The immune system is composed of many cells, organs and proteins working in concert to keep the body safe. The parts of the immune system people are most familiar with are the lymphatic system and white blood cells. But there are others such as antibodies, complement system, and entire organs such as the spleen and thymus. Once a virus or a microbe has entered the body, the immune system learns how to defeat it and keeps a copy of its identifying information so it will never gain access again.
Read this article to know how to strengthen your immune system.
Having a strong immune system not only helps in warding off diseases but if disease occurs, an individual with a strong immune system will recover better and sooner. What does it mean to have a strong immune system?
In times of disease, allergies, and inflammation the immune system is unleashed. Most of the nutrients we need for energy, food metabolism, and coenzymes for detoxification are diverted to make more immune system cells. So if you have inflammation, not only is the immune system overworked, there is a lot of oxidative stress that is generated by the immune system cells. That is why people with inflammation are tired, have difficulty sleeping, may experience joint pain, and even develop type 2 diabetes or autoimmune disease.
Make Your Immune System Bullet Proof
So the first thing to strengthen your immune system is the elimination of inflammation. Then reduce oxidative stress by having a diet high in antioxidants. A colorful, high fiber, and plant-dominant diet will provide a large supply of antioxidants in the form of vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin E, among others. Herbs like fresh parsley, cilantro, and fresh basil are a good source of chlorophyll which help kill bacteria in the body. Onion, garlic, and ginger are anti-inflammatory foods.
A few extra steps need to be taken to combat the coronavirus. The way the virus infects is by increasing the presence of an enzyme called phospholipase 2 (PLA2). This enzyme is very important in the fight against viruses. Along with harmful organisms, it destroys venom injected by insects and animals such as wasps, bees, and snakes. Most viruses produce their own PLA2 while the coronavirus hijacks the PLA2 inside cells as well as producing its own to injure the cell and increase its replication. This elevated synthesis of PLA2 produces what is called “biological detergents” such as lysolecthins and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (this won’t be on the test) that alter the structure of the cell and make it into a vehicle that facilitates the replication of the virus.
The Weapon that Stops COVID in its Tracks
In his video presentation, “Coronavirus: its weapon and its Achilles Heel” Phospholipase 2 (PLA2), Dr. William Shaw claims that the best protection agains COVD-19 is the inhibition of PLA2. He recommends a supplement called CDP-Choline which is a PLA2 inhibitor that decreases the production of “toxic lysolecthins and arachidonic acid”. CDP-choline is easy to find in most supplement outlets such as Amazon and iHerb.
However, it is also important to decrease inflammatory foods such as dairy and poultry and cultivate a healthy lifestyle with low inflammation and oxidative stress.
Some supplements to consider, along with CDP-choline and a healthy diet:
Vitamin C = powerful antioxidants that strengthens the immune system
Vitamin B complex – as cofactor for detoxification and energy metabolism
Coenzyme Q10 – antioxidant
NAC = for liver support and glutathione synthesis to quench free radicals