You and Your Immune System
What an amazing creation we are! What an amazing creator God is. Case and point -our immune system.
Our immune system is at work twenty-four-seven. Let's take a little cut on the finger as an example. If you are like me, when you get a small cut on the finger your auto-response is to suck on it, taking the blood back in the body. Why do we do that? Who started that? Probably Dracula, but I digress.
When we cut ourselves there are a myriad of white blood cells that rush to the surface of the skin to mediate infection. We don't have to call them into action, they automatically respond. Platelets also arrive to stop you from bleeding to death, for without them, you would. Our immune system literally can stop us from dying many times a day.
The immune system in a weakened state results in increased susceptibility to every possible thing that can make you sick. For instance, one day a virus enters the body. (The virus is referred to as the host.) This particular day the body is well and the immune system rises up to the challenge. It seeks out the virus, maps and destroys it.
A few months later, another virus invades the body. This time however, the body is stressed, exposed to more than normal due to various factors, and WHAM, you get knocked on your rear. This virus was not necessarily any more formidable than the aforementioned, but this time it wreaks chaos. Why? What was the immune system guys doing? Taking a nap? Perhaps on vacation? Union break?
One of the primary tasks of the immune system is to identify those things that can potentially cause problems and separate them into one of two categories. The first category is "self" (things that are naturally supposed to be in the body). The second category is "non-self" (foreign invaders that are not supposed to be in the body). When the immune system confronts the "non-self" foreign invaders, the task is clear -nuke those bad boys.
The immune system is a complex network of organs and other structures that include the lymph system, bone marrow, white blood cells, as well as specialized cells found in tissue. Adults are less susceptible than young children because the more mature immune system has been around the block -so to speak- and has seen more things.
The immune system can be broken down into two parts. The first is cell mediated immunity. The second is called humoral immunity. Cell mediated is defined by white blood cell activity. Like mentioned earlier, when a cancer or virus invades the body, the white blood cells respond like soldiers rushing to meet the enemy. Humoral immunity is the actual production of antibodies, comprised of special proteins. White blood cells are always the first line of defense. God made white blood cells larger than red blood cells so they can move independently in the bloodstream and pass through cell walls. Often, when a white blood cell count is sky-high on a standard blood test, it is an early tip-off that cancer may be in the body.
Here is the key question: how does our immune system become weakened?
On of the biggest factors that create a weakened immune system is stress. How? Stress creates oxidation of the membranes of the cells, allowing free radical cells to compromise them.
It is easier said than done to try and completely eliminate stress in our lives. Let's face it, though we can try and cut-down on unnecessary stress, as humans, we will always have some level of stress.
To counter-balance stress and help support the immune system, take antioxidants and eat water-rich fruits and vegetables. These can help tremendously. Another extremely effective way to support the immune system is to get plenty of rest. When you are tired, the body's ability to create energy and create new cells is impeded, and in turn, your immune system becomes impeded.
Exercise is also very good for the immune system. WAY GOOD! During exercise, the rate of blood flow is increased dramatically. The cells enjoy this ride in the "stream" and flourish as a result of it.
I am often asked about the relationship between food and the immune system. Perhaps the single largest contributing factor to the state of one's immune system is food. Food that is not nutritious inevitably is stored in a very large storage container in the body. This storage container is the colon. For many people, the colon becomes so full; the matter actually pushes through the colon and leaks into the bloodstream.
Think back to the second category of matter that the immune system identifies -the "non-self" or foreign invaders. When fried donuts leaks out of the colon and into the blood stream, the immune system definitely sees this garbage as "non-self" foreign invaders. Big deal you say? It is actually a very big deal because instead of being sent to work on viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cancer cells, the white blood cells are eating fries and donuts. This is bad news because the white blood cells are too distracted to mind the store. Wham! This is when the foreign invader wins the day and sickness follows, anything from a cold, to the stomach flu, to yes, even cancer.
So, in summary, there are a lot of factors that can create a weakened immune system. Stress, lack of rest and certainly food and diet are a few of the largest contributors.
One of the best ways to counter-balance these negative influences is to eat nutrient-dense calories. Remember, God intended food to be medicine. Unfortunately, food has become, in many ways, poison. That is because much of what we put in our mouth is void of nutrients, called naked calories. Perhaps the most nutrient-dense calories available are from juicing dark-green, leafy vegetables. The reason why the Total Living Drink is so popular is because you get the same nutrient-dense calories without having to do all the work.
There are many things you can do to improve immune function and stay healthier. Refer to this article and keep the things that HEAL and the things that DESTROY fresh in your mind.
