17: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM – Lines Of Defense, Pathogens, And Immune-Supporting Nutrients

The Immune System protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by
producing what is referred to as an immune response. Listen in as Christine and Jimmy discuss this vital functionality of the human body and how to help it help YOU stay as healthy as possible!

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Welcome to The Nutritional Pearls Podcast! Focusing on topics that include digestion, adrenal fatigue, leaky gut, supplementation, electrolytes, stomach acid, and so much more, “The Nutritional Pearls Podcast” features Christine Moore, NTP and is hosted by Jimmy Moore, host of the longest running nutritional podcast on the Internet. Sharing nuggets of wisdom from Christine’s training as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Jimmy’s years of podcasting and authoring international bestselling health and nutrition books, they will feature a new topic of interest and fascination in the world of nutritional health each Monday. Listen in today as Christine and Jimmy talk all about the importance of a strong immune system in Episode 17.

Here’s what Christine and Jimmy talked about in Episode 17:

1. Definition of the immune system: protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by
producing the immune response.

2. Three lines of defense

A. Nonspecific Resistance/Barriers

1. Mechanical Barriers

a. Intact skin
b. Tears
c. Mucous and mucous membranes
d. Saliva
e. Cilia
f. Epiglottis

2. Chemical Barriers

a. Skin (perspiration)
b. Gastric juices-hydrochloric acid with a pH of 0.8 to 3
c. Lysozyme-an enzyme capable of breaking down cell walls of various bacteria. It is found
in perspiration, tears, saliva, nasal secretions, and tissue fluids

B. Nonspecific or “Innate” Immunity-white blood cells provide a rapid response to a wide range of
invaders. Think of this as your surveillance system
C. Specific or “Adaptive/Acquired” Immunity-white blood cells mount attacks on specific invaders
that escaped the Resistance/Barriers and Innate Immunity

3. Things the Immune System includes

A. The Thymus-helps develop T-lymphocytes or T cells which is an important type of white blood cell
used in fighting infection
B. Spleen-helps filter the blood for the immune system. Red blood cells are recycled here; platelets
(a small colorless disk-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood
and involved in clotting) and white blood cells (less technical term for leukocyte which include
lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages) are stored
in the spleen. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacterial infections that cause
pneumonia and meningitis.
C. Lymph Nodes-they are small bean-shaped structures that stores cells called lymphocytes (a type
of while blood cell) that fight infection
D. Intestines-our intestinal tract contains 60% of our immune system
E. Bone marrow-produces red blood cells (carries oxygen throughout the body and removes carbon
dioxide from the body), platelets (involved in clotting), and white blood cells (help fight infection)
F. Macrophages-a large white blood cell that can locate and eat particles like bacteria, viruses, fungi
and parasites
G. Lymphocytes-produce antibodies to destroy cells that might cause damage

1. B Cells-create Y-shaped proteins called antibodies and are developed in the bone marrow
2. T Cells-kills cells that have already been infected by an invader and are developed in the
Thymus
3. Natural Killer Cells-composed of innate immunity and are responsible for helping to fight
tunours and cells that are infected with viruses

H. Antibodies-blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen (a toxin or
other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production
of antibodies)

4. Types of pathogens

A. Bacteria: completely independent, able to eat and reproduce quickly (can develop into millions
of cells in 4 hours)
B. Virus: 1/1000 smaller than a bacterial cell, not alive, attaches to a host cell and injects its
material into that cell and uses the genetic material to make new viruses-the host cell bursts and
releases the viruses
C. Parasites:

1. protozoa-are one celled organisms like Giardia (a type of infection in the small intestines
usually contracted by eating contaminated food or water) and Malaria (invades the red blood
cells)
2. Worms-like Pinworm (small white worm whose eggs can be inhaled through the air or
consumed through food) and Tapeworm (a flatworm that lives in the intestines and consumes
nutrients that have already been digested)

D. Fungus-plant-like organisms, many are useful and edible (mushrooms), some cause problems
(Candida), and there are over 100,000 species of fungi like yeast and molds

5. Good digestion is critical for good immune function

A. Proper stomach acid is needed to digest and absorb nutrients needed for good immune function
B. Proper stomach acid is needed to digest the proteins we eat so the poorly digested proteins don’t
irritate our intestines leading to Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity-60 to 80 percent of our immune
system is in the intestines. A decrease of good gut bacteria always leads to in increase in
harmful microbes because it reduces the amount of good bacteria that can fight the bad bacteria
C. The liver and gallbladder need to be working well to digest and break down the fats we consume
(fats are needed in Prostaglandin formation which helps control and regulate inflammation)

1. Prostaglandin 1 or PG1-comes from Omega-6 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory in nature

A. Pumpkin seeds
B. Raw sunflower seeds
C. Pine nuts
D. Pistachio nuts

2. Prostaglandin 2 or PG2-comes from Saturated fatty acids which are inflammatory in nature;
inflammation, in this context is good because it allows the body to create a pathway for the
immune system to do its job.

A. Full fat dairy products
B. Fatty cuts of meat like beef, pork, and lamb
C. Lard

3. Prostaglandin 3 or PG3-comes from Omega-3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory in nature.

A. Cod liver oil
B. Salmon
C. Walnuts
D. Chia seeds

Note: Histamines work with prostaglandins and are created by Basophils, a leukocyte or white blood
cell, and histamines increase the permeability of blood cells to allow the white blood cells to
move to the infected or injured tissues.

6. Good blood sugar regulation is important for optimal immune health

A. Stress responses by the adrenal glands depress the immune system. The body has to decide if it’s
going to lower blood sugar or fight infection
B. Blood sugar levels that are consistently high reduce white blood cell activity because high blood
sugar levels cause high cortisol levels and cortisol is the hormone that regulates white blood cells

1. High cortisol levels decrease lymphocytes and other immune cells
2. Low cortisol causes an overactive immune system-white blood cells are in excess and this
causes inflammation.
3. blood sugar levels that are consistently high deplete the body of nutrients needed for a
healthy immune system

1. Vitamin C-certain cells of the immune like phagocytes and T-cells system need vitamin C to
do their job
2. Vitamin D-helps the body produce over 200 antimicrobial peptides (2 or more amino acids)
which help fight infections
3. Vitamin E-antioxidant that helps fight infection
4. Zinc-helps regulate the immune response
5. Beta-carotene-precursor to vitamin A which is needed for healthy mucous membranes
6. Calcium-helps support white blood cell activity
7. Iodine-a natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent

7. Proper hydration is needed for a healthy immune system

A. Water is needed to keep the passageways of the lungs moist for easier breathing
B. Proper hydration supports good lymphatic flow which allows the immune system cells to
travel easier throughout the body
C. If you are dehydrated, it can increase the histamine response which plays a role in allergies and
asthma

8. Ways we rid the body of invaders

A. Coughing,
B. Sneezing
C. Defecating
D. Vomiting
E. Tears
F. Saliva

7. Immune Supporting Nutrients

A. Vitamins A, C, D, and E
B. Zinc
C. Selenium
D. Essential Fatty Acids

1. Linoleic Acid (LA)
2. Alph-Linolenic Acid (ALA)

E. Aloe Vera-a gelatinous substance obtained from Aloe plants
F. Garlic-an herb closely related to the onion family
G. Licorice-from a plant in the pea family obtained from it’s roots
H. Echinasea- derived from a North American coneflower in the Daisy family that has antibiotic and
wound healing properties

Nutritional Pearl for Episode 17:
It’s important that we have good digestive function, proper hydration, and optimal blood sugar regulation so that our immune system can function at its best.

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