What is immune System? Ways to Keep Your Immune System Healthy

August 12, 2023

Ways to Keep Your Immune System Healthy What is immune System?

Immunity is body's ability to resist or eliminate potentially harmful foreign materials or abnormal cells. Immune system works as both a physical and biological defense, Consists of following activities:  

  • Defense against invading pathogens (viruses , bacteria, fungi, chemicals, toxins)
  • Removal of 'worn-out' cells (e.g., old RBCs) & tissue debris (e.g., from injury or disease)
  • Identification & destruction of abnormal or mutant cells (primary defense against cancer)
  • Rejection of 'foreign' cells (e.g., organ transplant) – Inappropriate responses:  o Allergies - response to normally harmless substances  o Autoimmune diseases 

To   run all these functions smoothly it’s very important to keep your immune system healthy.

Parts of Immune System 

Immunity System is divided in two major parts.  

  1. Innate Immune system (first line of defense)
  2. Adaptive Immune system (Second line of defense)

Innate immune systems:  

External defenses: Skin, Mucous membranes, Secretions.  

Internal defenses: Leukocytes (white blood cells) act like independent, single-celled organisms and  are the second arm of the innate immune system. The innate leukocytes include the phagocytes  (macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells), mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, and natural  killer cells. These cells identify and eliminate pathogens and are also important mediators in the  activation of the adaptive immune system. 

Adaptive immune system: These are special types of leukocytes, called lymphocytes. B cells  and T cells are the major types of lymphocytes and are derived from hematopoietic stem cells in  the bone marrow.

How does your immune system works? 

Skin: Skin creates a barrier against virus, bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin contains  secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense  against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells .  

Mucus Membrane: The mucus membrane of your cell lining provides a barrier against foreign  particles, captures them in its sticky mucus and clears them out to keep immune system healthy.  

Secretion: Flushing action of saliva, tears, urine is body’s mechanism of eliminating toxins and   chemicals.  

Fight against pathogens: When any pathogen (bacteria, viruses or fungi) enters into your body  it is called antigens . Your innate immune system recognizes the antigens and attacks them and  makes antibodies . Antibodies are proteins that work to attack, weaken, and destroy antigens.  Afterwards, your adaptive immune system remembers that antigen. If it sees the antigen again,  it can recognize it and can quickly send out the right antibodies, so in most cases, you don't get  sick. This is called immune response

What makes your immunity System weak?

  • Lack of Sleep 
  • Stress, Anxiety & Depression ∙ Low Vitamin D 
  • Consuming too Few Fruits and  Veggies 
  • High-Fat Diet 
  • Smoking 
  • Alcohol 
  • Lack of Exercise  
  • Chronic conditions, such as diabetes  or cancer, autoimmune diseases  like rheumatoid arthritis, and  infectious diseases such as HIV. 
  • Certain Medications (use of drugs to treat allergies, arthritis, lupus, IBS, and organ transplant, Corticosteroid 

Common signs indicates you might have weak immune system

  • Cold Hands
  • Bathroom
  • Problems 
  • Dry Eyes Fatigue 
  • Mild fever 
  • Headaches 
  • Rash 
  • Joint Ache 
  • Hair loss 
  • Repeated infections
  • Unexplained  
  • weight Changes 
  • White patches
  • Yellowing of your  skin and eyes 

It’s Very Important to know the right process of keeping your immune system healthy.  You can boost you immune system by, 

Reducing Oxidative stress 

Oxidative stress is an imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the  ability to neutralize them and repair damage. That may occur when there are too many unstable   molecules called free radicals in the body and not enough antioxidants to get rid of them. This   can lead to cell and tissue damage.  

Oxidative stress can cause chronic inflammation. Infections and injuries trigger the body's immune  response . Immune cells called macrophages produce free radicals while fighting off invading   germs. These free radicals can damage healthy cells, leading to inflammation.

Some beneficial foods are  

Curcumin: Curcumin is a lipophilic substance of a polyphenol nature works as great  antioxidants in our body. It is the bio-active components of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Studies  have shown that curcumin could scavenge free radicals efficiently and protect cell membrane  from oxidative damage by positioning itself within the cell membrane.  

Curcumin makes our immune system healthy through its interaction with various immune modulators, including not only cellular components, such as dendritic cells, macrophages and both  B and T lymphocytes, but also molecular components involved in the inflammatory processes,  such as cytokines and various transcription factors.

Curcumin reduces the concentration of  Malondialdehyde, (MDA) (bio-marker of oxidative stress in our body) and increases the  immunity level TAC (Total Antioxidant Capacity), SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), GSTM1  (Glutathione S-transferase Mu 1)

Eugenol: Eugenol is the bioactive component of clove bud oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent as well as protects the damage caused by oxidative stress.  

Ginger Oil: The oil of ginger influences both cell-mediated immune response and nonspecific   proliferation of T-lymphocyte, and may exert beneficial effect in a number of clinical conditions,   such as chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease .  

Cinnamon: Cinnamic aldehyde is the major component of cinnamon is very helpful from   protection our body from free radicals.  

Taking balanced food 

Weak immune system is more likely to be affected by pathogens. Make a diet chart with the  foods where you take sufficient carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin, minerals every day. Avoid  food with high salt, sugar and calories like fried food to keep your body healthy. Some foods to make our immune system healthy and strong are, Berries, Fish oil, Leafy greens,  Nuts and seeds , Citrus fruits, bright colored vegetables, Yogurt, Olive oil. Changing lifestyle 

You can make your immune system healthy by changing lifestyle. All you have to do is,

  • Take Exercise regularly 
  • Quit smoking 
  • Minimize stress 
  • Get recommended vaccines 
  • No Alcohol 
  • Maintain Healthy weight 
  • Get Sufficient sleep - According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and prevention)  recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for healthy adults.  
  • Practice Good hygiene 
  • Keep your body hydrated

FAQ  

How does the immune system function?  

The immune system is a complicated network among the organs of the human body. This system  works as a defender against the body's infection. When any germ enters the human body, the  immune system recognizes it and destroys it.  

What role does the IMMUNE SYSTEM play in the fight against INFECTION?  

The immune system, consisting of tissue, cells, and organs, works against body infection. This  complex system works from different angles, such as recognizing pathogens and working as a  defense.  

Which foods boost the immune system?  

There are many things behind boosting immune systems. Among these, healthy development is  highly responsible. The foods that work to boost your immune system are citrus fruits, berries,  garlic, ginger, yogurt, nuts, green leafy vegetables, spices like turmeric, bright colored vegetables  and others mentioned above. You can keep the following foods on your diet list:  

How is my immune system so weak?  

Some diets are responsible for weakening the immune system. Specifically, the foods are rich in  sugar, salt, and saturated fats. Besides, drinking alcohol and smoking are highly responsible for  weakening the immune system.

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