Your immune system is your personal army, protecting you from viruses, bacteria, and other threats every day. Like any warrior, it can be trained to become stronger, more resilient, and wiser. And, an international team of scientists has found, the best place to train it is on a regular treadmill, swimming pool, or bike.
Researchers from Germany and Brazil decided to compare the immune “army” of two groups of elderly people: those who had been regularly involved in sports for decades, and those who had led a sedentary lifestyle. The results, published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, are striking: years of training literally “pump” the immune system.
Special forces who never get tired
The scientists paid special attention to the “elite troops” of the immune system – the so-called killer cells, whose main task is to find and destroy virus-infected and cancer cells. They gave these cells a real stress test.
It turned out that the athletes' cells behaved like hardened veterans:
Energy efficiency: Even in conditions of “starvation rations” (glucose deficiency), they spent energy economically and continued to work, while the cells of untrained people quickly “exhausted.”
Accuracy of response: In response to the simulated viral attack, they acted clearly and without panic, destroying the threat without unnecessary “noise” — that is, without severe inflammation that could harm the body.
“Smart” immunity is the key to healthy aging
The main conclusion of the study is that sports make the immune system not just stronger, but “smarter.” It learns to maintain the perfect balance: to react to danger in time, but not to set the body on fire over trifles.
This balanced approach is the key to healthy aging. Many age-related diseases are associated with chronic inflammation. A trained immune system helps keep this process under control, making regular exercise one of the most affordable and effective ways to invest in your long and healthy life.
Джерело: ukr.media
