Hygiene and immune system
This affects the immune system indirectly. By paying attention to thorough hygiene and, for example, washing hands thoroughly before every meal or after coming home, many opportunities for harmful microorganisms to infest the body are greatly reduced. This is because most illnesses are transmitted via the hands, e.g. if you do not wash your hands after using the toilet, as there are many germs, especially on the door handles, which can be transmitted to other people via the hands.
What are the special characteristics of babies and children when it comes to strengthening the immune system?
Babies and children cannot yet store so many vitamins and trace elements due to their not yet fully grown body. However, they have an increased consumption or need for most vitamins. A balanced diet that ensures a constant supply of vitamins is therefore particularly important for them.
If the need cannot be covered by the diet, the use of vitamin preparations as food supplements can be considered. There are numerous over-the-counter preparations in this category that prevent the consequences of a vitamin deficiency. On the other hand, babies and children are also more susceptible to overdosing on vitamins, precisely because their storage capacities are smaller and therefore filled up more quickly. In the case of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, which are more difficult for the body to eliminate, excessive intake is therefore often harmful to health. Consultation with a pharmacist or pediatrician can help to avoid overdoses.
Interesting facts about the topic
In childhood, when parts of the immune system are built up and therefore have to come into contact with microorganisms, a moderate germ load is advisable, contrary to earlier views. It can also be observed that a resident of the western world often develops travel diarrhoea (diarrhoea and vomiting) when visiting a so-called developing country, after having come into contact with the usually considerably lower hygienic standards. This means that because of the variety and harmfulness of the microorganisms in the country, the body’s own immune system must also develop and adapt in order to enable a healthy life despite the difficult hygienic conditions.
With the natives this adaptation has already taken place. Recent research suggests that many allergic reactions are due to an overactivity of a part of the immune system that is otherwise active in worm infections and other parasite infestations. For example, people who had intestinal worms in their childhood are less likely to suffer from allergies, even less in adulthood.It is assumed that this particular part of the immune system was evolutionarily accustomed to parasite infestation and in clean areas with non-contaminated, i.e. parasite-free water and food, it classifies harmless substances such as pollen dust or animal hair as dangerous and thus triggers allergies through its misactivation.
Also the smaller allergy rate of humans living in the country in relation to city humans was described in different studies. It can be held thus by the increased contact with germs, which are contained in the earth, in plants and animals, the immune system “in the bridle”. The topic of allergy impressively shows that the immune system with its principles and mechanisms has not yet been understood in its entirety and in its interactions with the environment despite the considerable research successes achieved so far.
Finally, the state of research is still very expandable and thus an effective, special strengthening of the immune system is not yet possible, even if intensive research is currently being done in certain areas of cancer therapy (immune cancer therapy). Nevertheless, a generally healthy lifestyle is in any case beneficial for the immune system.
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