Due to the recent pandemic, more and more focus has been directed towards our immune system and how to make it as strong as ever!

The immune system protects the body against disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies and attacks a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, while distinguishing them from the body’s own healthy tissue.

Not surprisingly, the typical American Diet does not support a strong Immune System.  A line of evidence suggests that unhealthful foods — fatty, salty, sugary, processed foods — may disrupt the body’s defenses in a way that promotes inflammation, infection, autoimmune diseases and even illnesses like cancer.

Your gut wall houses 70 percent of the cells that make up your immune system, and these beneficial bacteria appear to prefer certain foods — such as fiber and the complex carbohydrates found in vegetables and whole grains — and dislike others, such as refined sugar and (according to some experiments) saturated fat.

When the immune system gets stuck on a slow, endless burn it is unable to perform these lifesaving reactions as efficiently as it would like. In an ironic twist of biology, one of the consequences of an immune system that never takes a rest is that it may be asleep when it’s really needed- like now!

Your goal should be to adopt a lifestyle that strengthens your immune system year-round, not just when a new virus or illness rears its ugly head.

The following are simple steps that should always be followed to strengthen your immune system:

•   Don’t smoke

•   Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

• Exercise regularly.

•   Maintain a healthy weight

•   If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.

•   Get adequate sleep.

• Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.

• Try to minimize stress.