How Your Immune System Changes During The Summer Months

Do you find that you get sick less often in the summer?

Or have you ever wondered why “flu season” is a set period of time in the fall and winter?

After all, it’s not like you can’t get the flu outside of flu season.

There are scientific reasons for this and it’s all about how your immune system reacts to your environment.

As the summer approaches, you might be concerned about your immune system health.

But, the more you know about how your immune system works in different seasons, the more you can do to protect yourself.

If you want to learn more about your immune system and what you can do to boost your immunity in the summer, keep reading.

What Is DNA?

You’ve almost definitely heard of DNA before.

It stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and it stores your body’s entire genetic information.

The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).

There are around 3 billion bases in human DNA, and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in all people.

The order, or sequence, of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism.

So, when your body needs to make new cells, it knows exactly what is needed.

The field of DNA studies is vast and complex and we can only cover so much in this article.

If you have more questions about DNA, book an appointment with a naturopathic doctor in Toronto.

How Does Your DNA Shift As The Seasons Change?

But what does your DNA have to do with your immune system?

Well, there’s evidence to show that your DNA changes with the seasons.

For example, in the winter, your body increases genes that are connected to inflammation, to protect you from colds and the flu.

In the summer, genes that help regulate your blood sugar are more abundant.

A 2015 study found that around 25% of your DNA shifts with the seasons, which includes parts of the immune system¹.

Summer Immune System Tips

What do these DNA and immune system changes mean for you and your immune system in the summer months?

Here are some tips to harmonize your lifestyle with the changes that are happening to your immune system.

1. Eat Seasonally

You might notice that your cravings are different depending on the season.

If it’s cold outside, you might find yourself hungry for a warm, hearty meal.

And if it’s hot, you’d probably prefer a salad or an ice cream to a full roast.

These preferences aren’t a coincidence – they’re a biological response to the environment that you’re in.

For the healthier immune system in the summer, be sure to eat seasonally: summer fruits, like strawberries, or salads made from seasonal vegetables.

You’ll be more likely to enjoy these cold foods in the hot months, and you’ll be getting the nutrients you need for your immune system to protect you.

2. Soak Up That Vitamin D

Good news: studies have found that spending time in the sun is great for your immune system².

This is because you can get vitamin D from being outside in the sun.

Vitamin D supports your immune system, and spending just 20 minutes outside going for a walk each day can make a big difference.

To get Vitamin D from the sun you can’t be wearing sunscreen, but be careful if you’re prone to sunburn.

If you’re worried that you might not be able to get as much vitamin D from the sun as you would like, try eating fatty fish, such as tuna or mackerel, eggs, and dairy products.

3. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep

When the days are long, the nights are shorter, and you may get less sleep as a result of being in the dark less or from being unable to sleep because of the hot weather.

Even in these conditions, you still need as much sleep as you do in the wintertime.

A 2011 study found that sleep and the circadian system exert a strong regulatory influence on immune functions³.

This means that your immune system works better when you get enough sleep, and that sleeping too little or getting poor quality sleep weakens it.

To stay on top of your health, be sure to get around 8 hours of sleep per night.

If you’re having issues sleeping, there are a number of natural solutions that can help, like melatonin, magnesium, and mindfulness meditation, among others.

 

1.https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms8000
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/

Book An Appointment At Nardini Naturopathic

Do you want to get ahead in making sure that your immune system is ready for when the summer hits?

Or do you want to learn more about what you can do for your immune system in different seasons?

If so, now is a great time to book an appointment with Nardini Naturopathic.

In your first appointment, you’ll have the chance to share your health goals with me, Dr. Pat Nardini, ND. Together, we’ll develop a plan to boost your immune system naturally so that you can be healthy year-round.