How Does Nutrition And Exercise Affect Immunity - 1362 Words

How Does Nutrition and Exercise Affect Immunity? Page 1 Rebecca Massone Health 101-014 Nutrition is defined as the process of providing or obtaining the food essential for wellbeing and development. Immunity is the ability of a person to resist a specific infection or toxin by the action of particular antibodies or sensitized white blood cells. Both nutrition and exercise are key factors to a successful immune system. Additionally, the same type of relationship exists between the right amount of regular exercise and nutrition with a strong immune system. Although it is clear that nutrition and exercise positively impact one’s immune system, many do not know how and to what extremes. Each individual’s lifestyle should consist of†¦show more content†¦Minerals help cells work normally. Lastly, water transports nutrients to cells (Hernandez, 2010). The suggested amount of fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fats support efforts of the immune system to prevent or limit How Does Nutrition and Exercise Affect Immunity? Page 2 infectious processes and manage immune disorders and diseases (Baham Rush, 2008). In a nutritional diet, the average amount of vegetables per day is 2.5 cups, 3 cups of fruit, and 5.5 ounces of meat or beans. A high amount of protein deficiency can actually delete immune cells and not allow the body to create antibodies, which decreases cell mediated immunity. This particular type of immunity does not involve antibodies, but involves antigen-specific T-lymphocytes and other white blood cells. Baham Rush wrote, â€Å"Vitamins, minerals, and trace elements provide coenzymes for metabolic reactions important to the immune system and promote optimal levels of immune system cells such as natural killer cells, which target and eliminate bacteria† (2008). An increase of understanding what a nutritional diet consists of and following these guidelines can help an individual’s immune system. Not having the right nutrition such as obesity and fasting immensely negatively aff ect immunity. Bacterium in an individual who is obese is over 50% more than in a non-obese, or healthy person. 38% of these obese individuals showed an impairment of cell-mediated immune