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Strengthen the immune system naturally - defense and protection for the body
April 25, 2021
Dipl.-Biol. Dorothee Ogroske et al.
“Health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing.” This is how Schopenhauer once wrote it. Anyone who has ever been seriously ill will confirm this without hesitation. Even small infections throw us off track and make everyday life enormously difficult. Lucky is the one who has a strong immune system!
But good defenses are by no means a twist of fate. We have all kinds of possibilities to strengthen our immune system naturally. Learn the basics of your body’s defenses in this article. We explain how to stay healthy and to what extent vital mushrooms support you.
The immune system: guardian of our health
What is the immune system?
- It notices the danger and identifies the unwanted intruder.
- It fights the intruder and disposes of its remains.
Specific and non-specific defense
TH1 vs. TH2 reactions
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How can I recognize a weak immune system?
Not every infection indicates a weak immune system. Some pathogens are so strong and sophisticated that they cheat their way past even strong defenses. In such a case, an intact immune system ensures a low symptom expression as well as a short disease duration. However, if you suffer from allergies or persistent colds, you should take a closer look at your immune system. Recurrent infections are also an indication of inadequate defenses.
However, a compromised immune system does not have to manifest itself immediately in an illness. A first sign may already be a persistent feeling of fatigue. If you feel low in energy and listless for weeks, you are likely to be more susceptible to infections. Your immune system simply can’t perform as well as it should. In such phases, more serious diseases such as cancer or chronic health problems such as autoimmune diseases usually begin. However, if you take appropriate countermeasures at the first signs of a weak defense and strengthen your immune system naturally, you have a good chance of nipping diseases in the bud.
When the immune system overreacts
Excessive reactions of the immune system cause just as much impairment as an insufficient defense. Such misregulations are usually related to an exaggerated TH1 response. Suddenly, the body’s defenses turn against completely harmless substances in everyday life. The ability to distinguish between “good” and “bad” substances has been lost. Such reactions can, for example, be directed against certain ingredients of food, house dust, animal hair or pollen. The diagnosis is then usually “allergy” or “intolerance”.
In the worst case, the immune system even goes against the body’s own cells. The consequences are autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease or inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The longer and more intense these exaggerated immune reactions are, the more serious the damage to the affected body parts or organs. But even in such cases, it is possible to rebalance the immune system with a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.
Why is my immune system weak?
- Environmental toxins
- Pollutants in food, cosmetics, detergents and cleaning agents
- Nutrient deficiency
- Lack of exercise or excessive sport
- Chronic sleep deprivation (less than 6 hours per day)
- psychological factors such as chronic stress, worries, unprocessed conflicts
- excessive cold
- Smoking
- stimulants (e.g. alcohol and sugar)
- Medication
- too little fresh air
- Dry air
- Not drinking enough
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How can I strengthen my immune system?
What foods strengthen the immune system?
A healthy diet for strong defenses contains, above all, abundant vitamins and minerals. The basal vitamins are A, D, C, B6, folic acid and B12. If you want to strengthen your immune system naturally, iron, zinc, selenium and copper in sufficient quantities are also important. In addition, there are secondary plant substances that support the body in many ways and provide it with antioxidants.
In a nutshell, a predominantly plant-based diet is ideal for the immune system. Always prepare your meals fresh and bring as much variety as possible into your diet. You should avoid animal products as far as possible. Rather, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and mushrooms form the basis. If you also work mainly with healthy vegetable fats such as rapeseed or linseed oil, you can be pretty sure to be well supplied with all the necessary nutrients.
What dangers do free radicals pose to the immune system?
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Strengthen the immune system naturally with vital mushrooms
How can medicinal mushrooms support the immune system?
The positive effect of medicinal mushrooms on the immune system has long been known. In traditional Chinese medicine, vital mushrooms have been used for centuries to alleviate acute infections as well as chronic diseases. Many of the effects handed down from time immemorial have recently been investigated and confirmed in scientific studies. That is why vital mushrooms such as Reishi, ABM, Coriolus and Shiitake are increasingly used in the Western world when it comes to strengthening the immune system naturally.
Mushrooms contain many valuable substances that support our defenses and thus promote our health. For example, they are rich in minerals, vitamins, trace elements, enzymes, essential amino acids and fiber. In addition, the individual vital mushrooms each have very specific substances, each of which supports the defenses in its own way. Medicinal mushrooms are always so-called adaptogens. This means that they do not fundamentally fire up the immune system, but rather have a balancing effect. That is why they function very well even in the presence of exaggerated immune responses of the TH1 system.
Experienced mycotherapists know exactly which fungus is most effective in counteracting which problem and disease. The income of welfare mushrooms can take place thereby just as well therapy-accompanying as preventively. Feel free to contact our experts if you have any questions about the selection and dosage of medicinal mushrooms suitable for you.
Agaricus Blazei Murrill (ABM)
ABM for immunomodulation
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatism
- inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Autoimmune diseases of the pancreas (type 1 diabetes)
Antioxidants
In addition to the adaptogenic polysaccharides, ABM contains many antioxidant enzymes. These include, for example, superoxide dismutase, catalase and tyrosinase. They actively fight free radicals in the body. Thus, taking ABM reduces the risk of getting diseases that are favored by oxidative stress, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and fibromyalgia.
ABM against cancer
Coriolus
- Bacteria, e.g. E. coli, chlamydia and streptococci
- Fungi, e.g. Candida
- Flu viruses
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Cytomegaly
- Hepatitis
- Aphthae
- Inflammation of the oral mucosa
Hericium
Pleurotus
As with Hericium, the action of Pleurotus also starts at the intestine. In fact, it promotes the good probiotic bacteria such as lactobacilli, enterococci and bifidobacteria in colonizing the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, its use is especially recommended after treatment with antibiotics. With the support of Pleurotus, the intestine recovers quickly, which also benefits the immune system.
Polyporus
Maitake
Reishi
Shiitake
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What is important about vital mushrooms to support the immune system?
So you see that there is a whole range of medicinal mushrooms that strengthen your immune system. Of course, some mushrooms are better suited for prevention, while others have proven effective in treating certain diseases. To find out which vital mushrooms are ideal in your individual situation, feel free to consult our experts. No two people are alike, and so there are a variety of factors to consider when making a selection, the naming of which is beyond the scope of this article.
Where can I get suitable medicinal mushrooms?
- Mushrooms from German cultivation
- Medicinal mushrooms from organic cultivation
- Mushroom powder from the whole mushroom
- gently dried (< 40 °C) mushroom powder
- powder filled in capsules