Our bodies are made to combat germs and protect itself from harm. We have a built in defense system against illness and other harmful things seeking to damage our health. We are continually exposed to organisms that are inhaled, swallowed or inhabit our skin and mucous membranes. Whether or not these organisms lead to disease is decided by the strength and integrity this defense mechanism: the immune system.
Most of the time we don’t even notice when our immune system is working. But when it has become compromised we are at a greater risk of developing infections and other health conditions…and that’s when we notice it!
Strengthening our immune system doesn’t happen over night. It requires patience and diet and lifestyle changes. Are you ready for the change?
Perhaps, before you can make this big decision, we should take a little look at just WHAT the immune system does for the body…
Functions of the Immune System
The immune system is a network of organs, white blood cells and proteins that protect the body from viruses and bacteria or any foreign substance. The immune system’s job is to: 1. Neutralize and remove pathogens like bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi that enter the body, and 2. Recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment, and fight against the body’s own cells that have changes due to illness.
This body system really is amazing! Did you know that the human immune system is constantly adapting and learning so that the body can fight bacteria or viruses that change over time? There are two parts of the immune system:
- Our innate immune system: this works as a general defense against pathogens.
- Our adaptive immune system: this targets very specific pathogens that the body has already had contact with.
These two systems complement each other and work to effectively react to pathogens and other harmful substances, protecting our health and defending the rest of our bodily functions against enemy invaders.
Now it could be said that there is a lot of pressure on the immune system to do its job. Which is why it needs our help, as well. It must be able to tell the difference between “self” and “non-self” cells.
- “Non-self” substances are called antigens. These include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi and viruses. The immune system detects the presence of antigens and works to defend the body against them.
- “Self” substances are proteins on the surface of our own cells. When functioning properly and normally, the immune system has already learned at an earlier stage to identify these cell proteins as it’s own. However, there are times when it identifies its own body as “non-self”, and fights it. This is called an autoimmune reaction.
Autoimmune Disorders
Even though millions of Americans suffer from some form of autoimmunity, many without knowing it, we still have many questions about it. Questions that deserve some answers:
What is autoimmunity? Autoimmune diseases cause your immune system to attack your own body’s cells and tissues in response to an unknown trigger. Examples of autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.
How does our immune system get confused? There are many theories about this, many of which are being tested, but we do know that foreign cells may get into the body through the intestines. Some foods cause inflammation and create gaps in our intestinal lining, allowing the foreign cells to leak through. This is called leaky gut syndrome. This may also be why people with autoimmune disorders can fluctuate between periods of remission and flare-ups with worsening conditions.
Does nutrition play a role, and can it help with flare ups? We already got a little bit of this question answered above, but let’s dive in a little deeper and examine it more. Think of your digestive tract as your first line of defense against autoimmune illness, or any illness for that matter. From entry to exit, the lining of your digestive tract is continuous with the skin that covers your body. This actually makes your digestive tract lining similar to your skin in a sense. It acts as a barrier that protects your blood and inner tissues against harmful substances. If you are suffering from an autoimmune condition, your digestive tract is probably not as healthy as it can be.
While there are many different foods that can contribute to autoimmune flare ups and problems, here are THREE of the biggest ones:
Sugar
-A diet full of sugar, especially processed sugar, is NEVER good. It sabotages the immune system’s ability to combat illness, disease, and other threats to the body. Over consuming sugar leads to chronic inflammation, a big danger to anyone with autoimmune. This causes the body’s immune system to turn on, attacking healthy cells.
Dairy
– It’s sad but true. It may be time to leave the dairy behind. For those with autoimmune, dairy can cause several problems and flare ups. The casein protein found in milk can cause inflammation in the body, which leads to a weakened immune system and an autoimmune flare up. These proteins can also mimic your body’s cells, like the pancreas. When the body mistakenly attacks the pancreas, a person may develop autoimmune type 1 diabetes.
Gluten
-Gluten these days is rarely anyone’s friend, but it is a special enemy of those with autoimmune. Gluten can be dangerous, not just for those with celiac, but also for those suffering from many autoimmune diseases. If a person already has an autoimmune condition, then the body has trouble processing gluten naturally. Consuming gluten puts stress on the immune system that can result in flare ups.
Solutions?
I know this may require you to remove some of your favorite foods, and it’s hard, but there are also steps you can take to improve your digestion and autoimmune condition.
Hydrate…with water. Flushing out toxins and supporting cellular energy will go a long way to improving autoimmunity.
Next, go easy on your digestion. Stay away from those foods that cause inflammation, and maybe try fixing certain foods in a different way to make it easier to digest. For example, some veggies just go down better when lightly steamed. You can also add in some probiotics or digestive enzymes.
Finally, try some gentle exercise to reduce stress. This is a hard one to pull off, but so important. High stress leads to inflammation and other emotional problems that can cause autoimmune flare ups and other problems. So it makes sense, then, that lowering stress can make for a better and healthier you…and a stronger immune system!