Exercise Gives your Immune System a Boost!
Copyright (c) 2006 DBA AdPro Media Sales, All Rights Reserved
Written by: Kamau Austin
Health and Fitness Vitality
http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com
Sounds like the latest tabloid headline, doesn't it? But it's
not. It's the truth and it's just one more reason why you need
to find time to work a bit of exercise into your daily routine.
Read along to learn more about the benefits of exercise on your
immune system.
Why should I care about boosting my immune system?
Whenever you have a cold or the flu, or whenever you cut
yourself, your body's immune system immediately kicks into high
gear. The immune system is a fairly complex system of organs and
cells spread throughout your body. It's the system that's
responsible for identifying and for fighting off foreign invaders
such as bacteria, parasites and fungi. Without an immune system,
your body would have little chance of remaining healthy. When
your immune system becomes compromised, diseases like cancer and
AIDS can take over.
No matter how old you are, you've probably heard that it's
important to exercise regularly. You understand that exercise is
necessary for maintaining proper weight. You might even
understand that exercise is an excellent way to help reduce your
stress levels. But one thing you might not realize about exercise
is that it also plays a role in keeping your immune system
healthy.
How exercise helps your immune system
Exactly how exercise keeps your immune system strong and healthy
is an area that is beginning to be studied in earnest. Scientists
have known for years that exercise helps strengthen the immune
system; they just haven't been able to figure out exactly how it
does so.
Exercise helps lift your mood, relieves anxiety and depression,
and promotes sociability, so one area that's being studied is a
potential connection between the central nervous system and the
immune system.
Another area of study is focused on the effects of exercise on
individuals with already compromised immune systems. One such
study involved women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast
cancer. Results of this study suggested that women who became
involved in moderate exercise a few times each week after
completing breast cancer treatment actually were able to bring
their immune cell counts back up to 'normal' levels. Their
immune systems also made more lymphocytes (white blood cells) and
had lower levels of inflammatory markers.
More is Not Better!
Contrary to what you might think, exercising longer and more
strenuously won't make your immune system better and stronger.
What is most effective when it comes to giving your immune system
a boost is moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or
bicycling performed 3 or 4 times per week. Believe it or not,
more exercise than this can actually cause the immune system to
weaken. How could this be?
The reason really isn't that complicated. When people exercise
strenuously, their bodies begin to release cortisol and
adrenaline. If you don't know what cortisol and adrenaline are,
well they're more commonly referred to as the 'stress'
hormones. The release of these two hormones can cause an increase
in your blood pressure and an increase in cholesterol. And just
as dangerous, they can cause the immune system to become
suppressed. Their release is the reason why individuals who
participate in endurance or extreme exercise are more susceptible
to infection.
Exercise can combat the effects of age
Besides foreign invaders and excessive exercise, the aging
process can also cause your immune system to become compromised.
A compromised immune system later in life can bring on the
symptoms of several age-related diseases including macular
degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have also shown
that a physically active lifestyle all throughout life can help
prevent age-related declines in certain antibodies that are
produced by the immune system. And once again, the type of
exercise does not matter.
In addition to incorporating exercise into your daily routine,
take a look at Immunitril(tm). It's an herbal supplement that
may also help give your immune system a boost. You won't find
Immunitril(tm) in your grocery store, though. Right now it's
only available at select e-tailers and online stores like
Amazon.com and BODeStore.com. If you'd like more information,
simply visit Amazon.com and search for Immunitril(tm).
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Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice
and is for general information only. Always seek the insights
of a qualified health professional before embarking on a health
or fitness program.
Written by the V-Team courtesy Kamau Austin Publisher. The
V-Team writes articles for the health and fitness enthusiast.
Their timeless health and fitness tips are at the Fit After
Forty Blog. See more useful news and tips on supporting our
immune systems with Immunitril(tm) at
http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm
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