While you’re sleeping at night, immune cells in your body called monocytes become extra good
at detecting microbe invaders, research shows.
Bloodstream
Getting a good night’s sleep may help prevent belly fat from producing as many inflammatory compounds, which otherwise can increase inflammation throughout your body.
Belly fat
This is where immune T and B cells are made, respectively. Levels of both types of cells increase
in your blood at night. B cells make antibodies to tag invaders, flagging them for removal. T cells help direct the immune system to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.
Thymus and bone marrow
While you’re having non-REM sleep, your glymphatic system floods your whole brain with fluid that cleans and replenishes it. Brain immune cells called microglia switch on, multitasking to fight infections and clean up debris. Research in mice shows microglia also help prevent the buildup of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
You may be able to boost your glymphatic system’s effectiveness by exercising, eating omega-3s, reducing alcohol, sleeping on your side, intermittent fasting, and taking steps to lower chronic stress.
Throughout your brain
The more species of microbes in your gut microbiome, the longer and higher quality your sleep is likely to be, research suggests. In the presence of a more diverse microbiome, immune cells produce more of the chemical IL-6, which is linked with sleep.
You can cultivate a diverse gut microbiome
by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods.
Large intestine
The pituitary gland in your brain releases the hormones prolactin and growth hormone while you’re in deep sleep. Both boost the proliferation and activation of T cells, the body’s task force that targets and responds to invading pathogens.
Pituitary gland in the brain
Your Immune
System at Night
EXPLORE BODY
PRESENTS
Interactive Guide to
Your Immune System at Night
END TOUR
Click the hotspots below
to see how your immune
system helps restore and
protect while you sleep.
EXPLORE BODY
Olly’s Sleep gummies were formulated with melatonin,
L-theanine, and botanicals to promote a healthy sleep cycle.
