06 Jan Your Immune System

In recent years attention to better immune system function is becoming a year-round concern. Yet Fall and colder weather typically mean even more reasons to be vigilant as kids go back to school, you’re attending more social activities and spending more time with family and friends. Just being in and around more people simply puts added pressure on your immune system. 

Thankfully the components of your immune system are always on high alert and ready to jump into action, but it’s always wise to help support it adequately against anything that can be compromising.

HOW DOES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM OPERATE?

The human immune system, notes Dr. Chris Terrell, ND, RDN, CSCS Director of Scientific Affairs for Natural Path Silver Wings, “is a complex system that involves different organs and tissues in the body.” Among them are white blood cells, antibodies, the lymph system, the spleen, the thymus, the bone marrow, and the complement system, among others. Its job is to protect the body against foreign invaders.

When your body is being compromised, it goes immediately to work to protect you and restore balance. Dr. Terrell explains that “some of the different responses include the activation of phagocytes and lymphocytes (both types of white blood cells),” as well as other white blood cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and neutrophils. These components are on the front line of defense.

What is the immune response?

Those unpleasant discomforts you get are your body’s immune response doing its job. Your immune system is identifying something that got in and isn’t supposed to be there, so it springs into action, ultimately triggering an acute response, which surrounds the invader. Doing this allows the body to deal with the invasion and kick the components out of your body.

No one likes experiencing dreadful discomfort but your body’s a miracle, and what it’s doing is actually directly combatting unwanted threats to your health. These uncomfortable displeasures serve many purposes from things like signaling you to clear out your sinuses or notifying you to rest so the body can more effectively tackle this hurtle. Next time you’re feeling lousy, understand what your body is telling you, comply and your recovery may be much quicker. 

You should also note that your immune system’s optimal ability to respond may be influenced by various outside factors such as a poor diet, personal hygiene, exposure to toxins and pollutants, lack of sleep, stress, and using medications too. Pause here for a self-check.https://npswsilver.com/signs-of-a-weakened-immune-system-and-how-to-boost-it/

How to support immune system function

Your immune system can be strong and humming like a machine but only if you nourish and maintain it. Here are a few easy lifestyle tips that’ll help. 

• Clean, nutritious diet. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats like omega-3s. Avoid or significantly limit processed foods, fast foods, added sugars, caffeine, and alcohol. Include immune system boosting foods such as ginger, tea, sweet potatoes and turmeric to name a few.
• Stress management. High levels of stress, especially chronic stress, can weaken immune function. Try practicing daily meditation, visualization, deep breathing, engaging in hobbies, yoga, tai chi, and other self-fulfilling activities which can relieve stress and tension.
• Adequate sleep. Research suggests that sufficient sleep actually strengthens your immune system to recognize and react to harmful invaders. This is known as “immune memory,” or the immune system’s ability to remember, recognize, and react to dangerous invaders.
• Hydration. Proper hydration is also necessary for your entire body’s optimal function  including, yes- the immune system. Water transports oxygen to all of your cells, which facilitates system function. Water also helps flush out toxins from your body, which, if dehydrated, has a detrimental impact on your immune system, so drink plenty of purified water daily. Some health experts recommend drinking half of your body’s weight in ounces per day. So if you weigh 120 lbs, you’d aspire to drink 60 ounces a day. 
• Avoid toxins. Environmental toxins from water, air, soil, food, cleaning products, and other common materials within our surroundings can have an adverse effect on immune system health. When these toxins accumulate in the body, they can disrupt hormone function and cause inflammation, which have detrimental effects. Use clean, natural body care products. Consider also natural house cleaners instead of chemical-loaded compounds.
• Gut health. Your gut is your immune system’s gatekeeper expelling toxins and is a keystone function in your body. There are also “good” gut bacteria which assist the immune system in locating foreign toxins and aid in maintaining healthy digestion. To build upon your good gut bacteria, consider pre and probiotics as part of your healthy supplement regimen.https://npswsilver.com/how-to-make-friends-with-your-immune-system-naturally/

Colloidal silver for better immune health

Silver has been used over 2,400 years for various human health supportive purposes—from topical wound applications, water and food purification and of course immune support. Silver is even used by NASA and the International Space Station and used topically in many burn centers worldwide. If you want a broad-spectrum immune support supplement, then consider colloidal silver. 

 Colloidal silver is micro-sized silver particles suspended in ultra-purified water. The virtually tasteless liquid supplement is safe and easy-to-take anytime, anywhere with convenient dropper or spray bottle options for adults and kids 4 years and older. Silver also complements other natural herbal immune products.

Size matters with colloidal silver. The smaller the particles, the better it absorbs. According to the encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, a true colloidal silver is when the “size” of the silver colloid is between 1-100 nanometers making it safe and bioavailable for adults, children and even pets to use for immune support. Natural Path Silver Wings mean particle size ranges between only 1-3 nanometers.

When choosing a colloidal silver supplement, look for strength ranges between 50 ppm (parts per million) to 500 ppm. such as by Natural Path Silver Wings. 

• 50ppm is a good choice for general daily immune maintenance.. 
• 250ppm is ideal when you’re in / around crowds, traveling or a compromised immune system.
• 500 ppm is the highest concentration for when you’re stress level is heightened, have a taxed immune system or feeling seasonal discomfort.

Natural Path Silver Wings colloidal silver supplements are all natural, gluten-free, non-GMO and allergen-free, Silver Wings is founded and formulated by Dr Mark Smith, ND, PhD, MD(MA) and Liz Smith, RN in 1994 and independent lab tested and verified.

Bottom line

Your immune system is fascinating and also quite complex. It has a tough job that seems to be getting more challenging all the time. That’s why it’s important to help support it year-round. Silver’s been used for over 2,400 years for good reason. You too should add this natural elemental mineral supplement- your immune system will thank you for it.

Sources

The link between toxic burden and immune health: boost your immune system by reducing toxins. CentreSpring MD. 
Suni E. How sleep affects immunity. Sleep Foundation 2020 Nov 19
Vezza T et al. Immunomodulatory properties of Olea europaea leaf extract in intestinal inflammation. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2017 Oct; 61(10).