Our immune system is like a strong and silent warrior, working quietly in the background to fight off germs, bacteria, and foreign invaders that can make us sick. The functioning of the immune system is complex and there are still many elements of this intricate system that researchers are trying to understand. But the current pandemic has brought more attention to the immune system than ever before, as people around the world focus on their health and look for ways to strengthen their body\u2019s defense against infection.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no magic pill, trendy diet, or healthy habit that will prevent someone from contracting a virus or possibly becoming ill. And while certain lifestyle factors\u2014such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and stress management\u2014can all play a role in improving overall health and wellness, there is no way to actually \u201cboost\u201d your immune system.<\/p>\n
Leading a healthier life, in general, will lead to a healthier, stronger body and in turn, a healthy immune system. But eating leafy greens and staying hydrated alone, while admirable, is not the only way to ensure your body is in fighting form to ward off pathogens. In fact, there\u2019s a growing amount of evidence that suggests one of the keys to improved immune support may be in our cells.<\/p>\n
Mighty Mitochondria<\/span> The mitochondria are involved with many essential processes that support the immune system, including: the activation, differentiation, and survival of immune cells\u2014such as Natural Killer Cells (a type of white blood cell that is tasked with fighting aggressors), Macrophages (defensive cells within white blood cells that attack and destroy invaders), and T-Cells (immune response cells that fight infection).<\/p>\n Because the role of the mitochondria is so critical to the immune system, keeping them healthy and happy is important. When we\u2019re young, our mitochondria are highly efficient\u2014we have a lot of energy, we recover more quickly from injuries and illness, and we\u2019re able to bounce back from a strenuous workout in a more timely fashion.<\/p>\n But like everything else in our bodies, the mitochondria can become less efficient with age. After we hit 30 years of age, our mitochondrial function can decline by about 10% with each passing decade.<\/p>\n The Role of CoQ10<\/span> Naturally, this would mean that as people age\u2014to support their overall health and their immune system\u2014they should supplement their diet with CoQ10. This is fairly accurate, for most people. However, it\u2019s important to identify the right type of CoQ10 for your body. Most CoQ10 supplements on the market are too large to penetrate the mitochondrial membrane effectively. As a result, the majority get absorbed into the bloodstream, rather than inside the mitochondria (where it is needed most).<\/p>\n
\nInside the majority of our body\u2019s trillions of cells are tiny organelles called mitochondria. The mitochondria are responsible for converting the air we breathe and the food we eat into energy the body needs to power everything it does to stay alive and well, including organ function, physical activity, recovery processes, digestion, hormones, sleep, and brainpower (to name a few). The mitochondria is often referred to as the \u201cpowerhouse\u201d of the cell because it is responsible for powering so many important elements of the body\u2019s processes that are crucial to life. And while many people may remember learning about the mitochondria in junior high school biology class, most people are not familiar with how these powerhouses are linked to immunity.<\/p>\n
\nAn important role of the mitochondria is to produce an enzyme called CoQ10, which is an antioxidant that helps create cellular energy and neutralize excess free radicals. Free radicals are the by-product of the energy generation process. And since the mitochondria are at the center of this process, they\u2019re more exposed to free radicals than the rest of the cells. In an effort to protect themselves, they line themselves with CoQ10. But if the mitochondria start to slow down, so does the body\u2019s production of CoQ10. And, as levels of CoQ10 decrease, several detrimental activities can occur within the mitochondria, including:<\/p>\n\n