Multi - First Multivitamin & Mineral (Iron FREE) - 180 V-Caps - Health First

Immune System Support
Reduced in activity by stress, nutrient deficiencies and toxins in the body, your immune system response can be optimized with the right food, supplements and approach to life...
The immune system is the police force of the body. It is a complex system of cells that defend the body from invading organisms, regulate inflammation and control abnormal cell growth. Many organs are involved in the immune response, the bone marrow, lymphatic system, thymus, liver and spleen. Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The spleen is a location where immune cells can monitor the blood for foreign matter. It also speeds up red blood cell production and activates blood clotting. The liver can increase body temperature and induce sweating to help fight off infections. The thymus produces B cells, which make antibodies, and T cells, which are part of the immune response.

The immune system is capable of fighting off intruders and remembering them so that they are killed off quickly if they invade again. The immune system must be able to differentiate self from non-self in order to know what to attack. If it does not recognize the body's own tissue than autoimmune diseases occurs.

Physical and emotional stress has been shown in studies to depress the amount of circulating immune cells. Examples of possible stressors are excessive exercise, surgery, a long illness, and loss of a job or death of a loved one. The sympathetic nervous system is activated by stress and causes increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a heightening of the body's senses. It decreases the functioning of systems that are not essential for fighting or fleeing a situation. This includes immunity. Stress also causes increased inflammation and a build up of damaging agents called free radicals. These substances can interfere with normal immune functioning.

Poor dietary habits inhibit the immune system by creating deficiencies in protein, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet, with sufficient protein intake, supports the immune system because the immune cells are made of protein and are in a constant state of renewal. The immune cells use a variety of vitamins and minerals to carry out their jobs. The most important nutrients are vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc and essential fatty acids. For example, vitamin C strengthens white blood cells and prevents the multiplication of bacteria and viruses. Deficiency of any one of these nutrients impairs the immune response.

Dietary sugar, especially white sugar, has been directly linked to depression of the immune system, immediately after its consumption. One study showed that eating three and a half oz. of simple sugar reduced the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. Sugar also provides fuel for invading organisms, like bacteria and fungus, thus strengthening their attack.

Sleep is an essential component of our body's repair mechanisms. During sleep the body in an anabolic, or building, state. Insomnia prevents the renewal of immune cells. Over time this leads to a decrease in immune functioning. Lack of sleep also stresses the body and usually occurs with an increase in sympathetic nervous system function. The immune system is depressed by the mechanism described in previous paragraphs.