What is the immune system made of?
The immune system is made up of a network of cells and biochemicals. The sole purpose is to attack viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Right now people are having a hard time fighting off the coronavirus as well as its different variants & monkeypox to name a few. Polio is making a comeback as well!
Now is the time to train your immune system to attack anything trying to harm you!
The immune system is responsible for always being on alert from a tiny shaving nick in the skin to deadly viruses such as HIV.
Poor diet, daily stress, and exposure to toxins in the food, water, and environment all cause a decline in immune system activity. A strong immune system can prevent diseases such as the spread of cancer cells before they can even think of spreading throughout the body.
Medical treatments should focus more on enhancing the immune system, keeping DHEA at an adequate level, and regulating the body’s cortisol levels.
The immune system also influences how fast you age meaning if it’s not functioning properly you can look older than you are and who wants that?!
Immunodeficiency
A weakened immune system results in increased susceptibility to basically every type of illness known to man. Here are some common signs your immune system is suffering:
- Fatigue
- Listlessness
- Repeated colds
- Repeated infections
- Inflammation
- Allergic reactions
- Slow wound healing
- Chronic diarrhea
- HIV/AIDS
- Oral thrush
- UTI’s
- Systemic candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections)
- Leukemia
- Diabetes
- Mononucleosis
- Streptococcus
- Chronic hepatitis
- Lupus
- Food allergies
- Skin disorders
- Mental health
- Bad breath
- Vaginal odor
- Cancer of the organs
- Stomach ulcers
- Vision problems
- Headaches
- Hair loss
Overactive Immune Response
Sometimes your immune system can become overactive and that leads to autoimmunity disorders such as rheumatic heart disease & pernicious anemia. These types of diseases are called self-attacking because the body is basically attacking healthy cells. Levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are often lower than normal which causes depression. This can lead to a depletion of tryptophan a precursor the body uses to make serotonin.
How the immune system works
The basic day-to-day job of the immune system is to identify self (naturally belonging to the body) vs non-self (foreign to the body, unrecognizable). The immune system itself is not a physical structure inside the body, but a complex of interactions involving many different organ structures and substances.
The immune system is made up of:
- White blood cells
- Bone marrow
- Appendix
- Tonsils
- Thymus
- Spleen
- Lymphatic vessels
- Organs are specialized cells found in various body tissues
- Serum factors present in the blood
The Beauty of the Lymphatic System
- Spleen
- Thymus
- Tonsils
- Lymph nodes
A fluid called lymph circulates through the lymphatic vessels in the body and bathes the body’s cells. This involves a continuous cleansing that operates on a cellular level. Fluid from the spaces within our cells is drained of waste products, toxins, and other debris from the body’s tissues. As it passes through the lymph nodes macrophages (white blood cells) eat foreign substances that cause disease. After that, the fluid called lymph returns to the bloodstream and the process continues to repeat itself.
The Good Old Spleen
- Immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, red blood cells, killer cells, and B & T lymphocytes)
- Antigens (proteins)
The process goes like this: The spleen is an organ located on the left side of the upper abdomen that filters the blood and removes and breaks down old red blood cells that need to be replaced. Antigens are brought to the spleen through the bloodstream and are held in place by dendritic cells.
B & T cells then learn to manufacture the appropriate antibodies in response to them. People without a spleen are more prone to illness and infections because these important functions are no longer performed.
The Sophisticated Thymus
A small glandlike organ located behind the top of the breastbone is called the Thymus. This is where T cells mature. Once the T cells mature they help the immune system by secreting a number of body chemicals:
- Interleukin 1
- Interleukin 2
- Interferon
The Thymus is also where B cells are activated so they can produce the antibodies needed to heal you. The Thymus also is responsible for making sure T cells that are
confused are destroyed before they attack healthy cells. The non-confused antigens are allowed to stay and mature then back to the bloodstream they go.
The Miracles of Bone Marrow
The soft spongy tissue found in the center of your bones is responsible for producing a variety of immune cells:
- New white blood cells
- Platelets
- B cells
- Killer cells
- Granulocytes
- Thymocytes
All white blood cells are made from stem cells. Stem cells branch out and have the ability to become many different types of cells. Some of the white blood cells leave the bone marrow to mature elsewhere in the body. Others remain in the bone marrow until they are mature in order to support the immune system.
