The immune system - the system in the body that is largely responsible for our health, fights off pathogens and keeps us fit and alert. As important as this system is for people, most people know very little about it. But that's what the mybacs team is there for!
In this article, you will learn exactly how your body's immune system works, what tasks it has and how you can strengthen it. We will also explain to you what influence the intestine has on our immune system and how this can affect our health. Enjoy reading!
How does the immune system work?
The immune system is basically the body's own bodyguard. It protects our body from harmful substances, pathogens and disease-causing cell changes. It also includes various organs, cell types and proteins. You can see that the immune system has an all-encompassing influence on all areas of our body. But that also means that a weakened immune system has negative effects on the entire organism. If the immune system fails because it is weakened or cannot do anything against particularly aggressive pathogens, you get sick. Pathogens that the body has never come into contact with before have an easy time of it because the immune system does not yet have antibodies ready to fight them off!
The Tasks of the Immune System
The protective shield against the outside world - without the immune system, humans would be defenseless against harmful environmental influences. But dangers to our bodies do not only come from the outside world. The immune system also protects us from health-damaging changes within us.
Don't worry, we'll now explain the individual tasks of the immune system in more detail. It is responsible for neutralizing pathogens such as viruses, parasites, fungi or bad bacteria and at the same time transporting them out of the body. It is also there to recognize harmful substances from the environment and then neutralize them so that they do not pose a threat to the organism. But that's not all: the immune system has another important task. It is responsible for fighting pathological changes in our body, for example cancer cells. The immune system is the key to our health, so take good care of it!
How is the defense activated?
The immune system is activated by various foreign substances and agents. These are called antigens. These include the proteins on the surface of bacteria, fungi and viruses. When receptors dock in the organism, a whole series of cellular processes are started. The body usually stores information when it comes into contact with a pathogen. This is so that it can react more quickly and defend itself more quickly if it comes into contact with the same pathogen again. The body's own cells also have such surface proteins, but the immune system does not normally work against them. When our defense system mistakenly classifies cells in our own body as foreign, this is called an autoimmune reaction. The immune system attacks the body's own, healthy cells.
Innate and acquired defenses
In general, a distinction is made between the innate - non-specific and the acquired - specific immune system. However, both defense systems are closely linked and complement each other perfectly in every reaction to a pathogen or a pollutant.
You're probably wondering now - why is it called a non-specific immune system? That doesn't actually sound particularly competent. But don't worry, the name refers to the fact that this defense system fights off pathogens in general and does not specialize in specific substances. It works mainly with immune cells such as phagocytes or "killer cells". Its main task is to fight pollutants and harmful germs that enter the body through the skin or digestive system, for example.
In contrast, the specific immune system forms so-called antibodies and then uses them specifically against certain pathogens that the body has already come into contact with in the past. This is why it is also referred to as a "learned" or "specific" immune system. The body is a true miracle of nature and the immune system is a particularly exciting part of it. Since the specific system is constantly adapting and learning, the body can also fight bacteria or viruses that change over time.
Tips for Strengthening the Immune System
Especially in cold seasons or during periods of illness, it is particularly important to support our body's own bodyguard in its daily fight against harmful substances. That's why we have put together 6 simple tips on how you can best help your immune system.
- Antioxidants: Antioxidants, such as those found in dark chocolate or pecans, neutralize free radicals and ensure a resilient organism. They can even help to reduce inflammation. Secondary plant substances, zinc and selenium as well as several vitamins also help.
- Garlic : Garlic, as an ancient remedy, has antibacterial properties with its active component, allicin, which can prevent diseases and infections. Garlic is also said to have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. All of this helps the immune system to function well!
- Happy gut : Did you know that over 70% of the immune cells in your body are located in your gut? This means that a healthy intestinal flora is very important for general well-being. So of course - happy gut, happy you!
- Work out: Sport is not murder after all. Cardio in particular increases the circulation of white blood cells in the blood. The main task of these immune cells is to eliminate possible pathogens. In addition, physical activity increases hormone production, which in turn can have a positive effect on the immune system.
