fueled by our food, we literally are what we eat,” says 98point6 physician Paris Kharbat, DO. “And our microbiome, which can be altered, good or bad, directly impacts our immune response.”

Good for the microbiome

Yogurt with active cultures
“Eating the rainbow” of fruits and veggies
Fermented foods like kefir, kimchi and tempeh
Polyphenol-rich food and drink like cocoa, almonds and green tea
Practicing relaxation techniques
Intermittent fasting

Bad for the microbiome

Alcohol and smoking
Disrupted sleep patterns
Unnecessary antibiotics
Artificial sweeteners
“Junk” food void of nutrients or fiber
Stress

Stress, Immunity & You

Chronic stress, which involves consistently heightened levels of the hormone cortisol, negatively impacts body functions, including digestion and sleep (both of which have a definite effect on the microbiome!). This would explain why long-term stress—like the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic—can be detrimental to our immune health.

Know the nutrients C, D and Z—and where to get ’em

WHY:

Vitamin C neutralizes unstable compounds in the body; it can also help prevent or reverse the cellular damage these “free
radicals” cause. Vitamin D has been proven to enhance our natural defense mechanisms pertaining to respiratory health. The effect
of Zinc on immune cells has also been well-documented, with one study¹ showing a connection to the immune cells that respond fastest to infection.

HOW:

Foods high in Vitamin C include veggies broccoli, kale, cauliflower, bell peppers, sweet potatoes and tomatoes, and fruits like orange, kiwi, papaya, cantaloupe and strawberries.
While food like egg yolks, beef liver and fatty fish (salmon or mackerel) provide Vitamin D, the best source is the sun, through approximately 15 minutes of UVB rays a day. It’s OK to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes and face, but aim to expose one-third of your body to get the necessary dose. If you plan to stay out longer, use sunscreen.
Good sources of Zinc include oysters, red meat and poultry, as well as beans, nuts, crab and lobster.

Get a better night’s rest

WHY:

Sleep resets our bodies and minds. Because stress negatively affects the time we actually spend sleeping (known as “sleep efficiency”) vs. tossing and turning, we end up with less of the deep, restorative sleep needed for daily recovery. One study² showed that volunteers who averaged less than seven hours of sleep a night were nearly 3x as likely to get an infection; those with poor sleep efficiency were 5.5x more likely.

HOW:

Avoid caffeine after lunch, and try to avoid nicotine and alcohol near bedtime.
Turn off screened devices 30 minutes before bed.
Set your bedroom temperature lower, or take a hot shower or bath before bed. This increases heat loss, which helps the body fall asleep more easily.

Laugh out loud. (Really!)

“Isn’t a real, good belly laugh 2–3 times a day what we all need right now?” says Dr. Kharbat. “Medical evidence backs this up, so go for it…doctor’s orders!” Laughter incites physical changes in the body that stimulate vital organs and circulation and release chemicals that fight stress, pain and illness. One study³ found an increase in natural killer cell activity, a vital part of our innate immune system responsible for killing virally infected cells, after participants watched a comedy.

¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9701160
² Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Alper CM, Janicki-Deverts D, Turner RB. Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to
the Common Cold. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(1):62–67. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.505
³ https://sci-hub.tw/10.3892/ijmm.8.6.645

We’re here for you

If you’re experiencing symptoms, want to explore testing options or just have a COVID-19-related question, 98point6’s virtual clinic is available 24/7 from wherever you are.

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We’re serious about our commitment to providing you with the most up-to-date, credible information so you can feel empowered in your decision-making—and social sharing.

1 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6926e3.htm
2 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340050986_The_Impact_of_Cross-Cultural_Differences_in_ Handwashing_Patterns_on_the_COVID-19_Outbreak_Magnitude
3 https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818
4 http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/new-ihme-covid-19-forecasts-see-nearly-300000-deaths-december-1
5 http://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-1495

This resource was put together using expert guidance from 98point6’s board-certified physicians and the latest information from the CDC.