Video Episode | Your Body’s Amazing Immune System | Is It Better To Take A Natural Approach When You Get Sick?
Feb 6, 2024
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Emiel and Erika discuss inflammation, oxidation, immune supporting supplements, fermented foods, and gut health. They explore the connection between the gut and the immune system, and why symptom management during illness can work against us. The podcast also covers the impact of supplements on the immune system and the fermentation process of kombucha. They touch on the roles of GABA, the skin, and the innate and adaptive immune system. The importance of oxidation, inflammation, and nutrient intake for immune function is also highlighted.
Inflammation and oxidation are tools used by the immune system to attack pathogens and aid in recovery from illness.
Fermented foods and carbohydrates are essential for a healthy immune system.
Vitamins, minerals, and supplements can support a healthy immune system.
There is a connection between the gut and the immune system, highlighting the importance of gut health.
Managing symptoms during illness instead of suppressing them allows the immune system to effectively respond to pathogens.
Deep dives
The Role of the Innate Immune System
The innate immune system acts as the body's first line of defense against pathogens and plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy. It includes the skin, mucous membranes, and various defense mechanisms in our body, such as saliva and stomach acid. These components work together to prevent pathogens from entering our body and causing infection. The innate immune system is general and fast-acting but lacks specificity. Its main aim is to quickly eliminate threats, even though it can cause some damage to normal cells.
Understanding the Adaptive Immune System
In contrast to the innate immune system, the adaptive immune system is a memory immune system. It recognizes specific pathogens and adapts its response accordingly. The adaptive immune system is slower than the innate immune system, but it provides long-term protection. It creates memory cells that remember previous encounters with pathogens, enabling a quicker and more targeted response in the future. Vaccines work by training the adaptive immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens.
Boosting the Innate Immune System
When it comes to boosting the immune system, the focus is mainly on enhancing the innate immune system. This includes maintaining a healthy skin barrier, optimizing the function of mucous membranes in the nose and throat, and supporting the body's natural defense mechanisms. Strategies like taking zinc supplements, using zinc acetate lozenges, and using iodine nasal spray can help strengthen the innate immune system. It's important to note that preventive measures are crucial for overall immune health, rather than waiting until illness strikes.
The Importance of Allowing Inflammation
During an infection, inflammation is a key part of the immune response. It helps the body eliminate pathogens and initiates the healing process. While it may be tempting to suppress inflammation with painkillers, it's important to allow our immune system to perform its function. Fever, body aches, and other symptoms are indications that our body is actively fighting off the infection. By letting inflammation run its course, we give our immune system the best chance to combat the pathogen effectively and promote a speedy recovery.
Boosting the Immune System: Micronutrients and Lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy immune system involves various factors such as ensuring adequate intake of micronutrients, maintaining good sleep patterns, managing stress levels, and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin C play a crucial role in boosting immune function. It is important to have a balanced diet that includes sources of these micronutrients or consider supplementation if necessary. Adequate sleep, exercise, and stress management are also critical for maintaining optimal immune function.
Preventative Measures: Prebiotics, Mushroom Extracts, and Supplements
Taking preventative measures can help reduce the risk of getting sick. Including prebiotics in your diet, such as pomegranate extract or mushrooms like lion's mane, turkey tail, and reishi, can promote a healthy gut microbiome and support immune function. Supplements like EpiCorh, which acts as a prebiotic, and functional yeast extracts, can also aid in maintaining a healthy immune system. Incorporating immune-enhancing supplements like curcumin, berberine, and holy basil, which have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, can further support overall immune health.
Balancing Inflammation and Oxidation
Maintaining a balance in inflammation and oxidation is crucial for a well-functioning immune system. During an infection, inflammation and oxidation increase to help eliminate pathogens. However, throughout the year, it is important to manage inflammation and oxidation at lower levels. This can be achieved through a diet rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excessive anti-inflammatory medications, unless necessary. Consuming omega-3 fatty acids, like fish oil, can also support a balanced immune response.
