We must understand that the current medical model is designed to manage disease, not to prosper in health. Don’t get me wrong, doctors are essential for trauma care. However, when it comes to chronic illness (lifestyle) they are usually ill-equipped. When a sick person comes to them they will quote statistics of people suffering or dying from said illness. This can alarm people unnecessarily because they are not being informed about all their options. Also, most people have not learned about how their body works. And doctors aren’t teaching them. Doctors are trained to focus on histopathology; body tissue damage caused by disease. Looking at a person’s health concerns from this perspective is severely limiting. One important part of understanding the body and how it heals is by learning about our immune system.
In society, equal opportunity does not guarantee an equal outcome. If we want to succeed, we have to put in the work. The same principle applies to the healing of chronic illness. It is our responsibility to make the lifestyle choices that activate our human healing response. When examining the human genome, scientists and doctors discovered that 92% of our overall health outcomes are a result of our choices, not chance. Our immune system plays a major role in this. The part of our immune system that we all are born with called the innate immune system, offers robust protection. The innate immune system is our first line of defense against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and more. Vaccinations and antibiotics do not protect. In fact, they are designed to suppress your immune function so that you “feel better” while the pathogen may or may not be affected. Another part of our immune system we acquire over time. We call it the adaptive immune system. This part of the immune system addresses pathogens that get by the first line of defense of our innate immune system. It also plays a part in the human healing response we spoke of by breaking down cancerous cells, cleaning up inflammation, and even repairing tissue damage.
”A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecc 4:12
A cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecc 4:12) and so Key nutrients are involved in first line defense activation and also allow for the communication network between cells to function optimally to activate repair of damaged tissue.
The triple cord immune system is like a strong three-strand chord that is not easily broken. To better understand the basic immune components lets look at the first line defense system found in mucous membranes within the nose, mouth, throat, digestive tract and lungs as well and furthered within the blood where there are more that 40 billion white blood cells in the body at all times and the immune system is producing 115,000 WBC’s per second every day. These first line defense cells mount a destructive force against invading organisms and toxins to seek them out destroy and expel them from the body. The Secondary phase of immunity uses a vast communication signaling network with signaling molecules to induce inflammation as key messengers that draw attention to the invader.
As the message gets out to the adaptive immune system this third part of immunity goes to work with specialized abilities to create the appropriate anti-bodies and natural killing cells that find and destroy specific invading foreign antigens. Immunity can be summarized simply as defense, communication and repair. It is like a well-run military with many abilities of warfare to fight the enemy. Immunity can also be viewed as like a symphony of instruments designed to make beautiful music with the rest of the body for abundant health and life to be lived. So you can be certain to this truth in scripture, that every part of our immune system and all others are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14).
How can we make a better plan to keep this amazing network of immune cells working to defend, communicate and repair the body when it comes under attack?
Lets start with the basic outline of necessity
- Eat to Live Healthy
- Get adequate sleep for repair
- Get adequate time in fresh air and sunshine
- Stay active and fit
Use Wisdom in keeping adequate provisions for difficult times:
- Canned foods
- Frozen meat and vegetables
- Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and Seeds
- Dehydrated meats
- Olive, Avocado and Coconut oils
In order to keep this amazing network of immune network cells working to defend, communicate and repair my body when it comes under attack? Food is first, when illness comes a vegetarian alkaline diet with fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes should be consumed every few hours for energy. Additionally, lymphocytes that kill viruses are activated by pure forms of ascorbate vitamin C that is taken from a pure food source. It also activates detoxification response within cells and heightens other immune cell strengthening. Zinc is considered by researchers as the Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Discovered in the 60’s zinc is now known as a key element in multiple immune responses. Zinc deficiency is seen with inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, atherosclerosis, macular degeneration, diabetes and reduced cognitive function. Active elemental forms of zinc such as picolinate and citrate are key to improved immune function.
Magnesium in citrate and glycinate form is a cell alkalizer, and transport facilitator for energy cellular energy. Choline Citrate is necessary to help magnesium uptake and transport of other cellular and hormone signaling. The list of many nutrients vital for immune function continues with possibly the most critical pre-hormone activator Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 generates a network of innate and adaptive responses within immune function necessary for anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2 virus. The human cells are capable of manufacturing up to 20,000 IU of vitamin D in an hour of summer sunlight. Therefore, it should be considered safe to consume a minimum of 20,000 IU daily for optimal immune activation based on the capability God put within the human body. Don’t be satisfied with this however get your D3 levels checked regularly to determine how well you metabolize this amazing nutrient/hormone and keep your levels between 100 and 150 for optimal health.
Echinacea Root has been determined in research to have strong anti-viral properties that are useful in COVID-19. It is an herbal compound used for centuries to treat infections, and infectious bites and when used regularly boosts and stabilizes immune function. Echinacea can be taken daily and continually for immune strength. Additionally, the incorporation of active forms of quercetin dehydrate a water-soluble bioflavonoid improves cellular uptake of nutrients for immune function.
All together the immune network within us is the most “fearfully and wonderfully made” part of our anatomical features in my opinion. The final word is this, lifestyle, it all boils down to personalized lifestyle and nutritional support network necessary to optimize all body systems, such as endocrine hormones, neurotransmitter nervous system function, cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal balance to name a few.
Stress support, energy pathways and cellular antioxidants for adaptive stress should be addressed in personalizing nutritional protocols. The fearfully and wonderfully made immune system will protect and serve you well if you incorporate these protocols on a regular basis per your personal bio-chemical needs. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight” (Pro 3:3-5).
Check out our Immune Bundle for optimizing your body’ natural defenses
- Jaffe R. The Science of Wellness Medicine. Proceedings 2nd International Symposium on Human Functioning. Biosynergetics Institute. Wichita, Kansas, 1978
- Wessels, Inga et al. “Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function.” Nutrients vol. 9,12 1286. 25 Nov. 2017, doi:10.3390/nu9121286
- Ul Afshan, Falaque et al. “Relevance of vitamin D3 in COVID-19 infection.” Gene reports vol. 24 (2021): 101270. doi:10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101270
- M.F. Nagoor Meeran,a,1 Hayate Javed,b,1 Charu Sharma,c Sameer N. Goyal,d Sanjay Kumar,e,f Niraj Kumar Jha,g and Shreesh Ojhaa,∗ Can Echinacea be a potential candidate to target immunity, inflammation, and infection – The trinity of coronavirus disease 2019, Heliyon. 2021 Feb; 7(2): e05990. Published online 2021 Feb 8. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05990
