| Immune System Issue Page |
Your immune system can be complicated, but is highly efficient in providing multiple defenses – an infrastructure of white blood cells and antibodies - as your body’s tissues and cells work together to resist and defend against unwanted bacteria intrusions, infections and diseases.
Your immune system is amazing and remarkably effective, at least most of the time. Think about your body and what it does:
- Your skin, mucus and hairs work together to form a physical barrier
- Your organs and body cavities – like heart, lung and digestive track – are lined with protective membranes
- Your blood is constantly being purified
If any unknown or unwanted substance – an antigen or microbe - enters your body and penetrates, your body’s immune system attacks it. Your immune system has a series of dual natures, the most important of which is self/non-self recognition. It’s like your own built-in computer virus scanner.
An antigen is any substance that elicits an immune response, from a virus to a skin scrape. Parts of the immune system are antigen-specific (they recognize and act against particular antigens) or systemic (not confined to the initial infection site, but work throughout the body), and have memory (recognize and mount an even stronger attack to the same antigen the next time).
Self/non-self recognition is achieved by having every cell display a marker based on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Any cell not displaying this marker is treated as non-self and attacked. This process is so effective that any undigested proteins are treated as antigens.
Your body has more than 100 trillion blood cells. Approximately one in every hundred cells is a white cell. There are two types of white cells: the phagocytes and the lymphocytes (also known as T-cells and B-cells). These cells work together and independently to fight off any antigen.
Sometimes, the process breaks down and the immune system attacks its own cells. This is the case of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and some forms of arthritis and diabetes.
Risks
- Stress
- Cold
- Fatigue
- Aging
- Depression
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Kidney disease
Diet and nutrition play key roles in maintaining a strong immune system. If you are looking for natural immune-building steps, click below:
And avoid:
- Tobacco products of any kind
- Bad foods & fats
- Lack of exercise
- Excessive eating – no more than 2,000 calories per day (depending on height, weight and activity level, this number may vary)
- Prepared, packaged, refined, fried or frozen foods
- Alcohol
- Sugar, salt, whole-fat dairy products
Check out melsTake on immunity medicines and sleep steps to getting a good night’s sleep.
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| melsQuiz answer |
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| melsBuzz |
| Living a healthy and balanced life is incredible. You need to do whatever you can to find peace in your heart and tranquility, which will reduce your stress and improve your immune system |
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| melsAdvice |
- Have a friend give you a neck or foot massage
- Try aromatherapy – find the odors and scents that please you the most
- Read a zen philosophy book
- At least half your grain intake should come from whole grain foods
- Consume more fiber
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| DidYouKnow? |
- Millions, if not trillions, of micro-organisms are passed by skin contact with infected people or objects. Washing your hands consistently before touching your eyes, mouth, or ears can greatly reduce your exposure to these harmful microbes floating around your environment
- 99.9% of bacteria are essentially good for you
- Keeping your stress under control is essential for a healthy immune system
- As part of the chemistry of our immune system, there is a T-cell, B-cell and an antibody for every kind of antigen.
- Laughter is a powerful distraction from pain and can enhance your immune system
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| melsTips |
- If you are under stress, take a deep breath and realize that whatever is causing you this stress is probably not worth the side-effects of having poor health
- Strive for your ideal body weight
- Exercise as much as you can and reduce your stress
- Eat a lot of grains, vegetables and fruits
- Stay away from refined foods, salts, sugars and hydrogenated or saturated fats
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| melsQuiz |
- Can a weakened immune system shorten your life?
- Name 3 food foes of a healthy immune system
- How does selenium enhance your immune system?
- Getting enough sleep is essential to our immune system because…?
- The earliest historical reference to “humor (laugh) therapy” is in which century? Hint: French surgeon Henri de Mondeville
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| melsQuiz Answers |
- Yes
- Sugar, fried foods, processed or refined foods, baked goods made with white flour
- By activating an enzyme – glutathione peroxidase – that inhibits the formation of free radicals and suppressed tumor growth
- When we sleep, our immune system is reinforced with nutrients and our body rebalances through a series of chemical reactions
- 14th century. Mondeville wrote “Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen of the patient’s life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him, and by having someone tell him jokes.”
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