Must Know: Your Immune System
There is lots of buzz about your immune system. From articles about boosting your immune system to eating for immune system strength to how to keep your immune system healthy – there is so much information that it can be
Must Know: Your Immune System
There is lots of buzz about your immune system. From articles about boosting your immune system to eating for immune system strength to how to keep your immune system healthy – there is so much information that it can be overwhelming.
As you can guess, here at AHCC Research, we are very interested in the immune system. Everything we do centers around how we can support, strengthen, and enhance your immune system. You could say we are experts on the immune system!
In this article, we’re going to dig into the key information you need to know about your immune system. Learn how it works and how you can support it with natural supplements. We will discuss immune system disorders and inform you on how to strengthen your immune system with good healthy everyday habits.
Immune system health is important for everyone. Regardless of age, gender, activity level, or overall health – the immune system must be healthy and strong. We urge you to share this blog post with your social network, friends, and family. Help everyone benefit from this knowledge, and live a better and healthier life.
What is the Immune System?
Your immune system is complicated. It’s made up of a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that fit together like a complicated puzzle to support your health and protect your from germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Your immune system has essentially one job – to protect your body from invaders that can make you ill. To do this, your immune system is always scanning your body to determine if bacteria, viruses, toxins, parasites, and other pathogens have entered your system or if any of your cells have mutated or become abnormal.
You have two basic types of immunity: innate and adaptive. Your innate immunity launches an immediate, non-specific attack against a threat. Your adaptive immunity takes longer to kick in, but produces a specific response to a particular microbe.
Your innate immunity is your first line of defense and made up of the following:
- Cytokines. These are chemical messengers that help your immune cells communicate and coordinate an immune response.
- Natural killer (NK) cells. These are the white blood cells (WBC) that recognize and destroy infected or abnormal cells by injecting granules into them, causing them to explode. Your WBC count is key in understanding your overall health – an elevated WBC count can indicate an illness and a low WBC count can put you at risk for illness.
- Macrophages. These are special WBC that engulf and ingest bacteria and cellular debris.
- Dendritic cells. These are the WBC that 