Immunity is threatened not only by lack of sleep and poor nutrition. Stress, bad habits, and gastrointestinal dysfunction have the greatest impact on the body's protective forces, experts claim.
The Main Enemy of Immunity — Stress
General practitioner Denis Kondratiev notes that lack of sleep, bad habits, and hypothermia undermine the immune system. However, stress takes the lead among the factors that weaken the body's defenses:
"While poor nutrition and bad habits can be controlled, stressful situations daily erode immunity. To maintain protective forces, the body needs rest, a change of activity, and avoidance of tense situations," he explained.
A Healthy Gut — The Key to Strong Immunity
Therapist and pharmacologist Andrei Kondrakhin emphasizes the role of microbiota: bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli, and bacteriophages train the immune system and protect the body from pathogens.
"Excessive consumption of unhealthy food overloads the gastrointestinal tract, causes food stagnation and intoxication, which weakens immunity. Chronic stress can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, where the immune system starts attacking its own tissues," the doctor noted.
As a supportive measure, Kondrakhin recommends Chaga mushroom: it is used as an immunocorrector and helps the body resist diseases, including cancer.
Hormones and Stress: How They Affect the Body's Defense
The immune system is closely linked to the endocrine and nervous systems. Sex hormones and cortisol can suppress immunity, while growth hormone, insulin, and thyroid hormone can stimulate it.
Doctor and nutritionist Olga Polyakova adds:
"Frequent stress increases cortisol levels, which reduces immune protection. Vitamins and quitting bad habits won't help without reducing stress. We need to change our reaction to stress so that the body can effectively defend itself."
A strong immune system can withstand long flights, changes in climate zones, heavy work, and psychological stress, remaining effective without additional interventions.
Source: mir24
