{"id":1579,"date":"2020-04-08T12:19:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T18:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog-new.buckedup.com\/?p=1579"},"modified":"2023-10-24T14:40:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T20:40:12","slug":"the-immune-system-a-shallow-dive-into-the-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/08\/the-immune-system-a-shallow-dive-into-the-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"The Immune System: A Shallow Dive Into The Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ever wondered how the immune system works, but the moment you started your wiki reading, realized you needed to research half the terms just to form a basic understanding of how to navigate what you actually wanted to know in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yeah, me neither\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s the problem that comes with reading scholarly articles, though. They\u2019re written by scholars, who tend to think the rest of us have the same amount of education and crippling college debt. Lucky for you, I\u2019m not a scholar.&nbsp;(no comment on the student loans thing, though)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For reasons that would surprise literally no one, I recently gained a vested interest in how to improve my immune system. I took a deep dive down the rabbit hole. Three days and Twelve Bucked Up Energy Drinks later, I came out the other end with the knowledge I\u2019ll share with you in this article.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-expectations-of-immunity\"><strong>Expectations of Immunity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what you can expect to learn from this article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How the immune system works<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How oxidative stress and free radicals work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The role of antioxidants in healthy immune function<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Antioxidant and free radical balance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ways to ensure your immune system is optimized&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what you should not expect from this article: technical jargon that does more damage to your intellectual ego than it does expand your knowledge. I don\u2019t have a degree in human biology, linguistics, or whatever. I have a Ph.D in obsessive googling &#8212; and almost an associates in English, but fine arts degrees don\u2019t matter anyway so&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, no translation necessary. We speak the same language. You know, smart people who don\u2019t feel they need to prove their intelligence or live in a world where every paragraph is about to go into the thesis they screwed up years prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-immune-system\"><strong>What Is The Immune System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-new.buckedup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/immune-system.hand-min-1024x567.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1584\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the reasons the immune system may be difficult to fully understand is that few systems in nature are as complicated as the human immune system. It exists apart from every other system in the body, and yet still in concert with them. When it works, people stay healthy. When it malfunctions, well\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The immune system is what protects us from diseases caused by invaders (called <em>pathogens<\/em>) such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It is made up of specialized organs, cells, and tissues to seek, track, and destroy these invaders.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like with any \u201csystem,\u201d the immune system is actually a collection of various subsections. The two most important for fighting pathogens are the Innate Immune System and the Adaptive Immune System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-innate-immune-system\"><strong>Innate Immune System<\/strong>: <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The body\u2019s first line of defense against pathogens. It\u2019s activated immediately upon infection and consists of a multi-pronged attack, consisting of physical barriers, immune cells (<em>white blood cells<\/em>), etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of your body as a city set within an epic fantasy, we\u2019ll say Helm\u2019s Deep in Tolkien\u2019s Two Towers. You have your massive wall, your soldiers, as well as a dwarf and an elf still counting kills. All present to try and defend your body from ugly Uruk-hai.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-adaptive-immune-system\"><strong>Adaptive Immune System:<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the body\u2019s second line of defense. It\u2019s more intelligent in how it attacks but takes time to build. One of the things that makes the adaptive immune system so valuable is that it learns from its opponents (pathogens). It\u2019s the equivalent of a super AI playing the same opponent in chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The adaptive immune system is called upon when the innate one becomes overwhelmed by pathogenic onslaught. To continue with Tolkien, remember that moment in the end where Gandalf conveniently shows up with Eomer\u2019s horsemen to save the day? It\u2019s like that.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-white-blood-cells-the-immune-system-s-ammo\">White Blood Cells: The Immune System\u2019s Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-new.buckedup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/225px-Space_Invaders_flyer_1978.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1585\" style=\"width:183px;height:260px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1978, the first fixed shooter arcade game ever was created. It was called Space Invaders &#8212; if you haven\u2019t heard of it, I\u2019m sorry for your childhood. Space Invaders (almost) effectively summed up how our immune system tries to deal with pathogens.