How Strong is Your Immune System?

How strong is your immune system? Unfortunately it can be hard to tell until it's too late and you're out of commission.

Immune health doesn't have to be a mystery, however; there are plenty of indirect ways to measure your body's ability to keep well, including taking an inventory of possible stressors.

The following indirect immune indicators can help you get a sense of how your immune system is coping (or not) with incoming attacks:

Dental health - Irritated gums, bad breath (if you're not sure about yours, just ask your sweetie), and tooth decay don't just indicate a need for more mouthwash. Dental health is a strong indicator of overall immune health and inflammation levels. If your mouth is struggling, chances are your immune system is too. 

Dehydration - Water helps your body to flush toxins. Without water, cells struggle to function properly and become more vulnerable to bad guys. If you're prone to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and dark colored urine, reassess your water intake. Just be sure to limit drinking water during meals, as it dilutes digestive juices and can lead to indigestion.

Sugar Cravings - If you're craving sugar, you're probably already eating too much of it. The damage isn't just to your waistline either. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating 100 g of sugar significantly hampered the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria for up to 5 hours.

Alcohol & Caffeine Use - Even one glass of alcohol can depress your immune system. This means if you like a glass of wine at the end of the day, or tend to be a social drinker on the weekends, your immune system is working hard (as well as your liver). Alcohol and caffeine also strip immune supporting B & C vitamins, so be sure to tank up if you've been relying on coffee, tea, or evening cocktails.

Sleep Deprivation - If you've been skipping your zzz's, your immune system is already at a disadvantage. University of Chicago researchers found that men who had slept only 4 hours a night for 1 week produced half the amount of flu-fighting antibodies in their blood (jump-started by a flu shot) compared with those who slept 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours.

Excess Weight - It's no secret extra pudge does nothing for good general health, and immune health is no different. Excess weight can cause hormonal imbalances and inflammation that impairs the immune system's ability to fight infection. Just one more reason to jump on the treadmill!

I know, I know, takes all the fun out, doesn't it? Not to worry, you don't have to give up all your wild and wicked ways, you just have to give your immune system some extra help keeping up germ removal.