Immune System

               Immune System Definition

the organs and processes of the body that provide resistance to infection and toxins. Organs include the thymus, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.

           How does the immune system work

 Every second of your life, you are under attack. Billions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are trying to make you their home, so our bodies have developed a super complex little army with guards, soldiers, intelligence, weapons factories, and communicators to protect you from...well...dying. For this Blogs, let's assume the immune system has 12 different jobs. For example, kill enemies, communicate, etc. And it has 21 different cells and 2 protein forces These cells have up to 4 different jobs. Let's assign them. Here are the interactions. Now, let's make this understandable. First of all, let's add colours to the jobs. Now, let's illustrate the cells. The central colour represents the main job of the cell, while the surrounding ones represent secondary duties. Now the immune system looks like this. Now the interactions. Isn't this complexity just awesome? For this blogs we will only talk about these cells and ignore the rest. So, what happens in the case of an infection? *Intro* It's a beautiful day, when suddenly, a wild rusty nail appears and you cut yourself. The first barrier of the immune system is breached: your skin. Nearby bacteria seize on the opportunity and enter your wound. They start using up the body's resources and double their numbers about every 20 minutes. At first, they fly under the radar, but when a certain bacteria population is reached, they change their behavior and start to damage the body by changing the environment around them. The immune system has to stop them as fast as possible.

 Immune System cells

 First of all, your guard cells, known as macrophages, intervene. They are huge cells that guard every border region of the body. Most of the time, they alone can suffocate an attack because they can devour up to 100 intruders each. They swallow the intruder whole and trap it inside a membrane. Then the enemy gets broken down by enzymes and is killed. On top of that, they cause inflammation by ordering the blood vessels to release water into the battlefield so fighting becomes easier. You notice this as a very mild swelling. When the macrophages fight for too long, they call in heavy backup by releasing messenger proteins that communicate location and urgency. Neutrophils leave their patrol routes in the blood and move to the battlefield. The neutrophils fight so furiously that they kill healthy cells in the process. On top of that, they generate barriers that trap and kill the bacteria. They are, indeed, so deadly that they evolved to commit suicide after five days to prevent them from causing too much damage. If this is not enough to stop the invasion, the brain of the immune system kicks in. The dendritic cell gets active. It reacts to the signals of the soldiers and starts collecting samples from the enemies. They rip them into pieces and present the parts on their outer layer. Now, the dendritic cell makes a crucial decision. Should they call for anti-virus forces that eradicate infected body cells or an army of bacteria killers? In this case, anti-bacteria forces are necessary. It then travels to the closest lymph node in about a day. Here, billions of helper and killer T cells are waiting to be activated. When T cells are born they go trough a difficult and complicated training process and only a quarter survives. The surviving cells are equipped with a specific set-up. And the denditric cell is on its way looking for a helper T cell with the set-up that's just right. It's looking for a helper T cell that can bind the parts of the intruders which the dendritic cell has presented on its membrane. When it finally finds one, a chain reaction takes place. The helper T cell is activated. It quickly duplicates thousands of times. Some become memory T cells that stay in the lymph node and will make you practically immune against this enemy. Some travel to the field of battle to help out. And the third group goes on to travel to the center of the lymph node to activate a very powerful weapons factory. Like the T cells, they are born with a specific set-up and when a B cell and a T cell with the same set-up meet, hell breaks loose. The B cell duplicates rapidly and starts producing millions of little weapons. They work so hard that they would literally die from exhaustion very fast. Here, helper T cells play another important role; they stimulate the hard working factories and tell them: "Don't die yet, we still need you, keep going!" This also ensures that the factories die if the infection is over so the body doesn't waste energy or hurt itself. But what is produced by the B cells? You've heard of them of course, antibodies. Little proteins that are engineered to bind to the surface of the specific intruder. There are even different kinds of antibodies that have slightly different jobs. The helper T cells tell the plasma cells which type is needed the most in this particular invasion. Millions of them flood the blood and saturate the body. Meanwhile, at the site of infection, the situation is getting dire. The intruders have multiplied in number and start hurting the body. Guard and attack cells fight hard, but also die in the process. Helper T cells support them by ordering them to be more aggressive and to stay alive longer. But without help they can't overwhelm the bacteria. But now, the second line of defense arrives. Billions of antibodies flood the battlefield and disable lots of the intruders, rendering them helpless or killing them in the process. They also stun the bacteria and make them an easy target. Their back is built to connect to killer cells, so they can connect and kill the enemy more easily. Macrophages are especially good at nomming up the bacteria which antibodies have attached to. Now the balance shifts. In a team effort, the infection is wiped out. At this point, millions of body cells have already died. No big deal, the losses are quickly replenished. Most immune cells are now useless and without the constant signals they commit suicide, so as not to waste any resources. But some stay behind: the memory cells. If this enemy is encountered ever again in the future, they will be ready for it and probably kill it before you even notice. This was a very, very simplified explanation of parts of the immune system at work. Can you imagine how complex this system is, even at this level, when we ignore so many players and all the chemistry. Life is awfully complicated, but if we take the time to understand it, we'll encounter endless wonders and great beauty.

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Immune System Vitamin C

Most people turn to vitamin C directly after a cold attack. It is because it helps strengthen your immune system.

Vitamin C is believed to increase the production of white blood cells, which are important in fighting infections.

