The amino acid arginine is essential for generating nitric oxide within immune cells, which is an important defence molecule against organisms.
There are many ways we can support our microbiome through the foods we eat. For example, Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, has an anti-inflammatory effect in the gut, which can help boost the body’s immune function.
Smoking affects both innate and adaptive immunity, causing it to both overreact to pathogens and lower it’s immunity defences. Alcohol has also been shown to increase susceptibility to both bacterial and viral infections.
Stress is another factor known to have a large impact on the immune system. It isn’t just chronic stress that suppresses the immune system either – even brief periods of stress can worsen immune function.