Our health and wellness is dependent on how well our immune system is functioning.
The immune system is a sophisticated defensive force made up of a trillion cells.
It responds to microbial threats.
It does its best to protect our health and keep us well.
The system has three primary functions:first to recognise bodily intruders, second to attack and defeat them and third to remember those invaders when they return.
This initial response of the immune system is called the innate response.
The innate response is proportionate to the strength of our system.
It is our first line of defense.
The innate response aspect of our system has largely been programmed by the messenger molecules in our mother's colostrum.
As we are continually exposed to new microbes in our daily life, sometimes the innate response is insufficient to protect the body.
After we have successfully dealt with an infection, our immune system retains a memory of this microbial enemy, so that the body is prepared for future attacks.
This adaptive response is called acquired immunity.
So you could say that having this system is like having an army of millions of microscopic soldiers.
These white blood cells, patrol the bloodstream to look for any potential germs that might compromise the body's wellbeing.
However, if the white cells are overwhelmed by illness, flu for example, then reinforcements are called in.
These are specialist cells, they include T cells (white cells that originate in the thymus) as well as the tough killer cells.
If this amazing health system is not working efficiently, we will feel rundown, exhausted and depressed.
It is so important to know about it and how to boost it.
This will be the subject of the next article.