Almost all citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.. With so much variety to choose from, it's easy to add a little
 of this vitamin to any meal.

Smoothie has become an extremely popular way for people to pack a little more nutrition on a busy day. If you have time to sit down and have breakfast, most of us have time to put some in a blender with ice and drink while working.

But if everyone is considering their smoothies, ice, and yogurt, then you're missing out on one of the biggest benefits of these hyper-convenient drinks: You can add foods that boost the immune system Huh. Which not only adds depth and fresh flavor, but also supports your immune system.

  

 5 Delicious healthy smoothie recipes are pumped with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that boost your immune system:

- Bone, Spinach and Chia Seed Broth Smoothie.
- Strawberry and Banana Surprise.
-Spinach and walnut smoothie.
- Ginger Berry Superfood Smoothie.

- Peanut Butter Smoothie with Tofu and Banana.

Nutrition and immune system.

There is almost no secret that some foods are better than others for our overall health. Foods and foods fried with too much calories, salt, and sugar are generally less healthy than raw fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Coming soon when it supports a complex network of immune systems, proteins, cells, and tissues that infect your body, such as viruses and bacteria.
It’s no secret that some foods are better for our overall health than others. Deep-fried foods and those with lots of calories, salt and sugar are generally less healthful than unprocessed fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Especially when it comes to supporting the immune system — the complex network of proteins, cells and tissues that protect your body from infection caused by pathogens such as viruses and bacteria — whole, unprocessed healthy foods are your best bet.

“As a general rule of thumb, fruits and vegetables are an amazing way to boost the immune system and keep it healthy in the long run,” says Kailey Proctor, a clinical oncology dietitian with the Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California.

Stephanie Urrutia, senior culinary educator of nutrition services at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, agrees that produce is the way to go when trying to support immune health. “Opt for a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. The different colors have different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.”

Immunity-Boosting Vitamins and Minerals

Certain vitamins and minerals in particular can really help support the hard-working immune system, including:
— Vitamin C.
— Zinc.
— Protein.
— Probiotics.
— Beta carotene.

Vitamin C

This is one of the most important nutrients to support immune health. “This potent antioxidant supports the immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infection,” says Acacia Wright, a registered dietitian at Orgain, a clean protein brand based in Irvine, California.

Urrutia notes that large quantities of vitamin C can be “found in all citrus fruits, tomatoes, red bell peppers, strawberries and broccoli. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning your body does not store it, so it needs to continually be replenished through food intake. It’s recommended that women consume 75 mg/day and men 90 mg/day. There are no proven benefits to taking mega-doses of vitamin C.”

Stephanie Urrutia, senior culinary educator of nutrition services at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, agrees that produce is the way to go when trying to support immune health. “Opt for a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. The different colors have different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.”

Zinc

“Zinc is an important essential micronutrient that’s needed for cell development and cell communication,” says Sharon Brown, a clinical nutritionist and founder of Bonafide Provisions, a San Diego-based company that makes bone broths and soups. While you need to be careful not to take in too much, it does play “an important role in the inflammatory response system when your body is attacked with infection or disease.”

Protein

“Protein is another important nutrient that keeps the immune system in check and helps promote healing in the body,” Urrutia says. “Both animal and plant-based proteins can be incorporated into a healthy diet. Eggs, chicken, fish, seafood, lean red meats, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, tofu, milk and yogurt are all great sources of proteins.”

Probiotics

Trillions of microorganisms reside in the gut and keeping them in the right balance is increasingly being understood as a key to health and wellness over the long term. These bacteria aid in digestion and may be involved with weight management, activating the immune system, improving bowel regularity and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Beta Carotene

“Beta carotene is a vitamin A precursor that is most strongly associated with increasing the quantity of immune cells,” Urrutia says. Sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes, broccoli, spinach and tomatoes are all good sources of beta carotene.

Foods that Boost Immune System

Dena Champion, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus notes that “naturally high-fiber plant foods like vegetables and whole grains tend to have a positive effect because they can act as fuel for the beneficial bacteria in the gut and promote a healthy immune system,” but that “one food alone is not going to prevent you from becoming ill. It’s more important to focus on your overall dietary patterns.”

She adds that “high amounts of refined sugar and saturated fats can also have a negative impact on immunity,” so take a look at your whole diet rather than a single food item for the greatest impact.

Still, the following foods consistently rise to the top in discussions with dietitians about immune health:

— Spinach

. “Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable, bolstering the immune system by providing the body with necessary nutrients for cell division and DNA repair,” Wright says. “It’s an excellent source of vitamins A, K and C and folate.” Other dark green leafy veggies such as kale can also provide a nutritional boost.

— Ginger

 “Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds called gingerols, which have been found to help fight infections,” Wright says.

— Cinnamon

cinnamon plant

 “Cinnamon contains a cinnamaldehyde, a compound with anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties that may help fight against infection,” Wright says. “It also contains natural salicylate — a compound found in aspirin — which reduces pain.”

— Turmeric

This bright orange spice that’s found frequently in Indian cuisine is delicious and thought to offer a range of health boosting effects. “Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,” Wright says. “It also has prebiotic-like properties that enable it to positively influence gut microbiota, supporting the gut-immune connection.”

— Berries

Strawberries and blueberries in particular are widely available and chock full of antioxidants — compounds that can slow or prevent damage to cells caused by age and environmental stressors. In addition, “strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C,” Wright says.