Once mature, white blood cells are larger than red blood cells and can move about independently in the bloodstream. They are able to pass through cell walls enabling them to travel quickly to the site of an injury or infection.
The Gifted Appendix & Trusted Tonsils
The appendix is a tiny tube-like structure attached to the large intestine. The tonsils are two small masses of lymphatic tissue located in the throat. Both of these very important body parts help to keep your immune system boosted. When they are removed you will be more prone to sickness & disease.
Attacks to the Immune System “shots fired”
- Chemicals in household cleaners
- Overuse of antibiotics
- Prescription drugs
- Illegal drugs
- Makeup
- Lotions
- Toxins, antibiotics, pesticides, & myriad additives in the food we eat
- Sugar
- Environmental pollution
- Faucet water
- Air pollution
- Plastic toxicity
- Metals from the pans we cook with
- BBQ foods
- Rubber
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Chemotherapy
- Poor diet
Immune Boosting Foods
- Blackberries
- Apricots
- Kiwis
- Avocados
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Brussell sprouts
- Spinach
- Kale
- Watercress
- Turnip greens
- Collards
- Carrots
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Red and orange sweet peppers
- Onions
- Garlic
- Barley
- Plain yogurt “live cultures”
- Brewers yeast
- Fish
- Legumes
- Mushrooms
- Oysters
- Pecans
- All types of seeds
- Soybeans
- Soy lecithin
- Whole grains
- Chlorella
- Pearl barley
- Red or Brown Kelp
- Reishi, Maitake, or Shitake mushrooms
All natural herbs that boost immunity
- Aloe vera turns on the immune system by activating macrophages.
- Astragalus boosts the immune system and generates anticancer cells in the body.
- Bayberry, fenugreek, hawthorn, horehound, licorice root, and red clover all enhance the immune response (do not overuse them).
- Black radish, burdock root, dandelion, milk thistle, and red clover help to cleanse the liver and the bloodstream. They boost detox and naturally the immune system as well.
- Boxthorn seed, ginseng, suma, and wisteria contain germanium which aids the immune function and has anti-cancer properties.
- Cats claw boosts immunity, fights infections, and reduces inflammation
- Echinacea boosts the immune system and enhances lymphatic function.
- Ginkgo biloba is great for brain cells, aids in circulation throughout the body, and is a very powerful antioxidant.
- St. John’s wort is a natural blood purifier and fights viruses such as HIV & herpes
- Ligustrum increases the production of lymphocytes in the bone marrow as well as their maturation into T cells.
- Picrorrhiza is a powerful immunostimulant that boosts all aspects of immune function.
Nutrients vital to immune health
- Vitamin A and carotenoids are a group of related nutrients (anti-infection).
- Alpha-lipoic acid is a substance involved in the production of energy from glucose.
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate is a form of vitamin B6 which is involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single nutrient.
- Beta-1,3-D-glucan is a polysaccharide that stimulates the activity of immune cells responsible for destroying cellular debris.
- Vitamin C is the single most important vitamin for immune response. It is essential for the formation of adrenal hormones and the production of lymphocytes.
- Calcium D-glucarate helps to bind estrogen in the liver so the excess can be excreted from the body helping in the detoxification process.
- Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant with antibacterial, antitumor, and antiviral properties. Found in high concentrations in the heart muscle.
- Colostrum sets the stage for a strong immune system from the time you are born which is why it’s so important to breastfeed your baby.
- Vitamin E is a scavenger of toxic free radicals, interacts with vitamins A & C, and is crucial to cardiovascular health making it a huge part of the body’s defense system.
- Essential fatty acids are essential for a healthy immune system.
- Manganese is a mineral that is very important to boost the immune system and is necessary for healthy growth.
- Zinc boosts the immune system and promotes the healing of wounds.
- Amino acids aid in proper immune function by protecting the cells from free radicle damage
- Taurine is necessary for the production of white blood cells
Digestion is the hardest job your body performs on a day-to-day basis!!! Give it a break & let your colon have some space to boost your immune system!!
Download the pdf version of this post to place in your self-love internal healing binder to refer to any time you need to.