Build your immunity
Your immune system is your primary defence against infectious disease, so the best thing anyone can do is to educate themselves about how to do that. ~ Dr Joseph Mercola
Your immune system is your greatest ally against illness and infection. When you appreciate your amazing capacity to overcome immune challenges you become more confident in your healing abilities. Rather than a single soldier, your immune system is a complex crew of cells, chemicals, systems and organs pulling together to protect you. A vigilant immune system identifies and disables threats such as abnormal cells, bacteria, fungi, viruses or toxins. Our immunity community thrive when supported by a nurturing attitude, diet, supplements, herbs, regimes and therapeutic aids.
Defence duo
The immunity army has two strong arms. One is inborn immunity and the other is acquired immunity through exposure over a lifetime. Innate immunity is very rapid whereas adaptive immunity can take four to seven days to mount a response. Our innate immunity includes barriers such as the skin and secretions like mucus that prevent pathogens from invading. It’s like a club bouncer, keeping undesirables out. When the skin barrier or mucous membranes are compromised allergies, inflammation and infections can occur. In response to invaders, chemical mediators called cytokines, specialised white blood cells and clotting factors may be released. The gut, respiratory tract and eyes are also part of this barrier.
“Restricting sleep to 4 hours per night for 6 days, followed by sleep for 12 hours per night for 7 days, resulted in a greater than 50 per cent decrease in production of antibodies to influenza vaccination.”
Acquired or adaptive immunity is our second line of defence. This is our
