Dirt For the Immune System

December 1, 2017 By Nemira Leave a Comment

Dirt for the immune is beneficial, especially for children. When people are introduced to bacteria from a young age, they develop a more robust immune system than those living in sterile households.

Healthy children become healthy adults

Did you ever think about the health of your parents and grandparents? Most of them were and are firm and do not have so many allergies to cats, dust, or pollen. Why does it happen? A few decades ago, people were not so crazy about sanitary conditions. They ate apples from trees or picked from the ground. Nobody washed strawberries or vegetables. The visible dirt was removed from the food, and it is all. They ate it without consequences.

In cities, people got more problems compared to in the countryside. However, children who had contact with dogs and played with dirt anywhere developed a more robust immune system compared with their well-being than it is now.

Dirt for the immune system is good

Having contact with the soil keeps the immune system more vital. The immune system can adapt. When exposed to various microorganisms, the immune system becomes more robust. Significantly children benefit from it. Exposure to farm animals and multiple plants reduces the risk of becoming allergic.

The authors of Dirt Is Good recommend parents let children play in the dirt. I can imagine how it can be scary for moms who carry unique napkins to protect children from germs.

The sterile environment is suitable for labs, not for the real world. The immune system must be ready for various encounters with germs.

The immune system develops a protective mechanism during its lifetime. Primarily, it is essential for children. Here is an excerpt from the book Dirt Is Good written by Jack Gilbert, Ph.D., and Rob Knight, Ph.D.:

One way to ensure that your baby or toddler will be able to control inflammation is to expose them to a diverse bacterial world. This exposure trains their immune system to identify itself, and it also increases the chance that they’ll have bacteria that help keep inflammation in check.

Conclusion

Living in a world that exposes you to various bacteria is helpful for the immune system. Children benefit the most. The immune system expects microbes to come in. Having them around, children get more robust because the immune system develops continuously. The clean air, contact with farm animals, and soil can help build a robust immune system. It works for adults too.

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How To Keep Healthy On Your Side?

November 22, 2017 By Nemira Leave a Comment

How to keep healthy on your side? Being healthy is a joy and constant work. We must focus on the right and healthy habits, stick to them and work on them. Health is the most critical asset over time. These two things you can not buy. How to keep healthy on your side?

There are no secrets or enormous expenses to keep healthy in daily life. Commitment, perseverance, and a wish to stay in shape must be prioritized. Without health, the experience is not as exciting as it would be if we would live in balance with body, mind, and soul. Health is in your hands. I do not talk about accidents or genetic diseases, which do not happen so often.

Being healthy does not require big money. If you take care of your mental, physical, and financial health, you will live a balanced life without having worries about the future.

Ways to stay healthy

Eat vegetables and fruits which grow in your area. Exotic fruits do not bring so much good as native harvest. Colorful plants are beneficial because they contain plenty of vitamins, fibers, minerals, and oxygen.
Carefully choose fats. Good fat is cold-pressed oils such as olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil.
Exercise. Moving around and breathing using techniques helps the oxygen to reach the smallest areas of our body.
Keep your thoughts in check. Do not let the negativity sip in and cover all views of the world. Only you can decide what kind of attitude you will have towards various problems, events, and encounters with people.
Relax. Find some time to stretch and listen to music, walk outside, sit with your thoughts alone, or dance as nobody sees you.
Train your brain. The brain has a terrific ability to stretch. It is called plasticity. It does not matter how old you are. As long you force yourself to learn new things, you will be in good shape mentally.
Do not skip sleep time. During sleep, the immune system regains strength; the brain rests, the blood pressure becomes normal, and stress levels fall. People can sleep 4-5 hours and feel good. For somebody else, 9 hours of work well and give plenty of energy.
Adjust to cold. Sleeping in a room where the temperature is 60-65 Fahrenheit lets the body rest. Using a cold shower in the morning and before night strengthens the body and immune system.
Eat less. When people eat less, they save energy and do not add calories. The quality of food is essential, not the amount.
Start to laugh again. Children laugh a hundred times a day. Adults forgot this fantastic exercise. A good laugh relaxes, calms us down, and fulfills us with good energy.
Cherish relationships with your partner or spouse. Love each other. The sex rejuvenates and enriches both partners if it is useful and desirable for both.
Detoxify your body using natural remedies and consult with a trained health professional.
Listen to your body. Sometimes we do not pay attention to signs and skip valuable information. Nothing starts from zero. The body always sends signals about disbalance and the need to get help.

