Your immune system is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of your body. From the very moment you are born, it works incredibly hard to protect you against illnesses and keep your health in good check. But, while we are reminded of this often, a lot of us don’t know how this process actually works. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the immune system and how it works!
What Is The Immune System?
Let’s dive a bit deeper into what the immune system actually is.
Your immune system is a complex part of your body that is made up of various different proteins, cells and organs. It uses two different mechanisms (the innate immune system and adaptive immune system) to fight off harmful substances.
What Is The Innate Immune System?
The innate immune system is what you are born with. Whenever an outside invader makes contact with your body, the innate immune system gets to work on fighting it off. It does this by surrounding it and using cells to engulf it.
What Is Your Adaptive Immune System?
The adaptive immune system is perhaps one of the most clever parts of your body. As the name suggests, it adapts and learns whenever it comes into contact with outside invaders. This means that it “remembers” what it’s been in contact with, ensuring that the invaders don’t cause havoc a second time round.
Where To Find The Immune System
We’ve mentioned that the immune system is made up of different organs, cells and proteins. But, where exactly can it be found?
From your tonsils to bone marrow, spleen to lymph nodes, your immune system can be found all over the body. This is important as your whole body needs protecting – especially around the nose and mouth area where most invaders enter.
Supporting Your Immune System
While your immune system is super clever, just like most other parts of your body, it will need support to perform at optimal levels. The easiest way to support your immune system is through a balanced lifestyle, ensuring that you eat healthy foods to get those all-important vitamins.
To further support your immune system, many people choose to take vitamin D supplements. This is because, unlike many other vitamins, vitamin D cannot be found too richly in foods. Instead, it is generated by your skin in sunlight. The UK sun, in particular, isn’t always strong enough to support your sufficient vitamin D levels. This is where supplements can save the day!
To Summarise
Without your immune system, there’s no telling how your body will react when exposed to viruses and other invaders. This is why it is so important to ensure that you are looking after your body as much as possible and treating it how it deserves! It’s safe to say that it will repay you.
If you feel as though you are showing signs of a weakened immune system, visit your doctor immediately. They will be able to run some tests to determine the cause.