6 Everyday Choices That Quietly Weaken Your Body’s Immunity (2 of 4)

Living With Constant Stress

Stress is unavoidable, but how much you accumulate and manage it makes a big difference. When your body stays in a constant state of “fight or flight” mode, it can release cortisol continuously, which is the stress hormone. Over an extended time period, cortisol can suppress immune responses and increase inflammation, making it much more difficult for your body to fight off infections.

The most dangerous part is that many people don’t recognize that they are under chronic stress until it starts to show up physically, in ways like fatigue, tension, frequent sickness, or changes in mood. Taking breaks to rest, practicing mindful techniques, and finding and maintaining emotional boundaries are all methods that can help bring your body back into a balanced state.

Eating Too Much Processed Foods

Convenience foods are everywhere we look, but they are often not healthy options. They may be easy to grab, but this choice comes at the expense of immunity and overall health. Diets that are high in saturated fats, refined sugar, or additives can be disruptive to the gut microbiome, which is the ecosystem of bacteria that regulate digestive health and overall immunity.

A damaged and weakened gut lining can allow toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream easily, which can be the dangerous trigger for inflammation and overactive immune responses. The solution to this is to gradually replace processed foods, meals and snacks with whole foods like fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and legumes. This will help to restore the balance in your gut that is key to keeping your immune system strong.