As someone with an autoimmune disease, I often hear how people are “protecting” my health. Realistically, I am the only person capable of protecting my health. It is not anyone’s job, except my own, to protect my health. My health is my responsibility. Although people often don’t like hearing this, it’s true.

Pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines are not the answer to immunity, especially when you have an autoimmune disease. Only I can give my body the necessary nutrients for a strong immune system. Understanding the immune system’s role and encouraging it to perform optimally is the only way to protect my health. Since my health is protected, I’d like to ensure yours is too.

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What is Immune Health

The immune system protects the body from invaders (antigens) it doesn’t recognize, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. The immune system comprises different organs, cells, and proteins that work together to trigger a bodily reaction to unknown substances. The immune system responds by surrounding and covering the invader to eliminate it (1).

We have two parts to our immune system – the innate immune system and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system. Both parts of the immune system come together, fulfilling three primary roles (1):

• Fight disease-causing germs (pathogens) and remove them from the body.
• Recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the body.
• Fight disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells.

The innate immune system is the body’s first responder, creating barriers to protect the body. The innate immune system initiates a nonspecific, rapid response to invaders, ensuring they’re captured, contained, and neutralized. Think of the innate immune system as a Roomba, just roaming around, looking for germs to clean up (2).

The adaptive immune system makes antibodies to protect against harmful diseases. The adaptive immune system identifies and stores data, creating a database of specific or acquired responses to each antigen. When the adaptive immune system recognizes a previously encountered antigen, it responds with the corresponding antibodies to eliminate it (3). This system is always learning and can change its response to match new information it learns about each antigen.

Although the innate and adaptive immune systems are two very important parts of the immune system, the immune system is much larger than just those two systems. The immune system is made up of a complex collection of cells and organs, including (4):

• White blood cells
• Lymph nodes (that’s why when you’re sick, the doctor feels your throat)
• Spleen
• Tonsils and adenoids
• Thymus
• Bone marrow
• Skin, mucous membranes, and other first-line defenses
• Stomach (gut) and bowel

Boosting Vs. Supporting the Immune System

We’ve all heard of “boosting” the immune system, but that’s not how the immune system works. There is no shortcut to immunity, not in supplements or vaccines. The purpose of the immune system isn’t to ‘rev it up’ into overdrive or create some kind of ‘super immunity;’ that’s not how immunity works. Instead, the goal is to support the body and optimize the immune system’s functions. When you support your immune system, you potentially support your body’s ability to fight sickness. That’s where food and herbs (diet) come into play.

Foods and herbs that can be used daily to support the immune system include:

• Astragulus (5) – Check out my astragalus herbal profile
• Coconut oil (6)
• Cod liver oil (7)
• Echinacea (8)
• Elderberry (9) – Check out my elderberry herbal profile
• Eleuthero root (10)
• Fermented foods (11)
• Garlic (12)
• Ginger (13) – Check out my ginger herbal profile
• Green tea (14)
• Orange peel (15)
• Pumpkin (16)
• Shiitake mushroom (17)

Smoothies, freshly pressed juices, herbal teas, and even homemade meals with coconut oil are excellent ways to incorporate these foods and herbs.

Signs of Autoimmunity

Sometimes, the immune system makes an error, reacting to the body’s own cells, causing inflammation and damage to healthy cells and a weakened immune system. This error is known as an autoimmune response, autoimmunity, or being immunocompromised (18). Signs of autoimmunity include (19):

• Cold hands
• Bathroom problems
• Dry eyes
• Fatigue
• Mild fever
• Headaches
• Rash
• Joint aches
• Patchy hair loss
• Repeated infections
• Sensitive to sun
• Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet
• Trouble swallowing
• Unexplained weight change
• White patches on the skin
• Yellowing of your skin or eyes

Influences on Immune Health

Additionally, many things can impact your immune system. From general health to environmental toxins, ensuring everything functions smoothly is crucial for immune health. Some things that can impact the immune system include:

• Gut health affects the diversity and composition of bacteria in the gut, affecting the immune cells (20). Check out my blog, The Importance of Gut Health.
• The endocrine (hormone) system is under the regulation of immune processes (21). Hormonal deficiencies can impact that (22).
• Cardiovascular health is a major determinant of the immune system. The heart itself is seen as an important immune station, able to fine-tune the function of the immune system (23). Check out my blog, The Importance of Heart Health.
• Brain health, such as mental health interventions, suggests increased efficiency in reducing inflammation and improving immune system function (24). Check out my blog, Foods to Improve Mental Health.
• Exposure to inorganic substances and chemical pollutants like heavy metals and formaldehyde can damage the immune system (25).
• Poor nutrition can compromise immune function and increase infection risk (26).
• Sleep (or lack of it) and the circadian system (or rhythm) exert a strong regulatory influence on immune functions (27). Check out my blog, ​​5 Nutrients to Promote Quality Sleep.
• Stress was associated with increased natural immunity parameters and decreased immunity functions (28).

If the immune system functions ideally, it protects against germs after its initial encounter with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or toxins. Studies have estimated that the human antibody repertoire has the potential to make a quintillion (one million trillion) unique antibodies (29). The body (or immune system) stores all the information about a germ after its first encounter, especially how to fight it. Then, if it ever returns, the body recognizes it, analyzes the data, and can fight it faster – this is known as natural immunity. Think of natural immunity as a germ-fighting army. The antigens have waited their entire life with special intel on this particular intruder; now, their only mission is to destroy it. Remember, natural immunity varies according to the person and the germ, and supporting the immune system is crucial.

Tips When Handling Sickness

We’re always exposed to germs. Unfortunately, sometimes, when we’re rundown, germs can get a foothold in our bodies, and sickness strikes. When our immune systems function correctly, the body senses these foreign substances and launches a natural defense mechanism – among other things, a fever.

A fever is one of the body’s tools in activating the immune system to do its job effectively! It mobilizes parts of the immune system to fight and suppress/kill germs by creating an inhospitable environment (30). The increased temperature also activates other immune defenses to kill the bug, so lowering the fever isn’t the best idea.

Whether the illness is influenza, strep throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, or any other illness, supporting your body’s natural process is crucial. Before attempting to lower a fever, consider supporting it by:

1. Resting
2. Keeping comfortable
3. Staying hydrated
4. Taking detox baths
5. Supporting the lymphatic system

Additionally, if you have the energy, I highly recommend dry brushing to promote lymphatic drainage further because the aches and pains we feel during illness are often caused by lymphatic congestion.

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