Generalities about immunity
Dec 29,2021 | Docteur M.
● What you need to know about your immune system ?
Our immune system is one of the primary interfaces you have between your body and the exterior world. It works to recognize and identify an infection or injury in the body. This causes an immune response, with the goal of restoring normal function.
The symptoms we get when we are ill are actually a sign that our body is fighting back against the infection or virus, triggering an immune response.
For our body’s natural defenses to run smoothly, the immune system must be able to differentiate between self and non-self cells, organisms and substances. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:
– Non-self substances are called antigens, which include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Cells of the immune system detect the presence of antigens and work to defend the body against them.
– Self substances are proteins on the surface of our own cells. Normally, the immune system has already learned at an earlier stage to identify these cells proteins as self and so not to fight it. Sometimes the immune system doesn’t work properly, makes mistakes, and identifies some own cell’s as “non-self” ones, fights it and makes a reaction called “autoimmune”..
The amazing thing about the immune system is that it’s constantly adapting and learning so that the body can fight against bacteria or viruses that change over time. There are two parts of the immune system:
– Our innate immune system works as a general defense against common pathogens.
– Our adaptive immune system targets very specific pathogens that the body has already had contact with.
These two parts of the immune system complement each other in any reaction to a pathogen or harmful substance.
● The gut is linked to the immune system
About 70% of the cells that make up your immune system are located in the lining of your digestive tract, as it is the main contact zone where substances from the exterior world can enter into the body.Thus,Taking care of your gut health is a way to strengthen your immunity. The gut flora or gut microbiota not only regulates the body’s metabolism but its immune system as well.
The best tactic for keeping both your immune system and your digestive system in good shape is to eat clean, meaning filling up on foods that are low in processed sugar and high in fiber. This helps foster a healthy microbiome in the gut by promoting the growth of friendly bacteria.
● The lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is a critical part of the immune system. It’s vital for protecting us from illnesses and diseases. Essentially, the lymphatic system is responsible for transporting waste and toxins out of the tissues back to the bloodstream and regulating the immune response as a local communication mechanism within the tissues.
Here’s how the lymphatic system works to protect us from becoming sick. We come into contact with various types of microbes, bacteria and toxins every day that enter our bodies and make their way into the lymphatic fluid. Eventually, the fluid containing these organisms can get trapped inside lymph nodes, which is where the immune system “attacks” any perceived threats by attempting to destroy them with white blood cells.¹
Now that you know more about your immune system, you should go and read our article on how to boost your immunity !
Articles:
– Forbes, How to keep immune system healthy, according to experts
– Health, 6 things you need to know about your immune system
– Mind body green, What immune resilience actually means & why our health depends on it
– Dr Axe, The lymphatic system: how to make it strong & effective
– Dr Axe, How to boost your immune system – top 19 boosters
– Cedars Sinai Hospital, Can you really boost your immune system?
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