Over the span of 36 years in the health food business, I became aware of an interesting observation regarding the seasonal eating habits of people During the summer months, peoples diet lean heavily into the consumption of protein rich foods. Why? I suppose more picnic cookouts, basking in the sun, and higher level of physical activities. Consumption of fresh vegetables, salad greens and fruits rise during the summer. This is not a “dietary” phenomenon, but a true lifestyle change, which truly affects the body in a very positive way. Case in point – fewer colds. Do viruses take summer vacation?
With the advent of colder weather, I have observed people’s diet change again. You might say a reversal begins to take place and sadly all the good nourishment experienced gained during the summer months, high protein, healthy greens, fruits, sun and exercise take a “back seat” to carbohydrates, pasta, bread, pancakes, waffles, processed foods, television and sunless days. To my consternation, I have watched my shelves, and the food market shelves undergo rapid depletion of carbohydrates and sugar snacks. Oh yes, I have been there! However, I woke up in my 30’s. I was told that I had worn out the carpet of life heading towards heart disease.
I have developed two equations from my life experiences with eating habits:
Equation 1 Summer’s diet = strong immune system
Equation 2 Winter’s diet = weak immune system
Stop laughing, you know I am right, and you know where I am heading. If your immune system is weak or compromised by your lifestyle, you are heading to a bumpy course of life.
I have for the past 36 years tired you with this tirade:
“STOP the sugars”
Equation 3 Carbohydrates = Sugars
People with strong immune systems fare and fared far better with Covid-19 and other viruses, infections, etc. than those with weakened immune systems.
Some signs of immune dysfunction range from frequent bouts with colds and flu to allergies, asthma, yeast (candida) overgrowth, psoriasis, eczema, herpes, hormonal issues, and accelerating aging.
So how do you strengthen your immune system … God’s great gift to mankind?
Love your THYMUS!
Equation 4 Healthy Thymus = strong immune system
Equation 5 Shrunken Thymus = weak and comprised immune system
Equation 6 No Thymus = “no” immune system
For the sake of brevity here, I will keep it very simple. The thymus gland is the “seat” if not the center of your immune system. If you cannot believe this, ask someone who is missing this gland.
The basic function of the thymus gland is to defend the body against invading microorganisms, cancer cells, transplanted tissues or organs, and other non-self, yet to be defined “entities”.
The immune system is very intricate, yet its strategy is quite simple:
- Recognize the invader
- Mobilize its response to the invader
- Attack, isolate, and destroy the invader
It is the thymus gland which works through the immune system to identify the invader and tag it. It accomplishes this by sending out the “recognizance troops to identify and analyze the make up of the invader it then tags it (puts a label on the invader) and reports to the thymus their findings. Based on these findings, the thymus will select the best response to the invader sending the appropriate cells to eradicate the invader. These cells and yet other unidentified means comprise the immune system as we understand it today. Cells that we know of their function and have been made known to us are as follows (commonly known & listed alphabetically):
- Macrophages – large, white blood cells they ingest microbes, antigens (substances which stimulate an immune response) they can come from bacteria, viruses, proteins, carbs, cancer cells, and toxins.
- Neutrophils – work together with the macrophages to initiate at the direction of the thymus immune response and are directed jointly to the site of concern. They (neutrophils) destroy the invaders through enzymatic digestion, causing the formation of pus.
- Lymphocytes – smaller than the macrophages and neutrophils but longer living cells (years by comparison to neutrophils 7-10 day life). Lymphocytes fall into three major categories based on their source of origin.
- B Lymphocytes – from parent stem cells in the bone marrow.
- T Lymphocytes – stem cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus gland where they divide and mature. Uniqueness of T lymphocytes is that they learn how to differentiate self from non-self in the thymus then enter the lymphatic system and are the so-called recognizance troops (immune surveillance system).
- NK Cells (natural killer cells) – these cells are ready to kill upon deployment. They do not require the maturation and education process which B and T lymphocytes undergo.
Though beyond the scope here, there other components of the immune system such as:
Antibodies – 1gA, 1gE, 1gC are protective protein components produced by the immune system which attach unto the antigens of foreign substances such as toxins, viruses, bacteria etc. and remove them from the body
- Cytokines – messengers of immune system we are familiar with interferon alfa, interferon B, interferon -2, granulocyte colony stimulating factor which stimulate the production of neutrophils which is given to cancer patients who have low number of neutrophils as a result of chemotherapy.
Sorry I did not intend to get this far, but in researching literature and being stimulated to learn more, I wanted selfishly to share. Why? Because I believe and see God’s loving hand in the immune system and cannot in good conscience accept these to be as a result of the Big Bang theory. Big Bang (if you accept its validity) has no conscience to bring into existence such intricate system as the immune system from nothing.
Therefore, love your thymus and praise G-D. Nourish the gland by nourishing your immune system and by altering your lifestyle to remove that which is harmful. Consider the following which you may partake in the hope to overcome the trespasses yours, the food chain, and the environment.
- Thymus extracts
- Mushroom extracts
- Antioxidants
- Herbs
- Enzymes
- Probiotics
- Vitamins and minerals
- Fiber
- Juicing
Future blogs will elaborate on the above. Do consider detoxing on a quarterly basis, but a must twice per year. Fast in between. The assault on the immune system is continual so we must be vigilant.
Reference and further reading on the immune system please refer to the MERCK MANUAL OF MEDICAL
INFORMATION , HOME EDITION -It is a book that should be part of every household.
CAUTION: nourishing the thymus is extremely important to the immune systems, nourishing does not necessarily propose to rev up the immune system. Autoimmune diseases result from an out-of-control immune system. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, by all means seek medical advice but also learn what supplements and medicines may be detrimental to an autoimmune condition. In a future blog, this area of supplementation will be examined.
