Disorders of the
immune system
Because it fights to ward off disease and infections every
day, the immune system plays an essential role in protecting our health. It is
involved in every thing from repairing a paper cut to killing life-threatening
parasites. Every illness, injury, and threat to the body requires an immune
response in order to heal.
When compromised, however, the immune system may lead in
bacteria and viruses, which cause conditions like coals and flus.. If
overworked, protective immune responses may even harm the body – causing issues
like chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease, which occur when the immune
system attacks healthy body tissues. The development of cancer is also links to
a compromised immune system.
Common viral and
bacterial infections
the immune system is the body’s first line of protection
against viruses like the common cold and influenza, as well as bacterial
infections like pneumonia, salmonella, urinary tract infection, and ear
infection. While some of these conditions can eventually sort themselves out,
others can be quite serious and demand medical attention.
Inflammation
inflammation is part of our normal immune response. When the
body is harmed, it says lymph and white blood cells through the lymphatic
system to flood the area of concern. This fluid uses chemical reactions to
separate and remove the harmful substances, restoring the cells back to their
normal state.
While brief periods of inflammation – known as acute
inflammation – work to heal the body, inflammation that extends for long
periods of time or chronic inflammation puts a strain on the circulatory and
immune systems, damages body tissues, and destroys cells. Chronic inflammation
can be attributed to a diet high in processed foods and/or to food
sensitivities and allergies. Chronic inflammation makes the body more prone to
contracting other illnesses that may cause autoimmune diseases – health
problems that occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body.
Autoimmune diseases include celiac disease (gluten), cirrhosis of the liver,
Crohn’s disease, lupus, anemia, psoriasis, arthritis, and type I diabetes among
others. Eating properly can drastically reduce and reverse chronic
inflammation, while eating processed foods can cause its development.
Cancer occurs when mutated cells reproduce uncontrollably,
forming malignancies tumors that can invade and eventually take over other
parts of the body. There are over 100 types of cancer, and the disease can
occur in virtually any body part.
The risk of developing cancer depends on both genetics and
your surrounding environment. Having a family history of the disease, smoking,
being exposed to radiation, and eating a poor diet all increase a person’s risk
of cancer. However, much evidence suggests that eating natural, high nutritious
foods can swing even the most at risk individuals back to the other side of the
spectrum.
Free radicals and antioxidants
The theory that links the presence of free radicals in the
body to an increased cancer risk is gaining support in both medical and
holistic healing circles. Free radicals are molecules taken in from the
environment that lack an electron. This missing electron makes the free radical
molecule unstable and prone to stealing electrons from other surrounding atoms.
When ingested, free radicals steal electrons from the Adams of healthy cells.
This process has been cited as a cause of premature aging and a host of
illnesses and diseases including cancer.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. They do this by
donating one of their own electrons to the free radical, so the free radical
stops looking for an electron to steal. Antioxidants remain stable, even after
they give an electron to a free radical. Certain nutrients, like vitamin C and
E are particularly good for protecting the body against destructive free
radicals. The best way to ensure you are getting a sufficient intake of
antioxidants is by eating a balanced diet can of at least eight servings of
fruits and vegetables per day.
