What is the immune system and what can you do to help it thrive? Here are key things to know about your body’s critical natural defense system.
What Is The Immune System?
The immune system is made up of specialized cells, proteins, tissues, and organs in the body that work together to help keep the body healthy.
The immune system doesn’t have one centralized location in the body like the heart or the brain. Instead, the immune system is a complex system of organs, tissues, and cells located throughout the body. This includes the thymus, bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, and adenoids.
What Are The Main Parts of The Immune System?
The different parts of the immune system serve different functions to help keep you healthy.
Innate Immunity
Everyone is born with innate immunity, also known as natural immunity, as a form of general protection against foreign invaders. This is the body’s first line of defense against foreign invaders.
Example – Your skin! It acts as a physical barrier to help block germs from entering the body.
Adaptive Immunity
There are two parts of adaptive immunity: active immunity and passive immunity.
Active Immunity
It’s short-lived, but helpful! This type of immunity typically lasts a short time and is gained through another source, rather than being produced by a person’s own immune system.
Example – An infant can receive antibodies through a mother’s breast milk and a newborn receives passive immunity from their mother’s placenta.
Why Do You Need A Healthy Immune System?
A healthy immune system protects your body from invaders, otherwise known as antigens, like bacteria and viruses, by preventing them from entering. Should any of these antigens make their way into the body, a healthy immune system is built to destroy them before they reproduce.
Supporting The Immune System
There are several ways to help support your immune system, including a combination of the following practices.
Practicing good hygiene by washing hands regularly and bathing daily.
Managing stress through meditation, exercise, journaling and other mindfulness practices that allow you to focus on your mental health.
Eating a balanced, nutritious diet, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and limiting added sugars and unhealthy fats.
Exercising regularly by walking, biking, jogging, dancing around your house or anything that gets your blood moving.
Getting enough sleep by aiming to snooze for a minimum of 7 hours each night for adults, 8-10 hours a night for teens, and up to 14 hours for younger children and infants.
What Vitamins And Minerals Can Help Support Your Immune System?
There are several vitamins and minerals that can help support a healthy immune system, including key nutrients: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, zinc, and manganese. A combination of these minerals and vitamins for immune system support will help you take on your days!
“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” – Deborah Day
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