Importance of Adaptive Immune System and Supplements
Strengthening the adaptive immune system is equally important as the innate immune system. Taking supplements like beta-glucans, which act as prebiotics, can stimulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. Mushrooms like turkey tail, lion's mane, and reishi, as well as botanicals like holy basil and palmotoleithanolamide, can enhance immune function and modulate the immune response. Supporting the endocannabinoid system with compounds like beta-caryophyllene and tetrahydromagnol can also have beneficial effects on immune function.
Importance of Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, cognitive enhancement, and immune function. The gut microbiome can affect our mood, digestion, and immune response. Consuming fermented foods like kombucha, kimchi, and sauerkraut, which promote a healthy gut microbiome, has been shown to have immune-boosting properties and enhance overall well-being.
Optimizing the Immune System
It is possible to optimize our immune system by taking supplements and making lifestyle changes. Boosting the immune system can be beneficial in reducing the frequency and severity of sickness. Taking immune-boosting supplements like endrographis, vitamin D, vitamin C, B vitamins, zinc, and glutathione can support immune function. Other strategies include staying hydrated, getting sufficient rest, and incorporating anti-inflammatory supplements like curcumin and hesperidin. However, it is crucial to consider the context of individual health conditions when using supplements for immune support.
Your Body’s Amazing Immune System | Is It Better To Take A Natural Approach When You Get Sick?
Our immune system is our body’s defense against sickness and infection. In this month’s podcast episode, Emiel and Erika discuss inflammation, oxidation, immune supporting supplements, fermented foods, and gut health, and explore ways to stay healthy all year round.
Tune into the new podcast episode to learn more about:
How inflammation and oxidation are tools that the immune system uses to attack pathogens and help us recover from illness
Why fermented foods and carbohydrates are essential for a healthy immune system
Vitamins, minerals, and supplements that support a healthy immune system
The connection between the gut and the immune system
Why symptom management during illness can work against us, and what to do instead
This episode is focused on why inflammation and oxidation are essential for helping us fight off pathogens, and therefore, why taking a natural approach when getting sick may help us recover faster. Sometimes, it can be advantageous to lean into the inflammation and oxidation caused by our immune system, though this can be uncomfortable. Dampening inflammation and oxidation can prolong illness, and work against our immune system’s natural response to pathogens.
Follow In Search of Insight on Instagram
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Buy Immune Supporting Supplements from Nootropics Depot
Infini C
https://nootropicsdepot.com/infini-c-capsules/
Vitamin D
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Vitamin B
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Zinc
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N-Acetyl Cysteine
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Micromag
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Andrographis paniculata
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Reduced Glutathione
https://nootropicsdepot.com/reduced-glutathione-tablets/
Recommended Podcasts on the Immune System
Using Your Nervous System to Enhance Your Immune System - Huberman Labs Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poOf8b2WE2g&t=3604s
The Ultimate Cold Prevention Protocol: Strengthening The Immune System with Chris Masterjohn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygeJSE2Xz4w&t=3510s
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Introduction - Immune System
01:15 How Does Our Environment Affect Our Immune System?
05:30 Inflammation and Oxidation are Tools of the Immune System
06:45 Taking GABA for Immune Function
17:20 The Impact of Gut Health on the Immune System - Why Kombucha?
18:50 How Lindsay Lohan Ruined The Kombucha Industry
23:40 Stomach Acid is the First Line of Defence Against Viruses and Bacteria
26:44 How Fermentation and Food Preservation Supports Our Immune Function
30:44 Sauerkraut - Low PH Means Bad Bacteria Die, Good Bacteria Live
36:25 Short Chain Fatty Acids - Fibers, prebiotics, and biotics
42:45 How the Immune System Functions Beyond Our Gut
46:05 We Have Microbiomes Everywhere
47:55 Innate vs. Adaptive Immune System
57:30 How Genetics Factor Into Our Immune System Response
1:00:00 Leaning Into the Immune Response
1:09:43 Why Do We Get Fevers When We Get Sick?
1:30:16 Sickness Behavior
1:34:34 How To Boost Immune System When You’re Not Sick
1:54:00 Behavior, Micronutrients, and Mushrooms
2:14:00 How to Take Supplements When Getting Sick
2:18:47 Supplements to Support Your Immune System
2:33:39 GABA for the Gut, Mood, and Immune System
2:36:14 Conclusion
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