Although the body's natural processes do an excellent job of supporting our overall health and wellbeing, sometimes it can use some help. To understand how some supplements help support the immune system, let's start by answering a question: What is your immune system?*
Immunity Explained
Think of your immune system as your body’s security team, trained to recognize and respond when necessary to help keep you feeling your best. Every day, your body is bombarded by foreign substances, whether they are good microorganisms or the less favorable ones, found within the environment and everything we touch. Your immune system is specialized to recognize those less favorable microorganisms to help prepare a response.
The immune system is not located within one centralized part of your body, but provides several layers in how your body responds to microorganisms or other foreign invaders. The first line of defense is your skin, which creates an excellent physical barrier to restrict entry to any unwanted guests.
If any non-beneficial microorganisms do pass through your skin barrier, your body is trained to respond to them with your white blood cells. These cells then work to sound the alarm to draw more white blood cells to the area, including leukocytes that work together in carrying out an appropriate immune response. This is referred to as the innate immune system and is generally non-specific, so the same response will be carried out regardless of the invader.
Another layer to your immune system is the adaptive immune response, which is highly specific. Unlike the innate immune system, the adaptive immune system recognizes foreign substances in the body based on the presence of antigens and develops a customized response. Highly specialized white blood cells called B cells help produce antibodies that fit together like puzzle pieces with the antigens. The antibody-antigen complex will then signal to other immune cells to respond appropriately to this complex.
Another type of cell found within the adaptive immune system are T cells. These cells do not produce antibodies, but when they recognize an antigen, some types of T cells will provide a direct response. The amazing part about the adaptive immune system is its capacity to remember the appropriate response for any foreign substance through memory cells.
Call in the Reinforcements
Decades of research reveal a direct relationship between nutrition and immune support, spotlighting the importance of a healthy diet. Yet due to busy lifestyles and the prevalence of fast food chains for convenience, it is not uncommon that a healthy diet is difficult to sustain, which can lead to not getting daily recommended amounts of important nutrients. While relying on diet alone to meet daily nutritional requirements isn’t always easy, maintaining a healthy immune system isn’t impossible. It's time to enlist the superpowers of some new allies.
Research studies continue to surface, revealing that supplementing our diet with vitamins and minerals is a great way to support immune health so you can continue to feel your healthy best.*
Vitamins and minerals that affect immune function* include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Selenium
- Zinc
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Follow our blog series as we explore the immune-supporting benefits of these vitamins and minerals.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The information provided is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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