The Immune System Keeping It Strong With Superfoods!
Our immune system is the miracle of life! We all have them built in as part of our survival mechanism.
Most of us know that our immune systems protect us and keep us safe from "germs" and other foreign invaders (antigens) that threaten our health.
When it is functioning well, we have good health. Below is a basic understanding of how the immune system works and the things we can do to keep it strong and superhealthy!
Immune Response:
Our systems have the amazing ability to separate and sort substances we breathe, drink or eat into 2 main classes: "friend" or "foe".
It has a kind of intelligence that responds in the most appropriate way with the most efficient strategies. This response is different depending on the type of substance or "invader." When it is healthy it can identify everything from a pathogen to a tumor cell, or a virus to a parasite.
Immune cells:
The white blood cells are the body's immune defenses. They are produced in the bone marrow.
Lymphocytes are white blood cells, which includes B cells and T cells.
1) B cells - produce antibodies. Antibodies attach to a specific antigen and make it easier for the immune cells to destroy the antigen.
2) T cells - attack antigens directly and help manage the immune response. They also release chemicals, known as interleukins, which control the entire immune response.
Immune cells circulate and travel throughout the body via the lymphatic system. A network that transports blood throughout the body and contains lymph, consisting of fatty tissue and white blood cells.
The lymph system includes and interconnects four key gland/organs:
lymph nodes
bone marrow
thymus gland
spleen
These lymph system components produce the different types of immune supporting cells.
The bone marrow generates the specialized cells called stem cells and B cells. Also included, are the NK cells, and T-cells (T is for thymus where it matures) that circulate throughout the body looking for potential trouble.
Creating Immune Health
1) Nutrition:
Nutrition and diet are paramount to healthy, strong immune function. Many today see the damaging effects that a low quality diet has on one's health and its ability to fight off sickness and disease.
Here at Superfoods for Superhealth, we believe building and maintaining a strong immune force field with the many superfoods we discuss on our site. There are certain
top superfoods,
however, that are particularly important for sustaining and nourishing immune health.
Antioxidants - Antioxidants are the building blocks of a healthy immune system. So foods high in these immune helpers are essential. We like to go for the top super fruits that have extremely high levels of antioxidants.
Camu Camu berry,Goji berries
and
Acai berry
are a great place to start. Also foods and superfoods rich in the following antioxidants.
Important Antioxidants:
Vit C
Vit E
Lipoic acid
Glutathione
CoQ10
Carotenoids
Zinc
Selenium
Cultured food - or
fermented foods
repopulate the system with friendly flora and are high in
enzymes
that help to break down food and undigested waste. They have high levels of Vit C and increase immunity by providing
colon health
and a free flow of nutrients into the body.
Micronutrients - are essential for optimal health and well being of the immune function. Vitamins and
minerals
are found in abundance in seaweed sources.
Seaweeds
are rich in iodine, for thyroid support and contain
polysaccharides
that protect the nerves and help modulate immune activity.
Nutritive herbal teas
are also a great mineral source that seep easily into the tissues.
When we are not consuming the proper amounts of micronutrients, a kind of starvation sets in as we age, often resulting in vulnerability to disease and sickness.
There adaptogenic compounds are "immunotonics" that nourish and build nerve force and the ability to adapt to change and stress.
Maca root
also falls into this category.
2) Fasting:
Periodic fasting is highly recommended for anyone wanting to reduce toxic overloads that compromise our health. A backup of toxins in the body directly weakens immunity, making us more vulnerable to disease and aging.
Exercise, oxygen and oxygen-rich foods, like
sprouts,
juices, algaes,
wheatgrass
and green leafy vegetables, strengthen the immune system by releasing antibodies that attach to viruses or bacteria and eliminate them.
When you exercise you release endorphins, which have been shown to energize immune cells.
4) Sunlight:
The sun is one of the most powerful immunity boosters there is. A recent study found that sunlight enhances the immune system against invading germs and sun-induced skin damage.
Getting at least 20 minutes of sunshine on the body a day can do wonders for overall health. Sitting with the
sunlight
on the skin in the early morning hours or early evening in summer conditions is a great source of Vit. D. Otherwise, laying in the sun during the peak hours of the day in winter time is suggested.
5) Sleep and Stress:
Sleep and rest is also important to rejuvenate the immunity and build up life-force. Reducing the amount of stress in ones life has profound effects on immune health.
Research shows that the immune system links up, via monocytes, to nerve tissue that runs to every major organ system of the body. Emotional stress stimulates abnormal hormone and cellular activities and lowers the immune system significantly.
Acute Immune Health Helpers:
Sometimes, for whatever reason, our immune health is compromised. At this point all we can do is try to get it back on tract with a diet and lifestyle that promotes a strong immune system. But, in the meantime, there are certain foods that are great when acute sickness does take hold.
Acute Immune Health Helpers:
GARLIC - nature's antibiotic, heats up the body and expels mucus build up.
OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT - a natural antimicrobial, antibiotic for acute infections.
GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT - for acute phases of intestinal parasites or
candida.
PROBIOTICS - help support colon health and balances body ecology.
USNEA, YERBA SANTA AND ECHINACEA - are great in tincture form to take at the onset of cold or flu.
HOT LIQUIDS - like mineral rich seaweed,
shitakemiso
soup with garlic and cayenne.
ANTIOXIDANTS - camu camu, acai and any of the citrus fruits.
Avoid taking
chinese tonic
and
ayurvedic herbs
when experiencing acute immune disorders. They are "building" herbs and are said to drive the sickness "deeper in." Stick with cleansing herbs, nutritive herbs and
herbs and spices
that support the liver and help the body to rid the infection or virus.
Our systems have the amazing ability to separate and sort substances we breathe, drink or eat into 2 main classes: "friend" or "foe".
These lymph system components produce the different types of immune supporting cells. 
