Nutrition and Immunity

Immunity helps the body to fight infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi and defends the body for proper functioning. Immune function can be impaired by immunodeficiency ( a state whereby the body's ability to resist and fight infection is compromised or completely absent).

While malnutrition is a risk factor for immunodeficiency, we all need to get it clear that undernutrition and overnutrition are the forms of malnutrition. Malnutrition arises either from deficiencies or excesses of specific nutrients or from undiversified diets (wrong kinds or proportion of foods), (FAO, 2007). This is to say that overnutrition and obesity impairs immune function even as undernutrition do. Interestingly, in our world today, we have what is called the double burden of malnutrition, which means that there is co-existence of obesity/overnutrition and undernutrition within populations.

A positive change in immune system function can be conditioned by good nutrition. Good nutrition, in terms of balance and adequacy (especially appropriate proportion of vitamins, minerals, and protein intake) can help boost and restore immunity.

A pandemic in a population can be contained by herd immunity, whereby a large proportion of the population has strong immunity and are unlikely to continue transmission of contagious diseases, which either stops or slows down the spread of diseases.

Immunity should be a fore-front motivation for seeking good nutrition. Consume a balanced and adequate diet (note the underlined). An adequate diet is the diet exclusively for you. Talk to the nutritionist at Dexadiet for a guide on diet adequate for you. PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW...