Immunologist Svetlana Chulkova has analyzed unexpected factors that undermine the body's defenses day after day. The list of main enemies of immunity includes not only alcohol and smoking, but also extremes in sports. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Main causes of weakened immunity
According to the doctor, there are several key reasons for weakened immunity. These include poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and excessive exercise.
Poor nutrition
A diet high in saturated fats, sugar, and salt is considered one of the main causes of weak immunity. According to the doctor, by consuming many processed foods and carbohydrates, people not only harm their immunity but also gain weight, which reduces the body's resistance to infections.
Smoking
Tobacco smoke not only irritates the respiratory tract but also prevents the exchange of "spent" air with fresh air during breathing. Therefore, smokers more often suffer from bronchitis, and their cough is familiar to many.
Alcohol
"Acetaldehyde is well known to everyone, the main metabolite of alcohol. You will be surprised, but it disrupts the natural defense against bacteria and viruses. In addition, alcohol prevents antibodies from attacking and destroying harmful 'invaders'," she explains.
Low physical activity
If you combine a sedentary job with a lazy "screen-side" lifestyle, the risk of weakening your immune system is very high. "Research results show that regardless of your age, gender, and habits, inactivity is the shortest path to inflammation and other chronic diseases," the immunologist emphasized.
Excessive exercise
However, the other extreme is also a bad path. Intense physical exertion is stress. "Yes, yes! It's not only mental health that matters. A large number of intense workouts, to the point where everything falls off, against a background of insufficient rest can lead to overtraining. This often leads to a weakened immune system and prolonged infections," the doctor explained.
Additional information
Earlier, Chulkova named the top 5 main mistakes when taking vitamin D. If the article causes you anxiety, discuss it with an artificial psychologist.