Immune System Part 1

Nourishing your immune system

 

The immune system protects the body from illness, infection, and disease. This complex system uses different body tissues and chemical reactions to defend our bodies from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, microbes, free radicals, and parasites. Different types of invaders trigger immune responses and produce antibodies – proteins produced by the immune system to defend the body. Over time, the body builds memory of which antibodies to use for each kind of invader, so protection becomes routine.

Components of the immune system

The lymphatic system plays a large role in the immune function. When vessels circulate and drain body fluids known as lymph to one from our organs. Lymph transports nutrients to the organs and removes any excess substances from them. Lymph also contains white blood cells – the soldiers of our body that kill a wide range of harmful invaders. White blood cells are manufactured in the finalists and bone marrow, then released into the lymph and circulated through the lymph vessels to their final destination.

Your blood contains roughly 50 billion white blood cells with the sole responsibility of maintaining your body’s natural defenses.

Risk factors for the immune system

Diet and lifestyle play a huge role in our immune system’s ability to keep our body functioning at its best. Unhealthy habits significantly increase the number of harmful chemical compounds our body takes in. These compounds, known as free radicals, are present in abundance in processed foods and alcohol. Free radicals also enter the body when we breathe in cigarette smoke, paint fumes, exhaust fumes, and other gasses and pollutants in the air.

Free radicals destabilize healthy atoms in the body, causing cell damage they may eventually lead to disease and illness. When our immune system constantly works to defend against free radicals, it has fewer resources available to fight off other invaders like viruses and bacteria, which is why we tend to get sicker when we fail to eat healthy or live a wholesome lifestyle.

Basically, the more free radicals we take in, the harder it becomes for our immune system to keep us healthy. If you are free radicals be taken, the more available our immune system is to seek and destroy other harmful invaders.

Immune statistics

• The immune system is closely linked to cancer – the second leading cause of death in the United States. CDC 2011
• An estimated 23.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease, and incidences are on the rise. US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010
• Autoimmune diseases collectively rank as a top 10 causes of death in women from ages 10 – 64. American Journal of Public health, 2000.
• Approximately one in two males and one in three females will contract cancer over the course of their lifetime. American Cancer Society, 2011
• Over 40 diseases have been classified as having autoimmune roots; these diseases can be both chronic and deadly. National Institute of allergy and infectious diseases, 2004.

Got insomnia? Juice foods for better sleep!

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Foods for Sleep:
Sleep plays a huge role in personal health. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule gives the body time to rest and rejuvenate Cells grow, woulds heal faster, memory sharpens , and muscles repair and strengthen when the body get adequate sleep.  While researchers make new discoveries about the purpose of sleep every day , the fact that every living animal sustains its own cycle suggests that sleep is hugely important for a walks of life.

Sleep apnea inhibits normal breath during sleep, which results in oxygen deprivation and causing sufferers to awaken suddenly, gasping for air.  Sufferers may not remember waking up at any point during the night, but will experience symptoms on insomnia like sluggishness lack of focus, and moodiness.   Depression may result, as sufferers cannot identify the cause of these issues.

Sleep apnea is associated with serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.  Sleep apnea can also greatly inhibit a person's REM (dream) sleep, and in doing so has been linked to an increased risk of developing extreme psychological disorders. Obesity increases a person's risk of experiencing sleep apnea, as excess fat inhibits the diaphragm from fully expanding. 

Preventing sleep problems:
Diet, nutrition and eating patterns have a large effect on sleep quality.  Foods and drinks contain compounds that can either keep you up at night, or help you sleep soundly. Mealtime also play a role in a person's sleep cycle. As a general rule of thumb, stop eating at least two hours before going to bed, and to not consume caffeine, smoke cigarettes, or ingest any other stimulants after 2:00pm in the afternoon. 

The amount of sleep needed differs between individuals, most adults function best on 7-8 hours of sleep.  The sleep cycle will repeat roughly four times in an eight-hour sleep.

Foods:
Dates, cashews, oats, spirulina, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds all contain amino acid called tryptophan that releases chemicals melatonin and seratonin in the brain. Both chemicals give the body a happy drowsy feeling and play a large role in maintaining the sleep cycle. 

Pumpkin seeds, swiss chard and spinach all contain high magnesuim levels known to relax the muscles, strengthen the bones and encourage blood flow to all areas ot the body.  Due to its role in muscle relaxation, magnesium is linked to Restless Leg syndrome.  Increasing magnesium intake may help prevent instances of the condition. 

Did you know?
Staying awake for over 17 hours impairs your brain functioning the same amount as have blood alcohol content of .05%.

Falling asleep withibn five minutes of lying down indicates sleep deprivation.  Individuals with a healthy sleep cycle generally take 10 to 15 minutes to fully fall asleep.