How Does the Immune System Work?

We often think of the immune system when we are fighting a cold or flu, but the immune system is always on constant alert to keep the body in good working condition. The role of our immune system is to recognize and destroy foreign invaders and correct internal errors before harm is done to us. These foreign invaders include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The internal errors are cancer cells that are daily by-products of normal metabolism and eliminated by an intact immune system. Since it is our body’s first line of defense, some degree of immune imbalance underlies almost all illness, especially chronic infections, fatigue, cancer, autoimmune conditions, and chronic allergies. Impaired immune function is a combination of our genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. A new genetic laboratory test called ImmunoGenomic (www.genovations.com) is now available from health care professionals to assess a predisposition to immune dysfunction.

What Are the Causes of Poor Immune Function?

• Nutritional/dietary factors: Excessive fat and sugar consumption, excessive alcohol intake, nutritional deficiency, obesity;
• Emotional/Physiological factors: Food allergy or intolerance, intestinal candida overgrowth, emotional trauma, severe physical trauma;
• Chemical factors: Pesticides, exposure to heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium) or toxic chemicals (organic solvents);
• Drug-related factors: Over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, corticosteroids), chronic antibiotic use;
• Lifestyle factors: Stress,excessive exercise, inadequate rest;
• Environmental factors: Frequent exposure to infectious agents; air pollution.

Source: Paul Ratté, N.D., Northwestern Health Sciences University