What is the Immune System?
The body's security system is called the immune system and its function is very similar to that of a home security system. The immune system is designed to protect your body at a moment's notice and fight off foreign invaders that may take many forms. These invaders may be bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, infections and multitude of diseases. These invaders must be stopped and destroyed by "killer-cells" released from the immune system.
The immune system conducts a "search and destroy" method of eliminating any type of invader that it considers a threat. The optimum health of the immune system is critical and a weak immune system loses many battles to a strong invader thus allowing the invader to enter a healthy cell and set up housekeeping.
In fact, occasionally, the immune system gets short-circuited and may even start to destroy healthy cells, which is called "auto-immune disease."
Now more than ever, the immune system is being asked to not only protect us from the normal invasion of bacteria and viruses, but to assist in the fight against hundreds of negative, environmental factors that reduce its effectiveness. These factors include higher stress levels, constipation, breathing in smog, felt-tip markers, auto exhaust, preservatives, dry cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke, paints, pesticides, plus the affects of X-rays, tanning booths, ozone and thousands of other factors, all producing abnormal free radical cells to damage our bodies. The immune system needs to be working at optimum levels to even stand a chance of protecting us.
We are overworking our immune system and asking it to perform at a level that it may be incapable of doing. When the efficiency falls off, the immune system is unable to fight all these battles on too many fronts.
A strong and healthy immune system is capable of fighting off almost any foreign invader. It can slow the aging process and provide you with a sense of wellbeing that will keep you in great health so that you can enjoy life and your family. The strength of the immune system is dependent on a healthy diet, good absorption of nutrients, regular exercise, clean fresh air and adequate consumption of water and quality supplementation, especially sterols/sterolins. If any of these factors are not present, the body suffers and the efficiency of the immune system is low and unable to protect you.
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