The Immune System and Vitamins

The immune system, a complex set up of cells, tissues and organs, operates to protect the body against the onslaught of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. These microorganisms prefer to attack the human body because it offers the best environment. The immune system has the responsibility of holding these foreign invaders out or searching for and wiping them out. While immune system health relies on organic nutrition to function properly, many mistakenly take synthetic immune system vitamins in the name of good health.

The immune system can successfully fight off foreign bodies because it has a sophisticated and active communications network. Once immune cells receive a warning of a microbe attack, they go through strategic transformations and produce potent chemicals. These substances permit cells to control their own development and activities, recruit their partners and guide new them to the problem. In some cases, immune system vitamins may actually hinder this process.

You have immune system organs throughout your body known as lymphoid organs because lymphocytes, or white blood cells, live in them and function as the main players of the immune system. The fundamental foundation of all blood cells is the bone marrow, or soft tissue found in the center of the bones.

Lymphocytes use blood vessels to go throughout the body. They also travel using a system of lymphatic vessels. Cells and fluids transmit between blood and the lymphatic vessels. This allows for the lymphatic system to check the body for microbe invasion. The lymphatic vessels hold a clear solution, called lymph, which immerses the tissues. Lymph nodes line the lymphatic vessels and contain specific sections where immune cells flock and can come across antigens.

Immune cells and foreign constituents penetrate the lymph nodes through arriving lymphatic vessels or the tiny blood vessels of the lymph nodes. All lymphocytes leave lymph nodes using departing lymphatic vessels carried to tissues all over the body once in the bloodstream. They guard for unfamiliar antigens everywhere. Then, they regularly flow back into the lymphatic system and the cycle starts again. Keep in mind, when you take immune system vitamins, you are actually transporting synthetic substances through the body via lymph fluid. Probably not one of the best choices when seeking optimal health.

The immune system stores a huge stock of cells. Some immune cells retain all comers, while others focus on extremely definite objects. Most immune cells require the support of the rest of the system to work effectively. Occasionally immune cells commune by direct physical contact or with the use of chemical messengers. However, this means organic and natural chemicals in the body, not inorganic immune system vitamin substances.

The immune system maintains just a few of each kind of the different cells necessary to distinguish millions of potential enemies. When an antigen emerges, those few identical cells reproduce into a complete army. After their job ends, they disappear and leave guards behind to look out for future strikes.

All immune cells start as undeveloped stem cells in the bone marrow. They react to different cytokines and other indicators to develop into definite immune cell types and provide appealing prospects for treatment of some immune system disorders. Presently researchers are examining if science can employ a person's own stem cells in the restoration of damaged immune reactions in auto-immune and immune deficiency diseases. To date, there are no known immune system vitamins that have any positive effect on merging stem cells.