Conclusion

How to keep healthy on your side depends just on you. Nobody else will exercise, consume nutritious food, would remain a positive attitude, and take care of sleep and healthy habits. You and only you are responsible for your health. Prevention is a powerful technique. It is nothing special or new. It is reasonable to respect your body because it is more challenging to reach your goals without fitness.

What Is Inflammation In The Body?

November 12, 2017 By Nemira Leave a Comment

What is inflammation in the body? Inflammation is a common root of many chronic diseases. Oxidative stress influences the beginnings of inflammation.

Types of inflammation

Types of inflammation are:

Normal inflammation
Abnormal inflammation

Normal inflammation

Healthy inflammation occurs when the body’s healing system reacts to a localized attack or injury. The process happens in one area. It starts here, is maintained, and is finished with healing here.

Inflammation could happen when a sudden injury to the skin from impact or burn affects a particular area.

Some changes occur together one by one. The heat and redness show the influx of blood to the affected area. The swelling happens because small blood vessels allow plasma to go to tissues. The pain follows. The immune system participates in the healing process. It takes time, but the inflammation disappears when the problem resolves. We can be disappointed when we have pain and redness or swelling. Fortunately, it takes a short time and a restricted area of inflammation.

Abnormal inflammation

Abnormal inflammation differs in space and time. When healthy inflammation starts in one place and ends simultaneously, abnormal inflammation can attack the whole body.

What is worst is that inflammation lets the immune system attack all cells. These powerful immune killer cells go after affected cells and healthy ones.

How do they work these killer cells?

The immune system has the best army in the world. Immune cells have different tasks in the body and act according to the situation. Some enzymes could destroy cell walls and digest the vital components of cells and tissues.

Usually, when healthy inflammation occurs, the body is able to control the process. It deals with the consequences of impact or invasion in one place. When healing ends, the body stops control over the inflammation process because there is no need to take care of it.

What is wrong with abnormal inflammation?

The body does not control the abnormal inflammation. It spreads over all tissues and does not quit easily. The immune system participates in healing. Unfortunately, it could lead to autoimmune disorders when it does not get the command from the body on what to target and when to stop.

What does it mean?

Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks cells without a difference. Sick or healthy cells suffer from powerful killer cells. It can lead to:

Discomfort
Disability
Failure of organs
Irreparable damage to essential structures

For example, type I diabetes is autoimmune from the start:

The immune system starts an abnormal attack triggered by an unknown cause
The beginning is early in life
Insulin-producing cells in the pancreas destroyed

Rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune disorders.

What does trigger autoimmune reactions?

There are some origins, such as:

Infection
Toxic injury
Stress
Environmental issues such as air, water, and food pollution

New findings are causes of disorders

Dr. Andrew Weil states that doctors have a consensus about the triggers of some diseases. Asthma, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease have components of abnormal inflammation.

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) can start from microinflammation. It can be seen just with a microscope examining damage to the GI tract tissue.

Previously, other triggers were to blame. For example, cholesterol was responsible for atherosclerosis. Now doctors think that the damage was done at first by inflammation. Later on, cholesterol deposits can be a response to protect damaged areas covering defects.

First, abnormal inflammation occurs. Second, the body attempts to heal affected areas.

Regulation of inflammatory process

Before digging into this inflammation topic, I thought hormones are primarily for growth and fertility. Nope. Hormones take a respectable place in our body’s metabolism.

What do the control mechanisms of inflammation?

Prostaglandins and leukotrienes were responsible for the control of the inflammation process. Hormones work synergetically. Imagine a swinging pendulum. When you do not move it, the swing stays in one place. The balance was achieved. Hormones work in the same way in the body. They interact and make sure that processes would not go wild.

Some of the hormones increase inflammatory activity; some of them dampen it. These hormones must be in equilibrium.

Interestingly, the same hormones which increase inflammation can trigger cells to proliferate. Other hormones that decrease inflammation can cease the abnormal division of cells.

What Does It Mean?

What does it mean?

It means that disrupted balance in hormonal activity can trigger inflammation and lead to nasty diseases.

Is there an escape from this misery?

Yes, it is. Education is the first thing that would help us make the right choices. Second, a fit lifestyle is a way to avoid significant problems and consequences from it.

Do you see a connection here?

According to Dr. Andrew Weil:

food choices we make can determine whether we are in a pro-inflammatory state or an anti-inflammatory one.

Hormones are prostaglandins and leukotrienes synthesized in the body. The body uses polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), essential nutrients. We do not make these vital nutrients. We must get them from food.

There are two types of PUFAs:

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids

The demand for these fatty acids is a constant and vital one.

