Improving Immunity in the Elderly: Nutrition, Antioxidants, Mental Health, Lifestyle, and Exercise

October 22, 2023

If the body's immunity is low, there will be health problems, especially for the elderly. Due to aging, their body functions gradually decline, and their immune system weakens even more. If you want to maintain a healthy body in old age and avoid frequent diseases, in addition to taking good care of your health when you are young, you also need to pay attention to maintaining and improving your immune system in old age. So, how can the elderly improve their immune system?

Pay attention to balanced nutrition intake

Adequate nutrition intake is the foundation for improving immunity. For the elderly to improve their immune system, they should first ensure an adequate intake of protein, vitamins, minerals, calcium, iron, selenium, chromium, and other trace elements every day.

Foods rich in protein: milk, soy products

Foods rich in vitamins: various fresh green leafy vegetables and fruits.

Foods rich in trace elements: dairy products, meat, beans, and seafood.

Eat more antioxidant foods

The free radicals produced in the human body can damage the immune system in cells. As people age, the antioxidants in their bodies gradually decrease, resulting in the accumulation of free radicals, which can easily affect health. Therefore, the elderly should eat more antioxidant foods to supplement antioxidant elements, eliminate free radicals, and enhance the immune system.

What are antioxidant foods: potatoes, green tea, citrus fruits, milk, cauliflower, fish, wheat, watermelon, tomatoes, strawberries, etc.

Focus on mental health and maintain a happy mood

The immune system of the human body is distributed with nerve fibers in all tissues and organs, and all nerve fibers are commanded by the brain. Therefore, brain activity directly affects the function of the immune system. Maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude helps promote the growth of immune cells, effectively stimulate the vitality of the immune system, and fully protect the body. Therefore, the elderly should maintain a happy mood and a positive attitude towards life every day, which is helpful for improving immunity.

Develop good lifestyle habits

Poor lifestyle habits and behaviors are factors that can cause a series of diseases, including cancer. If the elderly are in a negative state for a long time, this negative factor will have a long-term effect on the body, stimulating the immune system, and disrupting normal physiological functions, leading to a decline in immunity. Therefore, the elderly should develop good lifestyle habits, balance work and rest, maintain regular daily routines, and stay away from bad habits.

Engage in appropriate exercise to enhance vitality

The elderly should engage in moderate exercise within their capabilities every day, which is beneficial for improving central nervous system function, heart nutrition and lipid metabolism, promoting blood and body fluid circulation, metabolism, delaying tissue aging, and immune system function decline.

What are good foods for the elderly with low immunity?

Hawthorn

Eating hawthorn helps digestion and can protect the cardiovascular system, reduce blood pressure and blood lipids, have antibacterial and anti-tumor effects, eliminate free radicals, and enhance immunity.

Garlic

Eating garlic can have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, protect the normal functions of the liver and cardiovascular system, regulate blood sugar, reduce blood lipids and blood pressure, and prevent arteriosclerosis.

Spirulina

Spirulina contains a protein content of up to 60%-70%, and is rich in carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C. It can correct acidic constitution and help improve human immunity.

Sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, which has anti-fatigue and promotes hematopoietic system functions. It can also protect the digestive tract, eliminate free radicals, improve the vascular system, and improve symptoms of low immunity.

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