Disease can occur both when immune cells are overly active and when they are insufficiently active. Balance is the key.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about “boosting” the immune system. Rather than settling for balanced immunity, a push for enhanced immunity is often seen, with numerous social media posts promoting supplements and life hacks that claim to “boost the immune system” to maintain health and prevent illness.
However, these assertions lack scientific backing and contradict what is known about immune function. Healthy immune systems do not need to be “boosted.”
Optimal function is achieved when the immune system is perfectly balanced.
Scientific experts, or immunologists, recognize that excessive immune reactions can lead to allergies, autoimmune disorders, or chronic inflammation, while insufficient immune reactions can result in illness or infection.
A delicate balance is essential for the immune system to operate properly. Imbalance within the immune system itself can lead to disease.
Cellular balance
The immune system serves as the mobile defense mechanism of the body, consisting of a complex network of cells and organs that collaborate to protect against infection and disease. Immune cells constantly patrol, traveling throughout the body to identify infectious invaders and damage.
New immune cells are produced in the bone marrow. Among these, B and T cells are the special forces of the immune system, playing a crucial role in eliminating infectious invaders. Due to their vital role, these cells undergo rigorous training during their development to ensure they do not mistakenly attack healthy cells.
Any B cell or T cell exhibiting self-reactivity, or activity against the body itself, is eliminated during training. Millions of newly created B and T cells are destroyed daily because they fail this training process. If these self-reactive cells evade destruction, they could initiate inappropriate autoimmune attacks against the body.
Research investigates how B cells manage to bypass the immune system’s checkpoints designed to guard against autoreactivity. These tolerance checkpoints ensure that autoreactive immune cells are either eliminated or held in permanent lockdown, preventing inappropriate responses that could target healthy tissue.
More isn’t necessarily better
Advertisements for dietary supplements often promise to “boost immune function.” While appealing, it is essential to understand that the immune system operates best when perfectly balanced.
The immune system can be compared to a thermostat. Overactivation leads to uncontrolled inflammation, while underactivation results in a failure to respond to infections and diseases.
Maintaining immune balance is critical, and using supplements to alter the immune system is not advisable unless a clinical deficiency in certain vital nutrients is present. For those with healthy nutrient levels, taking supplements can create a false sense of security. The fine print on supplements often includes the disclaimer: “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
Eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress, and getting adequate sleep can help maintain a functional and healthy immune system. Though not foolproof, these lifestyle behaviors contribute to overall good health and, ultimately, a healthier immune system.
Vaccines are the only safe and effective tool beyond healthy lifestyle behaviors to support the immune system. Vaccines contain harmless forms of pathogens that train immune cells to recognize and fight them. When contact with the real pathogen occurs later, these trained immune memory cells immediately begin to fight and destroy the pathogen, sometimes so quickly that infection is not even noticed.
In a world constantly bombarded by the marketing mantra that more is better, rest assured that for the immune system, maintaining perfect balance is just right.