Our immune system needs to be alert at all times, supervising different types of invasions to the body. The most important factor in keeping the functioning of the immune system proper is our diet. During peaks of infection, the immune cells may require higher amounts of basal energy to keep up, thus making the need for a proper diet more apparent.  In case, the diet does not suffice; the immune system starts to fulfill its requirement from endogenous sources; i.e the body storage.

Micronutrients and their specific roles

Micronutrients have specific roles when it comes to maintaining the immune system, and hence, one needs to be careful about eating habits. For instance, amino acid arginine is required to generate nitric oxide by macrophages; which suppresses over responses of the immune system such as inflammation. Be sure to include these in your daily diet!

Undernutrition and its impact

Even a single nutrient can be responsible for multiple immunological issues. For instance, Vitamin E plays both - a role of an antioxidant in the body as well as inhibits protein Kinase C activity. On the other hand, iron supplements are shown to increase the mortality of people in malaria-endemic regions.

Nutrition has a key influence on our immune system all through our lives. It always helps to have an in-depth understanding of the role of nutrients in immune functions, so that individuals can fulfill these requirements in order to improve their health.