What is the Immune System? 4 Natural Ways to Boost Wellness

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that protect your body from pathogens; and, this time of year, you’ll hear a lot about it. Think of it as a personal shield. Its job is to protect you from harmful organisms and toxins that can have a negative effect on your health.

Your immune system is made up of two parts. One is your innate immune system, which protects you against infections and helps wounds like cuts and bruises heal. The other is your adaptive immune system, which adapts to protect you from viruses like the flu. Together, these form a complex system of cells, tissues, and organs that protect your health.

Dr Tobias Deep Immune ... Buy New $22.45 (as of 08:55 UTC - Details) When your immune system is supported, its two components work together in harmony to protect you from illness. But, like any system, it can be compromised and fail. Some people are born with weak immune systems. Some are also born with unregulated, sometimes called overactive, immune systems. Even if you start out with a perfectly healthy immune system, disease, allergies, and poor nutrition can weaken or damage your immune system. This can cause your immune system to actually attack the body it is supposed to protect – leading to a plethora of negative health conditions.

How the Immune System Works

White blood cells, aka leukocytes, are the foot soldiers of your immune system. They’re the ones that fight viruses, bacteria, and other harmful organisms. These white blood cells, along with red blood cells, form in bone marrow. Once formed, they enter the lymphatic system, one of the major components of the immune system and part of your circulatory system, to help keep it fight disease.

Along the way, these cells receive help from lymphatic organs like the tonsils and thymus. These organs supply antibodies, the special forces of your immune system that target viruses. Your immune system works constantly to prevent a host of invaders from doing damage. It does this by capturing these organisms and isolating them before they are able to infect your body. Once harmful organisms are captured, your immune cells take them to your Gelindo Single Press L... Buy New $10.99 (as of 05:55 UTC - Details) spleen. There, the spleen, located in the upper left region of the abdomen, filters out the unwelcome organisms from the blood for removal from your body; as well as dead or damaged red and white blood cells.

Immune System Disorders

There are three types of major immune system disorders:

1. Autoimmunity

In autoimmune conditions, the immune system attacks the healthy tissue it’s supposed to protect. Currently, there are more than 80 known types of autoimmune diseases. [1] The most well known examples are type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. For anyone with these diseases, the best approach today is to work with your natural physician and nutritionist to formulate a plan of action. The connection between nutrition and immune health is still being researched, but we do know that vitamins like A, B2, B6, C and D play an integral role in how your immune system works. Minerals like selenium and zinc are also important.

2. Immunodeficiency’s

Immunodeficiency’s occur when the immune system’s ability to fight harmful organisms or diseases is weakened. Your body may not produce enough white blood cells and white blood cell levels may be low or not functioning normally. If you’re not careful and don’t protect yourself, you can develop this condition. Exposure to cigarette smoke, pesticides, toxic metals like arsenic, PCBs, and other common pollutants like toluene from nail polish can slow or weaken your immune system. [2]

Environmental toxins are especially dangerous because they easily attach themselves to hormones and other important molecules in your cells and require a lot of energy to remove. On top of that, they prevent vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from doing their job. When this happens, your cells don’t get the nutrition they need and they may slow down or die.

A weak immune system is a real problem for people as they get older. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and the natural changes associated with aging can disrupt how well the immune system works. [3] All these factors increase the risk of developing a weakened immune system and infections.

3. Hypersensitive or Over-Reactive Immune System

Researchers continue to study the triggers for an overly aggressive immune system. In this condition, when immune cells encounter a harmless allergen or a substance that needs to be removed, they attach an immune cell called a mast cell to the invader, causing an unnecessary immune response. A response like this damages tissue and organs and can lead to serious diseases. In some cases, it could be pet dander, residual pesticide on an apple, or exposure to chemicals in latex or plastic. Sensitivity to gluten is another example.

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