Protecting Immunity

Column #201

Our immune systems can save us, maim us, or kill us. Very few understand it and most neglect it.

From the beginning of life through death, our immune system is playing a critical role every single day in preventing or limiting infection. It does it by determining the difference between normal, healthy cells and unhealthy cells. Unhealthy cells can be compromised by infectious agents or damaged by injuries or even cancer. The immune system also recognizes viruses and bacteria by the signals they put out.

When alerted the immune system responds to the problem. If an immune response is not activated by a need, problems arise such as infections. And then there are times when an immune response is activated without a real threat or is not turned off once a danger has passed. Allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases are symptoms of that event.

Understanding your immune system is critically important if you want to strengthen it and keep it from running amuck.

The immune system is incredibly complex and omnipresent. There are many different cell types that are part of the immune system with each cell type playing a unique role. They either circulate throughout the body or reside in a particular tissue. These immune cells come from precursors in the bone marrow and develop into mature cells in different parts of the body.

You do not need to know all about the immune system to best protect it. But being aware of the various key components is helpful for perspective:
●    Skin: The first line of defense against microbes.
●    Bone marrow: Contains stems cells that can develop into a variety of cell types.
●    Adaptive immune cells: B cells and T cells mount responses based on previous encounters.
●    Natural killer (NK) cells: share features of both innate and adaptive immune cells.
●    B, T, and NK cells: are called lymphocytes.
●    The adrenal glands, which affect metabolism, blood pressure, the immune system, sex hormones, and response to stress, are controlled by both the nervous system and the relevant hormone control centers.
●    Bloodstream: Immune cells constantly circulate throughout the bloodstream.
●    Thymus: T cells mature in the thymus.
●    Lymphatic system: A network of vessels and tissues composed of lymph, an extracellular fluid, and lymphoid organs. It’s a conduit for travel and communication between tissues and the bloodstream.
●    Lymph nodes: Are communication hubs where immune cells sample information brought in from the body.
●    Spleen: Is important for processing information from the bloodstream. Immune cells are enriched in specific areas of the spleen, and upon recognizing blood-borne pathogens, they will activate and respond accordingly.
●    Mucosal tissue: To protect prime entry points against pathogens, there are specialized immune hubs located in mucosal tissues like the respiratory tract and gut. For instance, Peyer’s patches are important areas in the small intestine where immune cells can access samples from the gastrointestinal tract

The immune system keeps us alive by preventing or limiting infection. Yet it can become destructive when it misfires and attacks agents that are not actual threats. When this happens, the consequences are called an autoimmune disease. Some of the most common are arthritis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and lupus out of the more than 100 different autoimmune diseases.

Properly functioning immune systems produce antibodies that protect the body from viruses, bacteria, and germs. These antibodies, which are proteins, do this by creating an immunity against unfamiliar microorganisms. Autoimmune (“auto” meaning “self”) means the immune system can’t tell the difference between foreign invaders and the body’s own healthy tissues. Consequently it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue.

These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage where they occur in the body. Over time they can cause not only severe pain and discomfort, but so badly damage organs, joints, skin, and other parts of the body that death is the result. Alarmingly, one in five Americans is saddled with an autoimmune disease.

In most cases people with autoimmune diseases go to doctors who specialize in treating specific afflictions such as arthritis, lupis, etc. Not so often they visit practitioners of functional medicine who will take a full body approach to healing and think first about addressing the cause rather than treat the symptom. To date, no matter how much it has tried, the conventional medical/pharmaceutical community has not created any cures for chronic diseases. It just doesn’t understand that chronic diseases can only be addressed by metabolical approaches that can address multiple modalities.

A paper titled “Reversal of Cognitive Decline: A Novel Therapeutic Program” published in 2014 by Dale E. Bredesen, MD is a perfect example of a proper approach. In it he described how his metabolical approach reversed Alzheimer’s Disease which is classified as an autoimmune disease.

Immunonutrition is a metabolical approach for modifying the activity of the immune system, or consequences of its activation, by using nutrients or specific food. It often refers to the introduction of nutrients in excess of what is normally found in the diet. The more commonly used immunonutrients include arginine, glutamine, branched-chain amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, trace metals (e.g., zinc, copper, iron), and antioxidants. Boosting these nutrients for undernourished people or those who have physiological stresses such as surgery, trauma, infection, or chronic inflammation have some benefits. But, there are concerns that immunonutrition for relatively healthy people may over activate the immune system or restrict it from turning off.

It’s unlikely that nutritionists can properly formulate the complex combination of supplements required for maintaining the immune system. On the other hand, what is known is that the ancestral diet of low glycemic, nutrient dense and diverse foods with 2:1 or lower Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) ratios have always provided all of the necessary immunonutrients. Grass-fed and Omega-3 meats of all stripes along with many green leafy vegetables are perfect examples of the best foods.

Of greatest importance for better immunity is an EFA ratio that’s below 2:1. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of studies regarding the EFA ratio and its impact on brain, nerve, and immune functions. They conclude that the ideal EFA ratio is probably 1:1 in contrast to today’s 10:1 or higher ratios for most Americans. EFA ratios exceeding 4:1 indicate way too many inflammatory Omega-6 EFAs in the body compared to an insufficient level of anti-inflammatory Omega-3 EFAs. The Omega-3 deficiency is associated with impaired brain, nerve, and immunity functions.

In addition to diet there are other factors one must utilize for improving immune system function. Getting proper rest and exercise coupled with consciously lowering stress levels are big ones. One should also minimize their exposure to mycotoxins from fungi, infections, and the consumption of anti nutrients.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

Overview of the Immune System from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

An Interconnection Between the Nervous and Immune System from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Immunonutrition: Modulating the Immune Response in Critically Ill and Surgical Patients Through Nutrition by Scarlet Louis-Jean and Danik Martirosyan

Basics in Clinical Nutrition: Immunonutrition – Nutrients Which Influence Immunity: Effect and Mechanism of Action by Robert F. Grimble

There are more than 100 Autoimmune Diseases from The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

Surprising Finding Provides More Support for Alzheimer’s Being an Autoimmune Disease from Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease

What Is the Difference Between Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Holistic Medicine and Naturopathy? By Armen Nikogosian, MD

Reversing Cognitive Decline by Ted Slanker

Managing MS & Chronic Autoimmune Diseases Using Paleo Diet Principles by Dr. Terry Wahls

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases by Artemis Simopoulos M.D.

Historical Perspectives on the Impact of n-3 and n-6 Nutrients on Health by Bill Lands