THE PARADIGMATIC ROLE OF RIGHT DIET & NUTRITION FOR AN AMELIORATED IMMUNE SYSTEM

J. C. Balachandar*, M. Jayachandran and Irshad Ahamed

ABSTRACT

The immune system is the body‟s way of protecting itself from infection and disease; it fights everything from cold and flu viruses to serious conditions such as cancer. Eating enough nutrients as part of a varied diet is required for the health and function of all cells, including immune cells. Certain dietary patterns may better prepare the body for microbial attacks and excess inflammation, but it is unlikely that individual foods offer special protection. Each stage of the body‟s immune response relies on the presence of many micronutrients. Examples of nutrients that have been identified as critical for the growth and function of immune cells include vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein (including the amino acid glutamine). They are found in a variety of plant and animal foods. The microbiome is an internal metropolis of trillions of microorganisms or microbes that live in our bodies, mostly in the intestines. It is an area of intense and active research, as scientists are finding that the microbiome plays a key role in immune function. The gut is a major site of immune activity and the production of antimicrobial proteins. The diet plays a large role in determining what kinds of microbes live in our intestines. A high-fiber plant-rich diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes appear to support the growth and maintenance of beneficial microbes.

Keywords: nutrition, immune function, infection, diseases, dietary patterns and flu viruses.