How the immune system fights off invaders, from splinters to vaccines
Our immune systems consist of two parts: the innate (or general) immune system and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system. In this video, family physician Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the basics of these two systems, illuminating how they each fight germs (like bacteria, viruses, and fungi) and foreign substances (like chemicals and splinters). Dr. Zelfand also defines: antigens, antibodies, inflammation, phagocytes, natural killer cells, B cells, and T cells, and explains the brilliant cascade by which the innate and adaptive immune systems work together to protect us from illness year-round and life-long. Brief explanations of immunological memory and vaccination are also included herein.
Lyme Disease and Biofilm
A cause of persistent infections Tick-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human health, with the number of cases rising threefold in the U.S. in recent years.[1] The most common tick-borne illness is Lyme disease. According to a recent estimate, approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year.[2] Lyme disease…
Study Identifies Widespread Inadequacies of Immune Health Nutrients
Key nutrient shortfalls may increase the risk of infections Ideally, a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet, including a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats, and a balanced selection of proteins can meet all of one’s daily requirements for essential vitamins and minerals, as well as essential fatty acids (EFAs), amino acids,…
Don’t Forget to Water Your Kids!
Keeping hydration up in the dog-days of summer and first weeks of back-to-school Kids. Water. Fruits. Vegetables. In this series of words, which does not belong? Of course, we could evaluate them by various forms of reasoning (i.e. kids contain a high level of water) but in their natural form we probably don’t see…
