1.What is immunity ? How do we measure immunity ? Can we really boost immunity ? Do herbs, vitamins, syrups etc boost immunity ? What can we do to have a healthy immunity?

A thread on immunity in covid times. It's general thread (exceptions always there)
Brace it, a long one

2. Immune system is not a single thing in body. It's a system. Multiple things happen in body to prevent us from falling ill. Body fights germs in multiple & different ways. There is no real way to measure immunity. You cannot really measure if it's low or has it been boosted

3. For eg : Immune system consists of multiple safeguards at entry points (every entry point has protection mechanisms, eg : skin, nose, mouth lining of food pipes, genital area linings etc), multiple type of cells & mechanisms (B cells, Tcells, antibodies, etc).

4.Many things work together to help you not get ill, but it's foolish to predict with perfection on who has good or low immunity or whether you can actually boost it. We just don't know to measure it. That is why experts laugh (or get angry) on immunity boosting claims in media

5. There is no definition of good or low immunity

Most times, it's not right to classify somebody as having good or low immunity based on minor issues like recurrent cold or allergies. Everybody is different & reacts differently to many things (like in covid)

6. Boosting immunity seems awesome. Everybody wants to boost immunity (more so in covid times). But unfortunately there is no clear research on how (or if) we can boost a complex multilayered immune system response or actually measure it. Then what do we do to prevent illness ?..

7. Our aim should not be to use 'incorrect term' of 'boosting immunity', aim should be to prevent illness. So what can you do to prevent illness or have less impact of illness ? Most important (and most difficult for people to follow) is to a have a healthy lifestyle.

8. Everybody should follow these steps for a reasonably good health (I hope you have got over immunity boosting by now)
No smoking, eat a diet high in fruits & vegetables, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, drink alcohol only in moderation, get good sleep, vit D..

9. How to prevent illness (continued) ?

..Good personal hygeine, wash hands, take vaccines where applicable, keep disease in check if treatment needed (eg : control sugar in diabetes), minimise stress if possible, avoid excessive cold temp / certain food, if that makes you ill

10. Boosting immunity - things not to do

a. Use term like 'boosting immunity'..see whole thread
b. Oversimplify immune system & say that a particular thing you did boosted it
c. Get fooled by herbs, vitamins, supplements claiming to boost immunity as shown on media

11. 'Boosting immunity'- 'Things not to do'..continued

d. Thnk that you haven't got covid (or only mild covid) due 2 something you took (turmeric milk etc).
e. Don't seem to justify that you were brilliant with your immunity boosting & others were morons. You were plain lucky

12. Also while we talk of immune system above, there are special cases

So called immunity boosting herbs may cause harm, eg : in autoimmune diseases
Many patients with complex illness may have more chances of catching infections

13. To summarise this thread on #immunesystem and #boostingimmunity

a 'Immunity boosting' is most times an incorrect term
b Immunity is complex. Different scenarios apply in people at different times. Don't simplify
c. Healthy lifestyle helps to prevent or cope with illness

14. To summarise this thread on #immunitybooster..continued

d. Don't fall for herbs, vitamins, claims to boost immunity
e. Don't post unproven claims of improving immunity
f. Vaccinations help providing immunity from certain diseases. Take as applicable. Eg : covid, flu etc
End