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Ever since Covid-19 became a constant in our lives, it has become nearly impossible to ignore the news of “immunity boosters”. There is an increased market demand for substances that claim to boost your immune system. Whether it’s a new morning ritual of lemon in warm water, immune health beverages, or popping supplements like Vit C and Zinc at the first sign of a cough, people are suddenly aware of their ‘immune strength,’ and some are even going an extra length to fortify their immunity as much as possible. Several studies have been done on immunity boosters like vitamin C, vitamin D, and Zinc along with certain herbs. While some studies showed promising results, it is also important to note that these supplements should always be taken under the supervision of experts to avoid any side effects. Thus, the question remains- can supplements boost immunity and prevent Covid-19?
To answer this question, it’s important to understand how our immunity develops. The immune system is a complex network of immune cells (such as monocytes, neutrophils, B and T cells) and proteins derived from these cells (such as cytokines or antibodies). The combined functions of these cells and proteins comprise our immunity. Although immune cells begin to develop while we are still in utero, it takes several years for a competent immune system to develop. From the moment we are born and exposed to the outer world, a lifelong process begins during which the immune cells learn about which cues (or antigens) they need to respond. Simultaneously, immune cells are educated on how not to react to certain cues, such as self-antigens or food antigens that we frequently encounter. This balance, called self-non self-recognition, is paramount for appropriate immune function.
In addition to triggering and mounting immune responses, the immune system is also adept at knowing when to stop such reactions. Once the pathogen it is fighting is cleared, the immune system resolves the immune response and generates a few memory cells for future encounters. This phenomenon is referred to as the resolution of the response. The combination of recognition and resolution is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis or returning to the status quo. Failure to do so has dire consequences and may result in the body attacking its own components, resulting in autoimmunity. Autoimmune diseases can range from Type 1 diabetes, where the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas are targeted for destruction, to multiple sclerosis, in which the protective myelin sheath around nerve cells is damaged by immune cells, to inflammatory bowel disease, where the gut immune cells react to environmental triggers and cause intestinal damage. Thus, strengthening your immunity doesn’t just mean constantly fighting targets with ferocity but striking a balance.
To arm our immune systems to fight Covid-19, vaccination should be our utmost priority. Vaccines can boost immunity by creating and expanding a specific population of lymphocytes that are better at recognizing a particular pathogen prior to the actual exposure. They can act faster once the pathogen is (re) encountered. The severe form of Covid-19 is nothing but a highly aggressive immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in which numerous immune cells (from a competent ‘strong’ immune system) get highly triggered. This overwhelming response leads to the production of large quantities of cytokines, known as the ‘cytokine storm’.
This article states that the goal should be to desire a healthy immune system, not a trigger-hungry “strong” one. To develop a healthy and balanced immune system:
Consistently eat a balanced diet rich in macro and micronutrients so that your immune cells can get the raw materials they need to function.
Consistently incorporate physical activity in your routine to keep stress levels low and improved circulation to optimize immune surveillance and minimize the accumulation of toxic free radicals.
You have probably heard this about a hundred times now, but wash your hands! All Viral diseases can temporarily weaken the immune system and make us more susceptible to other diseases. Hence, handwashing is instrumental in preventing that.
While consuming supplements (such as Vitamin C and Zinc) for a healthy lifestyle is fine, don’t overdose on them to cure Covid-19.
Tricks for quickly improving immunity are just that-Tricks, just like brushing twice before you go to the dentist. No matter how much you brush, if you have consistently neglected your teeth, you can’t brush away cavities, and it won’t take more than one look for a dentist to know what you’ve (not) been up to. Instead, take the long route and be consistent. Your immune cells will thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own opinion.
