There are two types of immunity: innate and acquired. Your innate immune response is the one you receive when you are born. As you passed through your mother's birthing canal, you came into contact with microorganisms from her vagina and rectum. You also received organisms through breast milk and, if you were bottle-fed, through your formula. These microbes have developed in and on you as you've aged. They outnumber your body cells by trillions. They are known as your microbiome.
The innate immune system biologically steps in whenever invading microbes are present. You don't have to become ill to boost your innate immune system response. In contrast, an acquired immune response either remembers having dealt with a particular illness before or developed immunity by developing antibodies, which means that once you've had a specific disease and overcome it, you won't get it again because your immune system remembers the invader knows what to do to stop it in its tracks. An exception to this is when you live with herpes. Acquired immunity can't kill herpes, even though you have antibodies, because the virus hides. However, it's still essential that your immune system runs optimally so when herpes comes out of hiding your immune system can deal with it.
Your acquired immunity response comes from contracting a disease or receiving a vaccination and overcoming it.
How The Immune System Works
Your immune system is like an army that always safeguards your body from a possible attack from pathogens. A pathogen is a virus, bacterium, or another microorganism that can cause disease. Your nasal passages and digestive system depend on mucus and a healthy amount of stomach acid to block and kill harmful microbes at the gate. When they manage to enter the body anyway, sometimes through the skin, the immune system charges in to deal with it.
Every time your immune system faces an invader throughout your lifetime, your immune system becomes wiser. Any new pathogen that enters your body that resembles a previous one is dealt with and destroyed quicker, to the point where you may not even be aware you are on the verge of becoming ill. Studies prove that children who grow up around more germs have healthier immune systems in adulthood.
Allergic & Autoimmune Responses
An overactive or weak immune system causes allergic responses and autoimmune conditions. When your "army" is overactive, it jumps the gun. It attacks harmless cells and compounds, such as pet dander, nutrients, and pollen, which causes inflammation, which the immune system further attacks. An overactive immune system is the cause of diseases such as Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis.
A weakened immune system is often a result of poor food choices that disrupt gut bacteria, causing Leaky Gut Syndrome and inflammation. Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition where food particles and toxins seep through the intestines and into the bloodstream, triggering your immune system, which sees these things as invaders. You can end up with an overactive immune system (autoimmune disorder). Inflammation also reduces the immune system's ability to produce antibodies in times of need. You can end up with weakened immunity when you need it most.
Nourishing Your Immune System
There are many ways to nourish your immune system naturally. I'm not referring to boosting or stimulating. These things can lead to an overactive immune system. No. Nourishing your immune system involves giving it what it needs to work optimally.
Sometimes, your immune system may need help from the outside to overcome illnesses and diseases. Thankfully, in the modern world, we have medicines that can help. However, there are many natural ways to optimize your immune system through your mind, lifestyle, and diet.
How to Nourish Your Immune System Through Your Mind
- Engaging with nature (forest bathing)
- Meditation
- Breathing, An Exercise
- Journaling
- Engaging with positive, loving, uplifting people
- Creativity
- Learning new things
How to Nourish Your Immune System Through Your Lifestyle
- Movement
- Limit exposure to chemicals
- Eat a genetically appropriate diet
- Eliminate or significantly reduce refined sugar and white flour products
- Get quality sleep (8-10 per night) at the same time (before 11 PM). The immune system is very circadian and depends on you getting to sleep ealry on in the evening.
- Consume healthy fats (omega-3s)
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol
- Wash your hands often, especially after being outside or in public
- Extricate yourself from toxic relationships
How to Nourish Your Immune System Through Your Diet
To nourish your immunity through your diet, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fresh water or tea (caffeine-free) and avoid foods and substances you are sensitive to or allergic to. Foods that support a healthy immune response are as follows.
- Healthy fats (walnuts, fish, seeds, avocado, coconut oil)
- Foods containing vitamin C (citrus)
- Taking adequate amounts of vitamin D (crucial)
- Orange and leafy green vegetables
- Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, miso, yogurt, and apple cider vinegar (don't consume fermented if you have symptoms of IBS or Histamine Intolerance)
- Medicinal mushrooms (maitake, shiitake, reishi, and chaga)
- Fluids, such as pure water, tea, and broth
- Yogurt (plain, organic, no sugar added)
- Consume holy basil (tulsi), cinnamon, turmeric (curcumin), and ginger.
- Flowers, such as chamomile, passionflower, and rose rock (cistus)
- Raw honey (raw local honey and Manuka honey are best)
- Follow an anti-inflammatory or antihistamine diet.
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