Boosting the immune system does not sound super sexy.
But here’s the thing.
When you have a strong immune system, when you have a high level of immunity, that means your body is unf*ckwithable.
And that’s sexy.
A strong, healthy body that isn’t easily taken down by microscopic bugs or viruses.
You in?
Your immune system relies on the lymphatic system, which eliminates toxins, waste and other unwanted materials from the body through lymph canals, and long walks on the beach is one of its biggest turn-ons.
Immunity is really just your body’s ability to fight off damage and disease.
You are born with what’s called innate immunity, which is your skin and other mucous membranes that serve as barriers to keep unwanted visitors out of your body. Your innate immunity also includes a few second line defensive players in case an unwanted visitor gains entry – antimicrobial substances, natural killer cells, phagocytes, inflammation, and fever.
Your body has a second type of immunity called adaptive immunity. When an unwanted party guest passes through your innate immune system, your adaptive immune system must recognize the unwanted guest as having not been invited and then your adaptive immune system must figure out how to get rid of the unwanted party guest without disrupting the rest of the party.
Your body must use different strategies to get different intruders to leave, just like you would use a different strategy to get your boss to leave the party, to get rid of the police officers responding to a noise violation, and to get rid of the zombies who have begun to eat the brains of your party guests. So your adaptive immune system has to figure out what is the best way to get a particular intruder to leave while keeping the party poppin’ for the other guests. The adaptive immune system uses white blood cells called T-cells and B-cells as bouncers.
The fabulous thing about your adaptive immune system is that once it tosses an unwanted, uninvited intruder out of the party, the intruder is banned from your party for life. The intruder’s picture is then placed on the wall and the bouncers are at the ready should that intruder show his slimy face again.
So how do we achieve high immunity?
By having a strong, healthy body free of disease or illness.
If your body is unhealthy, your immune system is already too busy for foreign invaders.
Having a strong, healthy body: that’s the number one, most effective strategy for a strong immune system.
And this will look different for every body.
It’s your responsibility to understand what your body needs and to provide what it requires to be as healthy as possible.
Many people rely on supplements to compensate for a poor diet lacking in the vitamins and minerals required for optimal health. Relying on supplementation to meet your body’s nutrient needs is a flawed approach for several reasons.
First, absorption of nutrients from most supplements is very low due to poor disintegration of capsules and pills. Pills and capsules must be broken down in the exact right place within the digestive tract for optimal absorption. Studies show supplements are rarely absorbed because the pill or capsule is dissolved by the digestive tract either too late or too soon. Liquid vitamins lose potency with air, light, and heat exposure. Powder vitamins may not be delivering projected quantities of each micronutrient as the molecules of nutrients have different weights and do not fall evenly in a jar or bottle.
Many nutritional supplements do not contain the correct quantities for proper absorption nor do they contain the form needed by the body. Supplements may also contain vitamins in combinations that lead to competition between nutrients for absorption. In these instances, one nutrient will block absorption of another, which may render a third nutrient useless without the blocked nutrient. Harmful additives that serve as binders can further inhibit the absorption of nutrients.
Real, high-quality food delivers highly absorbable nutrients to your body in the correct quantities, forms, and percentages.
General poor health, underlying health conditions, and existing disease require an immune system response, which leaves your body vulnerable to viruses and other pathogens.
Providing your body with optimal nutrients through a healthy whole foods diet can heal underlying health conditions and free your immune system to direct resources to foreign invaders.
Music by @signaturesoundclub
Thanks, Signature Sound Club!
