Immune molecule deficiency increases risk of Epstein-Barr

‘ WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) — Researchers from the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, have found a genetic immune disorder causing increased risk and poor control of Epstein-Barr virus and EBV-associated cancer. The team studied two unrelated sets of siblings with uncontrolled EBV, which developed into Hodgkin’s lymphoma in three of the children. Researchers found the cause of their disease was a lack of the CD70 protein, which is found on the surface of different types of immune cells. The children also…

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Bask in the sunlight to energise your immune cells

Bask in the sunlight to energise your immune cells Apart from helping for a healthier living by producing vitamin D, getting some sunlight may also energise T cells — immune cells — that play a central role in fighting infections in the human body, a study has found. “We all know sunlight provides vitamin D, which is suggested to have an impact on immunity, among other things. But what we found is a completely separate role of sunlight on immunity,” said Gerard Ahern, Associate Professor at the Georgetown University in…

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How to Boost Your Immune System at Every Meal

Your immune system’s not a muscle, but you should treat it like one. The same things you focus on when it comes to bulking up, like diet, exercise, and sleep, also play a big role in fending off colds and the flu. But, unlike the radical diet you might adopt to help speed up the six-pack process, the trick to using food to keep your immune system strong is balance, says Heidi Skolnik, a sports nutritionist and author of Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance. Foods with Vitamin C: 5 Nutrient-Rich Dishes…

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Amelia Freer: What to eat to boost your immune system for winter

Time to bulk up (in a good way): don’t scrimp on food and keep your vitamin intake topped up to avoid coughs and colds As the weather turns colder and the nights draw in, the season of coughs and colds begins. Now is the perfect time to build up your body’s natural defences, by following my simple tips: Are you eating enough food? Under-nutrition (often a result of juice fasts and crash diets) suppresses normal immune function. Don’t gorge, but eat a well-balanced, adequate and nourishing diet full of hearty…

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Chronic Anxiety After Stress Linked to Immune System

Immune cells in the spleen can contribute to prolonged anxiety following psychological stress, new research has found. The abundance of white blood cells in the spleen could be sending messages to the brain that result in behavioural changes long after experiencing repeated stress, the study conducted in mice showed. “Our findings emphasise the possibility that the immune system represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of mental health conditions,” said Daniel McKim from Ohio State University in the US. In this study, the scientists determined that the immune cell…

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High-Fat Diet During Pregnancy May Impact Baby’s Gut, Immune System

Women consuming high-fat diet during pregnancy may increase the risk of affecting bacteria living in her baby’s gut thus impacting proper development of the immune system, says a study. The results showed that expecting mothers’ diets can lead to distinct changes in their babies’ microbiome, which could affect energy extraction from food as well as early immunity development. “Diet is very amenable to change and women are highly motivated to make healthy changes during pregnancy. Traditionally, dietary interventions during pregnancy have focused on micronutrients, such as iron and folic acid,”…

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