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is, so long as you were granted the option to use a variety of ammunition as opposed to one single pixelated laser thing. The Immune System, however, does have a variety of \u201ccells\u201d to perform specific functions in the war against invaders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Enter White Blood Cells: <\/strong>The immune system has cells that perform specific functions. They\u2019re often referred to as <em>immunity cells<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>B cells:<\/strong> also called B lymphocytes, these cells produce antibodies that bind to antigens and neutralize them. Think, Star Trek: \u201cSet phasers to stun.\u201d Each B cell makes one specific type of antibody. For example, there is a specific B cell that helps to fight off the flu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>T cells<\/strong>: also called T lymphocytes, these cells help to get rid of good cells that have already been infected. Imagine a zombie apocalypse. I know you love your roommate and all, but if they\u2019re infected, you gotta go <em>T cell <\/em>on their skull.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Killer T cells<\/strong>: Killer T cells destroy cells that have been infected by the invader. They\u2019re basically the \u201cdouble-tap\u201d cell.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Helper T cells<\/strong>: The Director of Pathogenic Invasion Operations, helper T cells command B cells to start making antibodies and\/or instruct killer T cells to attack.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory cells<\/strong>: Memory cells remember antigens that have already attacked the body. They help the body to fight off any new attacks by a specific antigen. Kinda like when you meet someone that reminds you of your toxic ex and that red flag goes up. (The difference being that memory cells actually do something useful with the previous knowledge.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antigen is a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies. Antibody is blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies work sort of like a tracking device, binding to antigenic invaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-antioxidants-oxidation-free-radicals\"><strong>Antioxidants, Oxidation, &amp; Free Radicals&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some terms that get thrown around a lot, but rarely get defined. Maybe you already know them, that\u2019s cool &#8212; skip ahead.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or maybe you\u2019ve heard other people say them so many times you feel you should know, so now you just nod your head anytime they\u2019re used so people (who also don\u2019t know the definitions) won\u2019t think you\u2019re ignorant. Yup. Been there. Guilty. But really, interrobang? How was I supposed to know that one?! (hint; that question mark followed by an exclamation point I just used is an interrobang.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-free-radicals\"><strong>Free Radicals: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anytime I hear (or read) this term, my head automatically jumps to some sort of cyberpunk science fiction novel where a faction of DIY punk heroes who call themselves the Free Radicals are waging war on the Establishment. Sadly, the only sort of establishment biology-related free radicals attack is one that we kind of need in place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often called an \u201coxidant, \u201d a free radical is an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron. This throws it into an unstable state. Since it is now in an unstable state it tries to steal an electron from another molecule. By doing so the radical may cause damage or even destroy the surrounding cells.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That being said, free radicals are normal and necessary. But only to some degree. They do cause some damage, but they also stimulate repair. It&#8217;s only when the amount of free radicals produced overwhelms the repair processes that we run into issues. That is what we call <strong>oxidative stress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-oxidation\"><strong>Oxidation:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve all seen a rusted over car, rusted metal, or even a spoiled apple. No? Here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-new.buckedup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rusty-car.jpg\" alt=\"oxidative stress\" class=\"wp-image-1517\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picture of a Rusty Old Car<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okay. <em>Now <\/em>we\u2019ve all seen a rusted car. This commonly occurs due to oxidation. And, while it might not seem like it\u2019s as noticeable on humans as it is on a car, it absolutely is. Turns out, when we were told \u201cIt\u2019s not what\u2019s on the outside that counts, it\u2019s what\u2019s on the inside\u201d we weren\u2019t being lied to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t mistake me, I\u2019m not disavowing my own vanity. What I\u2019m saying is that what\u2019s on the inside largely <em>dictates <\/em>what\u2019s on the outside. Not in some weird Dorian Gray (tarnished soul) sort of way. Biologically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although inconvenient &#8212; aging kinda sucks &#8212; oxidation isn\u2019t bad. It\u2019s simply a process. It happens as our bodies process the oxygen we breathe and our cells produce energy from it. Some circumstances where oxidation occurs are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When our cells uses glucose for energy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When the immune system fights off bacteria &#8212; creating inflammation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When our bodies detoxify pollutants, and what not<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This process also produces the aforementioned free radicals (oxidants). Like adding in a \u201cKaren\u201d to the group, they poorly interact with our cells, resulting in stress to DNA, mitochondria, and of course, nearby cells (who were just gathered together to catch up with old friends, thanks for ruining the party, Karen).