- Day-night balance: A balanced day-night rhythm stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (substances produced by the immune system). It also causes the body to produce more killer cells. This improves the body's ability to fight off pests!
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Don't drink: Less alcohol is of course more positive for the immune system than too much alcohol consumption - that's logical. Alcohol weakens the immune system by reducing the ability to produce white blood cells.
The connection between intestinal health and the immune system
When we think of our intestines, the first thing that comes to mind is digestion. That's true, but our intestines have other qualities too. Among other things, they are largely responsible for our immune system. Did you know that 70% of all human immune cells are in the intestines? This means that they make up around 80% of our body's own defense reactions. With a total area of 32 m2 , the intestines have a very large impact on our health, our well-being and also our immune system. But how does the defense from the intestines actually work? Our intestines have three different layers to ward off pathogens and "bad" bacteria of all kinds, and the intestinal barrier can be seen as a complex lock system. You will now find out exactly what this means:
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The intestinal mucosa: The intestinal mucosa is the innermost of four layers of the intestinal wall. Its primary function is to absorb food components and water into the body. The mucous layer also offers protection against bacteria, pathogens and parasites. The intestinal mucosa is therefore the first barrier between pests and the organism and thus significantly supports the immune system. The intestinal mucosa acts as a "lock". It ensures that the contents of the intestine cannot "leak out" and prevents various substances from entering the body uncontrollably. Of course, certain substances must be able to penetrate the organism; for this there are "gates" that can open selectively.
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The microbiome - the intestinal flora: If the intestinal flora is out of balance, this has a major impact on our health, because pathogens, pollutants and bacteria then have an easy time and easily penetrate our organism. This is because the intestine is populated from the inside with a lot of "good" bacteria that break down toxins and fight off pathogens. In addition, the bacteria in our intestines are "personal trainers" for our immune system, because they train our defense system every day to be able to better distinguish between harmful and "good" bacteria in the organism. The intestinal flora is a real all-rounder when it comes to supporting the immune system. The bacteria found there also diligently produce short-chain fatty acids, which protect the intestinal wall and thus help to maintain the intestinal barrier. The intestinal flora can be seen as a "lock guard", because it decides which substances are allowed to pass through the lock and thus enter the intestine.
- The gut-associated immune system: The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), also known as GALT, is located in the intestinal mucosa and represents the largest collection of defense cells in the body. The job of these bacteria is - as the name suggests - to fight unwanted germs and foreign, harmful substances. This is done by stimulating the production of various defense cells. But the job of the GALT is not that easy, because it must continuously differentiate between the killing of "bad" bacteria and the tolerance of "good" bacteria. The GALT is the "intestinal police" and controls all germs and substances that have passed through the lock. If a bad guy does manage to get into the intestine, the GALT is there to take him out!
In fact, the large intestine plays an even greater role in the immune system than the small intestine. In the large intestine, the intestinal mucosa is particularly densely populated with intestinal bacteria that control and support the immune system. In addition, the lymph nodes are located in the mucous membrane of the large intestine. The specialized immune cells of the intestine are stored in the small lymph nodes, also known as Peyer's patches. Lymphocytes have the task of eliminating foreign bodies or pathogens by forming antibodies. The lymphatic system is also the connection between the GALT and the rest of the immune system.
In short
The beneficial bacteria in our intestines have a number of very important health functions in our body and actively support our immune system. They displace potential pathogens and pests and thus prevent harmful germs from settling on our intestinal wall. They also continuously stimulate and train our immune system day after day. This helps us to distinguish our own structures and harmless bacteria from pests and enemies.
If the intestine is weakened by, for example, poor nutrition, antibiotics , allergies or illness, this affects a person's overall well-being. A poorly intact intestinal flora has a direct negative impact on the functioning of the immune system. This makes it all the more important to keep the body's own intestinal flora intact at all times, because it is much more important than previously thought.
To protect the intestinal flora, it can be helpful to take probiotics or to pay more attention to consuming probiotic foods . Examples of these are yogurt, kefir, quark or buttermilk. Our Dailybacs are also a way to rebuild, improve or maintain your intestines and your immune system.
