Today we are looking at the immune system. What is it? How does it work? And can nutrition play a role in how our immune system protects us? Just in time for flu season to be barreling around the corner at us! Ha ha!
What Is The Immune System?
When working well, your immune system will prevent germs from entering your body. If the germs do make it into your body, your immune system will work to minimize their effects and kill them when possible. The best ways to keep the immune system functioning optimally are all of our favorite lifestyle habits: getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, moving your body daily, reducing stress, and keeping weight in check, and not smoking, and abstaining or limiting alcohol consumption. Of course, during flu season, (and with COVID -19 still present), washing hands, and covering coughs and sneezes are also important.
This collection of many organs, white blood cells, antibodies, and chemicals work together to determine which cells are your own versus which are foreign invaders (i.e. germs). Here’s a fun fact: according to Dr. Bulsiewicz in his book, Fiber Fueled; 70 percent of our immune system is housed in our gut. THIS is why nutrition plays such an important role in how well (or how poorly) our immune system functions. (Bulsiewicz 13) Follow Dr. B here on his Instagram.
When working properly, the immune system will mobilize an attack against any foreign germs to protect you from infection, illness, and worse.
When your immune system is not working well, it will mount an attack when there is no outside germ present, or will not cease the attack after the germ is destroyed. When this happens, autoimmune diseases and allergies can result.
How Does The Immune System Work?
Your immune system is able to identify germs only after encountering them. Once exposed to a particular pathogen, antibodies are created. These antibodies are like the memory of the immune system, recognizing germs, and stimulating an attack if the germ is again found in your body.
Des Nutrition Influence The Effectiveness Of Our Immune System?
Turns out nutrition is very important to immune function. This is because so much of our immune system resides in our gut, in the form of bacteria and microorganisms that live inside the gastrointestinal tract. The foods you eat will either encourage beneficial flora or harmful flora. If you don’t eat enough plant foods to support the beneficial flora, you will be at greater risk for certain viruses, chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders, according to Penn Medicine in their blog post “6 Signs You Have a Weakened Immune System”.
Also, according to Dr. Bulsiewicz, “Evidence has shown that our microbiota in our gut will help immune cells develop properly, identify invaders, and get immune cells to the needed location, and then enhance their ability to fight infections” (Bulsiewicz 14).
Having a healthy gut flora results in reduced levels of inflammation. Because chronically elevated levels of inflammation can lead to heart disease, stroke, and autoimmune diseases, this is very important for our long-term health. Not only that, healthy gut flora encourages health and balance in the body.
The importance of everything you put into your mouth shouldn’t be taken lightly. Foods, beverages, and even medications and supplements are all metabolized through the gut flora. By choosing plant foods, you are feeding the “good gut bugs” and starving off the “bad gut bugs”. The flora of your GI tract are wholly dependent upon what is fed to them as far as how they will live (or die), and how well they will function.
So this flu season, let’s fight the flu virus with healthy plant-based foods that will only reward you in the end. It’s win-win, avoid the flu, and become healthier for it!
