Immune System Tidbits
Your Immune System is Your Inner Guardian
Your immune system is your body’s built-in defense and repair network—working 24/7 to protect, balance, and heal you. What’s truly fascinating is that this system doesn’t just “turn on” when you catch a cold or get an infection. It’s working every second, managing inflammation, clearing out old or damaged cells, and keeping your body in harmony.
And here’s something most people don’t realize: around 70–80% of your immune system lives in your gut! This means your digestive tract isn’t just about breaking down food—it’s where your immune cells are “trained” to recognize what’s safe (like food and friendly bacteria) and what’s a threat (like viruses or toxins). Once mature, these cells are released into circulation to protect every tissue and organ in your body—from your skin and joints to your brain and heart.
A Few “Wow” Facts About the Immune System
Your gut microbes communicate with your immune cells constantly, helping them stay balanced and preventing overreaction. Imbalance here is the root of many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Your immune system and brain talk to each other via chemical messengers—meaning inflammation in the gut can affect mood, focus, and even mental clarity.
Every night while you sleep, your immune system “resets” and repairs tissue damage. Poor or short sleep can cause your immune response to go off track.
When Balance Is Lost
When the immune system is overactive, you might experience chronic inflammation, fatigue, or pain. When it’s underactive, you become more prone to infections or slow healing. The key is to keep it in check—strong, but not overreactive.
Know Your Biomarkers
Functional medicine teaches that what gets measured can be improved. A few simple lab markers can tell you a lot about how your immune system and inflammation are behaving:
Vitamin D (25-OH D3): Supports immune regulation and helps direct calcium where it belongs—with the help of Vitamin K2. Vitamin D helps get our ‘first responder’ excited and ready for action.
hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): A powerful marker for systemic inflammation—higher levels can signal that your immune system is on “high alert.”
Fasting Insulin: Elevated insulin can drive inflammation, weight gain, and immune dysregulation long before blood sugar levels become a concern.
How to Keep Your Immune System in Tune
You don’t need extreme measures—just consistent, mindful habits:
Feed your gut: Eat colorful, fiber-rich plant foods, fermented foods, and minimize ultra-processed options to support healthy gut bacteria.
Optimize your biomarkers: These are easy to measure to ensure your system in on the right track.
Sleep deeply: Aim for 7–9 hours of restorative sleep to allow your immune system to “reboot.”
Move often: Regular movement increases circulation and immune cell efficiency.
Practice gratitude and stress management: Chronic stress suppresses immunity; mindfulness, prayer, or even a daily gratitude list can lower stress hormones and calm inflammation.
Final Thought
Your immune system isn’t just your “defense team”—it’s your body’s ultimate communication network, connecting gut, brain, hormones, and metabolism. Treat it well with real food, rest, movement, and mindful living, and it will keep you resilient, energized, and thriving.