Monday, July 20, 2009

The Human Immune System And How To Help It

By Laura Lane

Modern civilization is unimaginable without the technology that sustains it. From cellular phones to hybrid cars and everything in between, machinery is necessary to preserve the way we live and continue to progress. Machines, however, inevitably break down and (at least for now) they are unable to repair themselves. By contrast, our bodies are naturally produced machines that do have the capacity to repair themselves, and they do so on a daily basis. It remain unfeasible to go and purchase a new body when ours breaks down, and indeed it is unnecessary due to a remarkable system: the Human Immune System.

The immune system is a network of bacteria, cells, and organs-from the simple to the complex-which seeks out and destroys any foreign, harmful material that invades the body. In tandem, it eradicates dead cells while eliminating mutated and/or possibly cancerous cells. There are two sub-strata that comprise the human immune system: bone marrow and the thymus. Bone marrow generates leukocytes (white blood cells) which pervade the body , hunting down and eliminating dangerous invaders. The thymus is a small organ, positioned just above the heart, that trains B cells (cells that create antibodies to battle infections), T cells (cells that are able to recognize specialized infections), "killer cells" (capable of locating and killing cancerous cells), and "eating cells" (destroyers of random debris and possibly harmful microorganisms). Overall, the immune system works with the human body's systems to protect it and maintain it, allowing it to function smoothly.

The immune system can be boosted through a number of means, whether scientific or natural.

For thousands of years, Indians have utilized a number of herbs to increase the power of their own immune systems. In addition to Hoodia, try using ashwagandha, tulasi, triphala, amalaki, shatavari, gokshura, lahsuna, or sahadevi.

Yoga and meditation have been proven to alleviate and prevent stress, a primary cause of deficiencies in the immune system and resulting infections.

The easiest way to increase the ability of the immune system is to take a daily multivitamin. These are both easy to find (at your local grocer) and painless to take. Furthermore, you can find a bewildering multitude of vitamins and minerals for purchase, though I would suggest speaking with a healthcare professional before putting together your own regimen, as some combinations of vitamins can be dangerous.

Finally, the importance of sleep in the preservation of the immune system cannot be overstated. The less sleep an individual has, the weaker the immune system becomes as the numbers of T cells drop dramatically according to lessening levels of sleep. Consequently illness, which causes problems sleeping, further damages the immune system. It is therefore extremely important to get, at the very least, six hours of sleep a day.

Try to go to bed at the same time, each and every day. This allows your body to have a constant rhythm to which your immune system will adhere. Sometimes it helps to read a book before bed or listen to music; whatever works for you. Be sure that your room is dark, silent, and conducive to rest-avoid bringing stressful, work-related items into the bedroom. Do not eat anything for two hours before you go to bed, and avoid exercising during the same time period. Finally, avoid consuming caffeinated drinks with dinner.

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