Hormones made from omega-6 acids intensify inflammation, and hormones produced from omega-3 fatty acids downregulate it.

Sources of fatty acids

Omega-6 fatty acids come from the fat of grass-fed animals, oil-rich seeds, and vegetable oils extracted from them.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in :

Leafy greens
Walnuts
Flax seeds
Hemp
Soy oils
Canola oils
Sea vegetables
Salmon
Sardines
Herring
Mackerel
Black Cod
Bluefish
Fat from grass-fed animals

Nutritionists think that the balance between the consumption of omega-6 and omega-3 was stable in the past. When processed food takes over, especially in Western countries, this balance is disrupted.

You know about the fattening of animals and birds with hormones and antibiotics, keeping them in confined places. Vegetable oils heated. Snack foods provide omega-6 fatty acids. There is no place for omega-3. So what, you would ask?

Omega-3 fatty acids dampen inflammation. Period. If you do not get enough of these acids, your body cannot produce the right hormones that regulate inflammation. Do you see how it goes? It is a chain reaction. One thing leads to another.

Processed food disrupts the balance of hormones. It leads to inflammation. Inflammation is the root of diseases. No fun? Yes, I agree.

Again, there are words from Dr.Andrew Weil:

In a nutshell: you can reduce the risks of abnormal inflammation and diseases associated with it and shift your body from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state by increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, decreasing your intake of omega-6 fatty acids, and excluding from your diet the kinds of fat known to promote inflammation.

Are fats only to blame for inflammation?

I am sorry, but carbohydrates are responsible for inflammation too.

The chemical reaction’s name is glycation when proteins and sugar react. Glycation produces pro-inflammatory compounds. They are called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

For me, it correlates with aging. AGEs promote inflammation through the deformation of proteins, cross-linking them.

The glycation could be measured. Doctors check blood levels looking for hemoglobin AIC. It is a form of glycated hemoglobin.

Knowing the numbers of glycation is essential. This process affects proteins and generates AGEs.

Do We Need To Be Afraid Of Glycation?

Typically people have low levels because the body’s defense mechanisms protect us.

How to choose wisely carbohydrate sources?

Learn about the glycemic index and glycemic load

Eat foods with a low glycemic index and glycemic load. Change snack foods with whole grains, beans, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables. Eat more temperate fruits compared with tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, or papaya.
Consume less processed food
Avoid fast food
Eat fewer products made with flour of any kind
Skip products made with high-fructose syrup.

Conclusion

Healthy inflammation benefits the body. At the time of impact, the body pulls all helpers and starts to take care of the confined area at a particular time. When the consequences of injury or invasion are removed, inflammation disappears.

Abnormal inflammation occurs when the body can not control the immune system, and defense mechanisms start to attack its cells.

The quality and origin of diet have a strong influence on inflammation evolution. Watching the menu and changing lifestyles could enormously impact the quality of our lives.

If you have questions or would like to leave a comment, I would be glad to answer it.

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Fast Food with Antibiotics

September 29, 2017 By Nemira Leave a Comment

Fast food is harmful. Fast food contains antibiotics. Fast food with antibiotics does not bring benefits — chemicals are used in animals like chicken, beef, and pork. Restaurants serving fast food promised to get rid of chicken full of antibiotics. However, restaurants are stuck with meat and pork, which is full of antibiotics.

You would ask why animals need antibiotics. Antibiotics prevent cows and pigs from diseases, rapid growth, and hormones.

People who use antibiotics weaken their immune systems. The good bacteria in the intestine start to disappear. Can the food not be adequately digested? What happens? Diarrhea and weakness bother us.

There is an escape from this situation. Proper rest, an organic diet, minerals, and probiotics can make a difference.

What happens in farms?

Animals live in crowded conditions. They get food full of antibiotics and hormones. They do not see the sun or breathe polluted air. Individuals who operate this business are concerned about weight gain during shorter periods.

Animals do not get probiotics. Nobody cares about well-being. Of course, highly praised animals such as horses that bring results and money for owners are treated differently.

Unfortunately, farm animals have other destinies: after standing in crowded farms, without fresh air and activity, fed with antibiotics, they travel to the table, nicely pressed between buns and topped with ketchup. Hamburger anyone?

Why do quick-serving restaurants not serve antibiotic-free meat?

I had the same question, but later on, I returned to the same pattern: money. Antibiotic-free meat is expensive. To grow animals and birds without hormones and antibiotics takes time and plenty of expenses. You need to give different food, provide space, let freely roam as chickens do, and offer supplements.

I hate to compare with people, but the comparison is here. Watch people who consistently eat in fast food chains and individuals who prepare food at home, go to farmers’ markets, watch their diet, and exercise.

Do we have any choices?

According to Chicago Tribune reporter Samantha Bomkamp, there are some changes.

Fourteen of the top 25 chain restaurants have taken action on chicken, up from nine a year ago, according to the third annual Chain Reaction report, which grades companies’ policies. But there have been no new commitments to curb the use of antibiotics in beef and pork, the report found.

You see that there is progress with chicken, but unfortunately, not with beef and pork. This article brings an objective perspective to everybody who still thinks fast food can be healthy and beneficial daily.

Our choices are enormous because we can think about what we eat. We can look for information and talk with a knowledgeable health practitioner, asking for advice regarding nutrition and lifestyle.

Why is full of antibiotics food not good?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ” at least 2 million Americans become sick, and 23,000 die yearly from antibiotic-resistant infections.” It is a crime.

Consumers Union stated that seventy percent of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are fed to healthy animals on industrial farms. When people consume food with antibiotics, they lose the ability to fight real diseases because their bodies are familiar with antibiotics. Medications can not fight infections quickly if something happens.

Conclusion

We must think about how we lead our lives. We must check our habits and turn to safe alternatives. Nothing will be hurt if we prepare food at home and bring something of it to a job. We will win from this situation. At once, fast food is okay. However, eating junk food daily creates dangerous situations, as the Chicago Tribune article shows.

The Immune System’s Alpha Importance

March 8, 2017 By Nemira 8 Comments

The immune system’s Alpha importance means it is a perfect defense system if we do not screw it up. Nature provided us with tools and abilities to live long and balanced lives. When the immune system is healthy, we are strong too. How do I know it? Personal experience and digging into books written by doctors and scientists let me assume that we do not care enough about ourselves.

A strong immune system stands out against all invaders. It does swallow, crush, digest, and swipe away from the body, depending on the nature of the foes.

A cliche about important things

A poisoned environment, junk food, and stress weaken our immune system. We heard about it on TV; we read in various blogs about the importance of exercising and eating well. We know that junk food makes us fat and that stress shortens life. So what? If people thought and cared about it, their habits would change. Unfortunately, as we know too, changes are so annoying. Difficult too.

Processed food is not the best option to keep the body healthy

We can be tired of a cliche because we understand what is wrong and right for us. If we thought about our bodies as friends or dear family members, we would better care for them. Nobody abandons their children or parents. However, we surrender our bodies — most of us.

The immune system’s alpha importance works for you

Our body can fight any infection. It works as the armed forces in real life. We have antibodies which are the army. Antibodies detect different microorganisms and destroy them.

Granulocytes are the Navy. These white blood cells patrol the body looking for invaders. When granulocytes find different microbes, they mobilize millions of cells to attack and ultimately destroy them. You do not need to do anything. You sleep peacefully or watch TV when your immune system takes care of your body’s well-being.

When a dangerous invader shows up, macrophages take charge. They are larger, more potent white blood cells. Macrophages fight until the end, when the last intruder is destroyed.

The third defense system is a complement system. The complement system consists of nine proteins. The liver manufactures these proteins. The complement system would destroy everything that cannot differentiate as a friend or foe. It can be compared with the Air Force.

Relax, the immune system works for you

The lymph system performs the role of the commander center. It analyzes and decides where to send troops, ships, and air force. Lymphocytes float in blood and travel along with other cells. They work as inspection patrols. When lymphocytes meet the invader, they make a “print” of antigens marker and run to the nearest lymph node with the information. The antigen is a foreign intruder with a marker different from the body’s cells.

The lymph node alerts all immune systems. Everybody is mobilized and ready to attack foes. Besides, antibodies, granulocytes, and macrophages participate in battle till the immune system wins. The immune system’s Alpha importance is the value of the body’s protector.

The conclusion about the immune system’s Alpha importance

The immune system is well-equipped to fight and win. Our bodies are created to protect themselves. However, cliche factors interfere and make it difficult for our immune system to withstand the battle. If we take care of ourselves, our immune system will take care of our bodies at any time. We know what we do wrong. Let’s act and help bodies function in the best way possible.

We can excuse ourselves that bad habits such as smoking, laziness, or drugs are little things. Unfortunately, it can destroy the immune system’s ability to fight against invaders. It leads to not-so-hilarious consequences such as chronic diseases and more: peace forever. It is better to live conscious lives because life is one, and it is yours. Not mine, not your friends or moms. Yours. The immune system’s Alpha importance lets us be safe.

An update

Following doctors who help humans stay safe, you can find brilliant research pieces of information that help you understand your body better.

I knew that our bodies have excellent protection for cells against various intruders. However, sometimes sinister things happen that lead to harmful consequences.

For example, Dr. Ana Maria Mihalcea, M.D., Ph., pointed out in the article that there are technologies that can go through the evolutionary cell’s barrier created millions of years ago.

An excerpt about cell defense mechanisms

Here comes a question. If our immune system is so strong that it protects us from various intruders, why do we need special techniques to interfere with that defense system?

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Spirulina and the Immune System

December 15, 2016 By Nemira 2 Comments

Spirulina and the immune system is an exciting topic. Why? The immune system is a complex of ruthless guards who can stand against intruders of every kind. The immune system’s primary function is to recognize, detect, and then kill invading pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Spirulina, a source of active ingredients such as phycocyanin, helps the immune system perform its job efficiently and effectively.

How does the immune system work?

There are two responses to the immune system. They are classified as innate responses and adaptive responses.

Innate response

These ruthless guards are phagocytes, which kill intruders. It is done in this way. They engulf them and eradicate them. It is an innate response.

Adaptive response

Adaptive immune system response happens when specific antigens show up. The immune system produces antibodies to react to intruders.

Spirulina and the immune system

According to Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health, the authors show that Spirulina increases phagocytic activity. Remember, as I compared phagocytes with ruthless guards? Active ingredients in Spirulina strengthen the immune system and her little soldiers, such as phagocytes.

Results provided in the book Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health suggest that whole Spirulina enhances macrophage functions, such as phagocytosis and the production of chemokines and cytokines. This effect may be attributable at least partially to the polysaccharide fraction.

Spirulina provides increased protection from invading pathogens ( Andrea T. Birchers and others. Spirulina and immunity, 188).

Animal lab tests show that Spirulina can stimulate various immune system functions.

These features are phagocytosis, the production of cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory mediators.

Spirulina can stimulate NK cell activity, B cell antibody production, T cell proliferation, and possibly cytokine secretion.

Researchers describe the Spirulina as algae that possess immunomodulatory activities. Spirulina enhances immune responses while dampening immune system hyperactivity.

The short explanation of terms

Phagocytosis

Phagocytosis is a process in which phagocytes engulf pathogens, bacteria, tiny mineral particles, and debris from other cells. After the process, the waste is expelled.

Phagocytes

Phagocytes are cells within the body. Phagocytes can engulf and, after absorption, expel bacteria, pathogens, mineral particles, and debris from small cells.

Macrophages

Macrophages are large, white blood cells. Macrophages engulf foreign substances, cell debris, microbes, cancer cells, and some other material that does not have the same kind of proteins as the healthy body.

These cells are competent. Imagine how they recognize strangers. It is like from Agent 007 Bond movies. You must be intelligent, brave, and intelligent to discover who is your friend or enemy.

Cytokines

Cytokines are substances secreted by immune system cells. The behavior of cells depends on them, for example, such as the interaction and communication between cells. Cytokines are proteins.

Chemokines

Chemokines are part of the cytokines family. Chemokines are small proteins. They are vital for cell migration through venues of blood. Chemokines have a gradient that lets cells know about directions to move in the case of emergencies such as inflammation or invaders.

NK cells

NK cells are killer cells. NK cells quickly respond when intruders such as viral-infected cells show up. Natural killer cells are unique. NK cells were able to detect stressed cells in the absence of antibodies. NK does not require activation. They kill intruders who do not have specific markers.

Cells of the immune system have unique markers which distinguish them from intruders. NK cells recognize intruders who are without tags.

Our bodies remind the little world where friends and neighbors, foes, and strangers interact in various ways.

Antibodies

Antibodies are proteins. The immune system produces antibodies. Additionally, the antibody is also known as immunoglobulin. When invaders, also called antigens, invade the foreign body, the immune system reacts to produce antibodies.

B cells

B cells are lymphocytes, white blood cells. Some of the B cells produce antibodies that bind to antigens. Some of the B cells secrete cytokines. Remember? Cytokines participate in the intercommunication between cells.

T cells

T cells are white blood cells. T cells scan the body for intruders. Homeland security, yes? T cells activate other immune cells, which engulf invaders. T cells remember the type of intruder that they met years ago. It is pretty fascinating.

Conclusion

As you see, the immune system is responsible for our well-being. We can help ourselves lead healthy lives by providing the best supplements and nutrition to our miraculous bodies. Spirulina and the immune system have relationships. The immune system can benefit from Spirulina.

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