The immune system is made up of a network of special cells,
proteins, tissues, and organs that defend the body against invading
bacteria and viruses. Through a series of steps, designated as the
immune response, the immune system attacks invaders when they enter the
body's system.
Leading Line Of Defense Against The Flu Virus
There
are three categories of immunity: innate, adaptive, and passive. Innate
immunity gives the body general protection from germs that affect other
species, such as feline leukemia. Included in the innate or natural
immunity community are the body's outer barriers such as skin and
saliva. Adaptive or active immunity involves the lymphocyte network and
develops throughout the human life. Passive or borrowed immunity is
taken from another source and lasts for a short period of time. One
example is the breast milk from a mother. It provides a baby with
temporary immunity to the diseases a mother has been exposed to.
Adaptive
immunity is the category that is developed through the body's white
blood cell system. Also known as leukocytes, white blood cells seek out
and destroy the harmful invaders that enter the body through the eyes,
nose, and mouth. These defenders are produced and stored in many areas
of the body including the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.
There
are two types of white blood cells; phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Phagocytes destroy invading organisms. While there are a number of
different cells that comprise the phagocytes network, the most common of
them is the neutrophil. It primarily fights bacteria while the other
phagocytes make sure the body responds appropriately to specific germs.
Lymphocytes recognize and remember former intruders and assist the body
in destroying them if and when they return. There are two kinds of
lymphocytes; B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. Initially they are all
created in the bone marrow of our bodies and either stay there, maturing
into B cells, or they move to the thymus gland where they mature into T
cells. B cells find invading organisms and send out the T cells to
destroy them.
How The Immune Response System Works When Fighting Flu
When
bacteria and viruses, also known as antigens, are detected in the body,
white blood cells work together to recognize and respond to the threat.
These other cells prompt the B lymphocytes to produce antibodies,
specialized proteins, which lock onto specific foreign agents and
identify them for T lymphocytes. Once an antibody is developed, it
exists within the body for the rest of an individual's life and provides
protection against the specific germ it was created for, should the
germ reappear. While antibodies recognize viruses and have the ability
to lock onto them, they cannot kill them. That is what T lymphocytes do.
Once the T lymphocytes locate the foreign agent, they destroy it.
During the process, T lymphocytes also send out messages to other cells,
most notably complements, that it is time for them to assist in the
destruction of the invading bacteria and viruses as well.
Recognizing
how the body's immune response system is effective in fighting flu
encourages individuals to take an active role in determining their
body's ability to fight flu by including supplemental agents in their
daily routine. These supplements have the potential to augment the
body's natural ability to provide antibodies, antiviral agents, and
antioxidants during flu season. The most prominent of these supplements
are vitamins, minerals, and herbs.
Supplements That Assist In Fighting Flu
The
most notable supplements from the vitamin, mineral, and herb categories
for fighting flu are vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and a strong
antiviral agent, zinc, which increases the production of white blood
cells, garlic, often used in antibiotics, and another less well-known
immune booster, elderberry lozenges. Not only do elderberry lozenges
provide immune support, but laboratory tests have also demonstrated that
elderberry extract is effective in fighting seasonal influenza and the
H1N1 flu virus. The nutrients found in the elderberry fruit work in much
the same manner as B lymphocytes. By locking onto specific foreign
agents and masking their outer proteins, these nutrients assist in
blocking the infection of other cells.
Understanding how the
body's immune response system works allows each individual to actively
participate in fighting flu. One of the most beneficial actions rests
with boosting the immune system. Supplements such as vitamin C, zinc,
garlic, and elderberry lozenges assist the body's immune response by
augmenting its natural ability to provide antibodies, antiviral agents,
and antioxidants during flu season. By incorporating this knowledge into
one's flu-fighting strategy, fighting flu will become more effective
than ever before.
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