A healthy immune system has never been more important than it is right now. Our bodies are under constant attack from invaders and our immune system is the first line of defense against these smart, & effective enemies. In this article we will discuss our immune system, what we can do to support it, and why it's so important.

What is my immune system?

The human body is a complex machine and your immune system is one of the most complex systems in your body with many moving parts that are in a constant, delicate dance to keep your body free from disease.

What are the parts of my immune system?

This is a very broad question with an even broader answer, for the purposes of this article we will discuss the main parts of the immune system and the application and importance of each one. 

• Skin, mucous membranes, & other first line defenders - Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the absolute first defense against invaders big and small. Even the hairs in your nose can be your first string players, stopping viruses, bacteria, fungi, & toxins by trapping them before they invade cell walls. The skin and all it's moving parts is the first line in preventing and destroying germs before they can enter your body. Your respiratory system, digestive tract, reproductive tract & urinary tract all have a protective mucous membrane that traps and sweeps away germs that many times will pass without incident. Even your tears and other secretions contain germ busting enzymes.
• Blood Cells - When your first line of defense fails, it's time for your body to get to work in destroy mode in your blood. Red Blood Cells release free radicals at an invasion of germs that break down the cell wall membrane of the pathogen to keep it from multiplying. White Blood Cells serve as the army, seeking out invaders and destroying them.
• Spleen, Stomach, & Bowels - Your gut is full of beneficial bacteria and a whole host of other flora that are so so important for your health. Some of these good bacteria will seek and destroy invaders, also at play is the stomach acid that kills most bacteria and other pathogens soon after entering the body. Your spleen stores up a portion of your white blood cell army & also filters and destroys damaged red blood cells which can also be harmful to your body.
• Lymph Nodes - Your lymph nodes are little bean shaped lumps of tissue located throughout your body that contain special white blood cells and filter lymph fluid carried by lymphatic vessels. They filter out pathogens and waste and destroy bacteria and cancer cells via lymphocytes.
• Tonsils & Adenoids - These little organs (located in your throat and nasal passages) act as little traps for pathogens & have their own store of special immune cells that produce antibodies against the invaders
• Bone Marrow - Beautiful little cells called stem cells are located in the center of your bone called the marrow. They develop into red & white blood cells, plasma, and other immune cells that are released by the billions into your blood every single day.
• Thymus - This special little organ is extremely important in a healthy immune system. It sits in your upper chest and is responsible for maturing a very special type of immune cell that recognizes and remembers pathogens in order to make a streamlined and efficient attack the next time the invader is encountered. 

What can I do to support my immune system?

• Eat vitamin rich whole plant foods & healthy fats: Some wonderful foods you can add to your diet include: Bell peppers, citrus fruits, garlic, ginger, spinach, broccoli, tumeric, elderberry, papaya, mango, shellfish, fermented foods (such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.) green tea, protein rich foods, salmon, olive oil, walnuts, & flaxseed. These foods contain vitamins and minerals that are vitally important to your gut health & overall immunity 
• Get plenty of sleep: A good nights sleep is extremely important to a healthy immune system. Adults typically require 7 or more hours of sleep at night while children need 8-10 hours of sleep (and of course babies can sleep more than 14 hours a day). I know it's not easy to discipline yourself to get adequate sleep, but it is essential for your body to work at peak performance. Please check out these two articles on Sleep & Circadian Rhythm for some tips and tricks on getting better quality sleep.
• Get plenty of moderate exercise and fresh air - Moderate exercise can help boost your immune response but it also reduces inflammation, which in turn helps with more efficient regeneration of immune cells. If you are going to engage in vigorous exercise, please boost your immune system with supplements, food, and adequate hydration. Intense exercise can suppress your immune system.
• Keep your stress level down - Stress weakens your immune system & promotes inflammation. Some things you can do to help reduce stress & anxiety include: Yoga/exercise, meditation, getting outdoors, diffusing essential oils & taking a daily CBD supplement.

Never in our lifetime has it been more important to understand why we need a strong immune system and how we take charge and give our bodies the best support we are able. Stay healthy & happy!

** These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease