How does the immune system respond to viruses?
When it comes to defending against viruses and germs, there is only one thing and one thing that matters the most - our immune systems.
Yes, proper hygiene, masks, and gloves can lessen and eliminate the effect of being infected, but with coronavirus, we have learned that face masks and gloves can only go so far.
You can stay home for as long as you can, but even if you are social distancing, there is still a chance to catch COVID-19. A woman from North Carolina who hadn’t left her house for three weeks tested positive for coronavirus. And the source? She got it from the grocery which was delivered by a person who later on texted positive. Read the full story here.
I am not trying to scare you, but this virus has been changing the way we live and interact with one another like no other circumstances. That’s why boosting your immune system should be on the top of your list if you want to stay healthy during this time.
So what are the elements that impact our immune systems?
Studies have shown that age, gender, gene, season, environment, and gut inhabitants all play important roles in the variation of the immune response. Some believe that immune variation is something that we are born with, but others believe environmental elements play bigger roles.
The latter is good news for us because at least we can do something about it.
So how do our bodies fight off infection?
When a foreign substance, such as a germ or a bacteria enters our body, the immune system detects its existence and record it as not one of our own, thus trigger an immune response. Parts of the immune system such as white blood cells then go to work to eliminate germs in our body. Here is a very interesting GIF of the white blood cell tracing bacterias.
When an immune system is working well, then we are able to fight off viruses and stay healthy. But when we have a compromised immune system, that’s when things can go terribly wrong. We still don’t know 100% why an immune system can be weakened. But for example, if you are stressed out and not feeling well, your body will produce more cortisol. Over time cortisol can cause digestion issues, cause muscle and bones to break down, and thus weaken the white blood cell count in our body. Or if you have poor eating habits, and consume high fat and high sugar diet on a daily base, this will likely impact your immune system as well.
So what can we do to help boost our immune system?
Aside from a healthy lifestyle, there are three magical foods I like to add to my tea to help boost my overall health.
Goji berry is my all-time favorite tea add-on. It’s not only delicious but has so many health benefits. Goji berry is one of the most popular Chinese herbs. My grandma adds it to stews, my grandpa adds it to his tea. Goji berry supports immune function because it counters the reduction in white blood cells as we age. It also protects the membrane from being attacked by viruses and bacterias.
Aside from its immune support function, it also promotes blood circulation, reduces the risk of high blood pressure. It promotes healthy eyesight with its property of high in zeaxanthin. It's an overall amazing food.
Aside from its deliciousness and high in vitamin C, Lemon is known to alkalize water. Although lemon juice on its own is highly acidic, once digested, it became alkaline with a ph above 7.
An acidic body is a playground for sickness and ailments. That’s why we want to do our best to keep our body’s ph around 7.
Lemon is great to add to tea, with a bit of honey, it's heaven.
Turmeric has many health benefits, mainly anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It also prevents blood thinning, which is vital to our immune health. Its anti-inflammatory property calms the overall constraints inflammation has on the body. Curcumin in turmeric is more antioxidant than vitamin E which prevents the process of aging. It’s great for the digestive system and promotes healthy gut bacteria.
Those are super easy to find ingredients, most grocery store should carry them, and it's very easy to apply them to your tea. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I'd be more than happy to discuss.
Stay safe and stay healthy!
The book Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH