Courtesy of Shaklee Highland Enterprises (modified from original)

How Immune System Works

The immune system is like the body’s own little army, warding off illnesses and diseases that threaten the health and vitality of the body. Without this defense, viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, and other harmful pathogens would attack our bodies, leaving us weak and unable to sustain our lives.

The immune system is very complex and sophisticated. It detects a wide variety of harmful pathogens and distinguishes them from our own healthy cells and tissues. When the immune system is healthy and running at full efficiency it is able to ward off many bacteria and illnesses; however, harmful pathogens can evolve rapidly, avoiding the immune system’s detection and infecting the body.

Our bodies are designed to fight off pathogens with many defense mechanisms that help the immune system. The first line of defense is the skin. Without our protective layer of skin, our bodies would not only fall apart, but they would be completely exposed to outside toxins that we encounter. The skin not only acts as a physical barrier, but also provides chemical barriers, such as antibacterial chemicals secreted by the skin. This instantly kills spores and bacteria that land on the skin.

The nose, mouth, and eyes are all easy ports-of-entry for germs, but they also provide a defense system for the body. Tears and mucus, which coat both the nasal passage and the lungs, contain an enzyme known as lysozyme that breaks down the cell walls of many bacteria. Saliva also contains an antibacterial substance to help fight off bacteria entering through the mouth before it can get much farther into the body.

Germs, toxins, bacteria, microbes, parasites, and other pathogens that are able to make it past the body’s initial defense mechanisms are faced with the body’s internal line of defense: the immune system.

The immune system is comprised of the thymus, the spleen, the lymph system, bone marrow, white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system, and hormones. Each component works in its own unique way to fight illness and disease so that we can live our lives to the fullest and not worry about getting sick.

Although the immune system works tirelessly to keep us healthy, sometimes it needs a little extra help. This is especially true when seasons change, when we become stressed, or when other factors negatively influence our bodies.

What is InterFeron?

InterFeron, immune system activator, and NutriFeron, InterFeron booster

Immune Function Study

To find out more about the immune system and its effects on the body, Shaklee researchers conducted a study at the Weil Medical College of Cornell University’s Department of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology.

The study had two goals. The first was to develop and confirm a new way of exploring viral biology and immune function in the human lung through the use of a human airway epithelial (HAE) tissue system as an alternative to the current animal model standard. The second goal of the study was to assess the effect of a unique botanical blend on the immune system response and pathways of inflammation using the HAE research model. Beneficial results of the modulation of lung immunity could have a potentially significant impact on childhood respiratory disease.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Virology, confirmed that the HAE model is a superior research model for studying parainfluenza viruses compared with the standard animal model. The analysis conducted on HAE tissue treated with and without the unique botanical blend confirmed that the blend was safe, and that it affected multiple gene signaling and communication pathways related to immune function and possible pathways of inflammation.

How to Protect Immune System

To help your body in its defense against harmful illnesses and diseases, Shaklee provides three great products to boost the immune system: Nutriferon, Defend and Resist, and Immunity Formula I. To find out which system you should take, please refer here >>

Protecting Your Body: The Immune System – Health Letter, January 2012

In this issue:
■ The Immune System
■ Immunity-I, Defend & Resist & Nutriferon
■ Enfuselle Moisturize

To your health,

Nadya Tatsch

Courtesy of Shaklee Highland Enterprises (modified from original)