Immunity booster. A very topical subject. A very touchy subject you might say, given what’s currently happening across the world with vaccine mandates. I will restrain myself from current affairs commentary, this is a stress-free space. Others might say, a very talked about subject. It’s true, for the last two years we’ve been bombarded with vitamin D this, gut health that. It’s all good. It’s all useful. Nutrition is fundamental to building strong immunity. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.
I recently learnt about a newly discovered system in our bodies: the Glymphatic System. It is a ‘macroscopic waste clearance system that uses a unique system of perivascular channels, formed by astroglial cells, to promote efficient elimination of soluble proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system’. Plain english: a waste clearance system disposing of toxins from the brain and the rest of the nervous system, especially those created during inflammation. You probably have heard of the Lymphatic system which supports clearance of excess fluid and metabolic waste throughout the body. The Glymphatic system is the analog of the Lymphatic system in the central nervous system. It is a critical process that allows the immune system to operate in its best condition in the brain and the rest of the body. This deep-clean up usually happens during sleep; that’s why when we fall ill, getting a good sleep is the best medicine we can give to ourselves.
It feels like we have just started to scratch the surface of this fascinating field, but recent research shows you can enhance the functionality of this regenerative system during sleep and, in turn, give a vital boost to your immune function. They found that glymphatic transport was most efficient in the lateral positions – aka side-sleeping – while the ‘prone’ position (face-down, most upright and mimicking awake posture) resulted in slower clearance. It should not be a surprise to us that the sleeping position matters; gravity is a big factor in a mechanical system with pipes and valves that moves fluids.
If you are a believer, like I am, that enhancing your immunity is not down to a magic pill but it takes layers and layers of continuous and holistic support, then next to your vitamin D & K complex on your shopping list, add a note about a good mattress and pillows. And when you go to bed tonight, think about your sleeping position before you fall asleep!
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