(NaturalNews) From everyday airborne allergens to countertop bacteria, your immune system is a complex network that is constantly battling to keep you safe from countless pathogens. It's common knowledge that washing your hands before eating is a great way to help keep your immune system, because hand washing eliminates germs. Sometimes, though, we do things that weaken the immune system even though we're not fully aware that this is what we're doing. Enjoying a favorite food or beverage may remind you to watch your waistline. Many comfort foods and drinks are packed with fat and sugar. Naturally, this makes one think of the weight gain enjoying that certain food will bring. However, the effects of sugar and fat on the immune system may not necessarily dawn on most. A sedentary lifestyle, social isolation and even constipation can also weaken the immune system.

Eating fattening foods

Foods naturally rich in healthy fats, like avocados, walnuts and salmon, are actually beneficial. They provide healthy fat that nurtures your brain and body. Unhealthy fats are what can compromise the immune system. Foods like cookies, french fries and pizza are great examples of bad fat. The fat in these foods is not nutritional and leads to weight gain, high cholesterol and a compromised immune system. A thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy revealed that fatty food inhibits the body's ability to fight bacteria. In the study, mice fed a lard-based diet over an extended period became worse at fighting bacteria in the blood.

Eating too much sugar

Excess sugar consumption decreases immunity. Consuming 100 grams of sugar, equal to two and a half 12 ounce cans of soda, can reduce the germ-killing ability of white blood cells by 40 percent. After consuming sugar, its negative effects start suppressing the immune system in less than 30 minutes and can last up to five hours.

Ignoring constipation

A large part of your immune system is in your gut. Waste stuck in the intestine prevents adequate absorption of nutrients. If constipation is ignored and waste builds up over a long period of time, it can have detrimental effects on the immune system. A balance of good bacteria in the digestive system is a key factor in keeping a healthy immune system. Good bacteria help with digestion and the breakdown of food, and produces substances that fight pathogens, like influenza. Constipation throws off that balance of this good bacteria.

Being sedentary

One out of four American women don't exercise at all. A sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact your health in a large way. Exercise releases endorphins which help us feel happy, it also helps fight cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and even cancer. Exercise also helps the lymphatic system, which works with the immune system on a daily basis to help keep you healthy. The lymphatic system is made up of a series of nodes and vessels that filter lymphatic fluid. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system doesn't have a pump; for this reason, exercise is key to keeping the lymphatic system moving.

Being antisocial

Social interaction can improve your immune functions. Stress is taxing on the immune system. Frequent interactions in the community lead to a reduction in stress. Some studies reveal that the more human interaction we have, the more likely we are to live longer and healthier lives. One study monitored 276 individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 discovered that those who had six or more human connections were four times better at combating cold-causing viruses.

Click here for more about the immune system written by the author, Jeanette Padilla.

Sources:

http://www.prevention.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com

http://www.constipationexperts.co.uk

About the author:
Jeanette Padilla is an experienced herbalist, writer, and co-creator of Sunshine Natural Healing. Read more of her work at Sunshine Natural Healing, or follow her on Facebook