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like all stress, some can be good (for example, acute stress vs chronic stress), but too much is suboptimal, to say the least. Oxidation increases when we\u2019re physically and\/or emotionally stressed. This is where antioxidants come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-role-of-antioxidants\"><strong>The Role of Antioxidants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One significant role: Antioxidants, or anti-oxidation agents, reduce the effect of free radicals (oxidants) by binding together with them, decreasing their destructive power. Let\u2019s revisit our good friend Karen for a second. She just got a (non-gender specific) romantic partner who\u2019s balanced her out and made her surprisingly tolerable. That romantic partner prefers to go by Antioxidant. This is how antioxidants interact with free radicals. As long as you have enough antioxidants, a careful balance is maintained and the damage is prevented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oxidative stress when the amount of free radicals exceeds the amount of antioxidants &#8212; when there are way too many single karens at the dinner party. That\u2019s when oxidation does its damage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a \u2018karen\u2019 and you\u2019re reading this, please don\u2019t be offended. I don\u2019t want you to call my supervisor and complain to them for hours about my usage of a trending social term. They have better things to do than listen to that, Karen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To put it in fantasy football terminology, having an immune system stocked with antioxidants would be the equivalent of somehow drafting the perfect (2019) team:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>QB1: Patrick Mahomes\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Backup being:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RB1: Christian McCaffrey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RB2: Aaron Jones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WR1: Michael Thomas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WR2: Chris Godwin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I won\u2019t go on. You get the idea. For those of you who don\u2019t because you don\u2019t play fantasy, count your blessings and stay away. Trust me, fantasy football will unleash more free radicals into your system than your white blood cells could possibly handle. That is, unless you\u2019re optimizing with the right supplementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-perfect-immune-support\">The Perfect Immune Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blog-new.buckedup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/immune-system-shield-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1586\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bucked Up Immune Support is like getting first-round draft pick, and picking correctly. Actually, it\u2019s your entire draft going impossibly smooth (ref, above fantasy team). It is packed with powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals and revitalize white blood cells, which play a significant role in bacteria protection and oxidative stress reduction.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fortify Helm\u2019s Deep<\/strong>: innate immune system, killer T cells, and B cells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Call in Gandalf and help your immune system\u2019s AI<\/strong>: Adaptive immune system, and the smart cells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Level up your Space Invaders game<\/strong>: stimulate your immune cells*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get the karens some partners<\/strong>: antioxidants for the free radicals*<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bucked Up Immune Support delivers anti-inflammatory properties,* stimulates a healthy respiratory system,* and promotes overall health and wellness with these key ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Turmeric Extract (curcuma longa) (rhizome) (95% curcuminoids):<\/strong> anti-oxidant,* anti-inflammatory,* and anti-microbial properties.* Also provides a boost to white blood cells.*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Oregano Powder:<\/strong> Rich in thymol and rosmarinic acid &#8212; powerful antioxidants shown to reduce oxidative damage.*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Astragalus Root Powder<\/strong>: With over 100 scientific studies to its name, Astragalus has proven itself to be a key player in healthy immune function.*&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lemon Juice Extract:<\/strong> Lemons are high in vitamin C (187% of the daily value per serving).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eucalyptus Oil Powder:<\/strong> Eucalyptus stimulates the immune system and improves cardiorespiratory blood circulation &#8212; a vital part of immune function.*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cat\u2019s Claw Extract 4:1:<\/strong> No, not the claws of a cat, but Cat\u2019s Claw. It\u2019s a woody vine native to the Amazon forest. Given its antiviral,* anti-mutagenic,* anti-inflammatory,* and antioxidant properties,* it\u2019s hailed as a stalwart warrior in the fight for immune health. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to see this stuff in action? Click here to read about <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress-556875-3996516.cloudwaysapps.com\/bucked-up\/transformation-drew-abbott\/\">Drew Abbott&#8217;s transformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bolster-the-defenses\">Bolster The Defenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time to bolster the defenses. Go to <a href=\"https:\/\/tk.buckedup.com\/J84C5\/26B6MK\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buckedup.com<\/a> and get yourself some now. While you\u2019re at it, you can support small <a href=\"https:\/\/tk.buckedup.com\/J84C5\/26B6MK\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">businesses<\/a>. We\u2019re currently doing an offer where when you spend $100, we\u2019ll send you a $20 gift card to DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because community, like your immune system, matters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wondered how the immune system works, but the moment you started your wiki reading, realized you needed to research half the terms just to form a basic understanding of how to navigate what you actually wanted to know in the first place?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":248249474,"featured_media":2491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[337,13985],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/248249474"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1579\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckedup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}