Alcohol & Your Immune system: Effects, Ways to Boost Immunity

Did you know that viruses and bacteria multiply faster than the cells in your body? This is because these pathogens go through many generations quickly and eventually decipher ways to mutate and adjust in just the right way to bypass your defenses and then multiply again. Fortunately, your immune system is one of the most amazing things ever created. It is the second-most complex structure in the body after the brain.

As incredibly efficient as your immune system is, heavy alcohol drinking can put a dent in your immune function. You probably don’t think of your immune system when you drink alcohol. But it is important to understand the short- and long-term effects alcohol can have on your immune system, as elucidated in this article.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol on Your Immunity

Alcohol can affect your body soon after you start drinking it. Here are some short-term effects:

• Increased susceptibility to diseases: When you drink alcohol, your body prioritizes breaking down the alcohol. Consequently, this channels the energy needed for other critical functions, such as detecting and fighting diseases.
• Gut issues: Alcohol intake promotes gut inflammation and can cause an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut. This is the root cause of chronic disorders associated with alcohol consumption, such as liver disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome, etc.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Your Immunity

Over time, alcohol consumption can lead to long-term problems that could be more severe. These long-term effects include:

• Liver disease and failure: This is perhaps one of the best-known consequences of alcohol intake. The culprit behind developing liver problems is not the alcohol itself. Rather, when your body breaks down alcohol, substances are produced that can damage the liver cells. This can lead to inflammation, scarring of the liver, and eventually liver damage. This substance, called acetaldehyde, is more harmful than alcohol and can be produced in larger quantities than the body can handle.
• Septicemia: This is a severe infection caused by the entry of bacteria into the bloodstream. Alcohol can damage the gastrointestinal tract barrier, allowing the easy invasion of bacteria and toxins, which can lead to septicemia.
• Respiratory Complications: Your respiratory tract comprises a structure called the cilia. This functions like a vehicle that carries the mucus toward the throat and prevents bacteria and particles from entering the lungs. Alcohol intake impairs ciliary function, which permits mucus to enter the lungs, causing pneumonia. Alcohol can also weaken the respiratory epithelial barrier function. This can lead to bacterial infection of the respiratory tract.
• Slow wound healing and the development of Cellulitis: Alcohol can hinder the ability of your body to recover from wounds or injuries. It also renders your body more vulnerable to developing cellulitis and infections at surgical sites.

Factors That Influence The Effect of Alcohol On Your Immune System

The following factors influence how much damage alcohol can cause to your immune system:

• Amount of alcohol consumed: Heavy drinking obviously has a more negative impact than moderate drinking on the immune system.
• How often you drink alcohol: A person who drinks alcohol daily will more likely experience weakened immunity than someone who drinks occasionally or sparingly.
• Type of alcohol: Alcoholic beverages contain varying percentages of alcohol present; the ones that contain only pure ethanol in high percentages can cause more damage. Also, alcoholic drinks that contain compounds that suppress the effect of ethanol cause less damage.
• Gender: Although women are more susceptible to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, men are at higher risk of developing infections. This is why men are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular complications compared to women due to higher estrogen levels.

How to Naturally Boost Your Immunity

Your greatest defense warrior, the immune system, protects you from known and unknown infections, usually without your knowledge. Therefore, the following will help boost your immune system:

• Get adequate amounts of sleep and healthy nutrition.
• Reduce the consumption of alcohol and smoking.
• Use an immune-boosting supplement such as NATURE’SFIELD IMMUNE DEFENCE ADVANCE to enhance your immunity against invasion by harmful pathogens.

Most people think that once they feel strong, it means their immune system is working optimally. This is not always true, as your immune system might be fighting internal battles and often needs reinforcement. Thus, incorporate NATURE’SFIELD IMMUNE DEFENCE ADVANCE to curtail the effects of weakened immunity.