Joe Costello
Founder, Kylea Health and Energy
You and Your Immune System
What an amazing creation we are! What an amazing creator God is. Case and point -our immune system.
Our immune system is at work twenty-four-seven. Let's take a little cut on the finger as an example. If you are like me, when you get a small cut on the finger your auto-response is to suck on it, taking the blood back in the body. Why do we do that? Who started that? Probably Dracula, but I digress.
When we cut ourselves there are a myriad of white blood cells that rush to the surface of the skin to mediate infection. We don't have to call them into action, they automatically respond. Platelets also arrive to stop you from bleeding to death, for without them, you would. Our immune system literally can stop us from dying many times a day.
The immune system in a weakened state results in increased susceptibility to every possible thing that can make you sick. For instance, one day a virus enters the body. (The virus is referred to as the host.) This particular day the body is well and the immune system rises up to the challenge. It seeks out the virus, maps and destroys it.
A few months later, another virus invades the body. This time however, the body is stressed, exposed to more than normal due to various factors, and WHAM, you get knocked on your rear. This virus was not necessarily any more formidable than the aforementioned, but this time it wreaks chaos. Why? What was the immune system guys doing? Taking a nap? Perhaps on vacation? Union break?
One of the primary tasks of the immune system is to identify those things that can potentially cause problems and separate them into one of two categories. The first category is "self" (things that are naturally supposed to be in the body). The second category is "non-self" (foreign invaders that are not supposed to be in the body). When the immune system confronts the "non-self" foreign invaders, the task is clear -nuke those bad boys.
The immune system is a complex network of organs and other structures that include the lymph system, bone marrow, white blood cells, as well as specialized cells found in tissue. Adults are less susceptible than young children because the more mature immune system has been around the block -so to speak- and has seen more things.
The immune system can be broken down into two parts. The first is cell mediated immunity. The second is called humoral immunity. Cell mediated is defined by white blood cell activity. Like mentioned earlier, when a cancer or virus invades the body, the white blood cells respond like soldiers rushing to meet the enemy. Humoral immunity is the actual production of antibodies, comprised of special proteins. White blood cells are always the first line of defense. God made white blood cells larger than red blood cells so they can move independently in the bloodstream and pass through cell walls. Often, when a white blood cell count is sky-high on a standard blood test, it is an early tip-off that cancer may be in the body.
Here is the key question: how does our immune system become weakened?
On of the biggest factors that create a weakened immune system is stress. How? Stress creates oxidation of the membranes of the cells, allowing free radical cells to compromise them.
It is easier said than done to try and completely eliminate stress in our lives. Let's face it, though we can try and cut-down on unnecessary stress, as humans, we will always have some level of stress.
To counter-balance stress and help support the immune system, take antioxidants and eat water-rich fruits and vegetables. These can help tremendously. Another extremely effective way to support the immune system is to get plenty of rest. When you are tired, the body's ability to create energy and create new cells is impeded, and in turn, your immune system becomes impeded.
Exercise is also very good for the immune system. WAY GOOD! During exercise, the rate of blood flow is increased dramatically. The cells enjoy this ride in the "stream" and flourish as a result of it.
I am often asked about the relationship between food and the immune system. Perhaps the single largest contributing factor to the state of one's immune system is food. Food that is not nutritious inevitably is stored in a very large storage container in the body. This storage container is the colon. For many people, the colon becomes so full; the matter actually pushes through the colon and leaks into the bloodstream.
Think back to the second category of matter that the immune system identifies -the "non-self" or foreign invaders. When fried donuts leaks out of the colon and into the blood stream, the immune system definitely sees this garbage as "non-self" foreign invaders. Big deal you say? It is actually a very big deal because instead of being sent to work on viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cancer cells, the white blood cells are eating fries and donuts. This is bad news because the white blood cells are too distracted to mind the store. Wham! This is when the foreign invader wins the day and sickness follows, anything from a cold, to the stomach flu, to yes, even cancer.
So, in summary, there are a lot of factors that can create a weakened immune system. Stress, lack of rest and certainly food and diet are a few of the largest contributors.
One of the best ways to counter-balance these negative influences is to eat nutrient-dense calories. Remember, God intended food to be medicine. Unfortunately, food has become, in many ways, poison. That is because much of what we put in our mouth is void of nutrients, called naked calories. Perhaps the most nutrient-dense calories available are from juicing dark-green, leafy vegetables. The reason why the Total Living Drink is so popular is because you get the same nutrient-dense calories without having to do all the work.
There are many things you can do to improve immune function and stay healthier. Refer to this article and keep the things that HEAL and the things that DESTROY fresh in your mind.
Joe Costello
Founder, Kylea Health and Energy