The human immune system is the body's own battlefield. Without the immune system, the body would not be able to defend against disease and illness. The immune system consists of monocytes, which act as sentinels; antibodies; natural killer cells; cytotoxic T-cells, which act as artillery; helper and suppressor T-cells, which sound the alarm; and macrophages, which clean up the battlefield.
The immune system is like an army protecting our bodies from foreign invaders. The major constituents of the immune system consist of bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, appendix, peyer's patches and lymphatic vessels - all of which protect the body against dangerous toxins and invading micro-organisms.
Nothing can take place of a healthy immune system. When functioning properly, the body has all the ammunition it needs to ward off disease and combat illness. The immune system is stronger than any other drugs and unlike most medications, it has no side effects.
There are definite link between nutrition and the immune system. What we eat can directly affect how well the immune system functions. Unfortunately, many of us assume that if we do not exhibit visible signs of illness, we are healthy - an assumption that is often incorrect. Most diseases are present in the body long before they give any outward manifestations and are associated with a malfunctioning of the immune system. However, if our immune system is functioning properly, we can defend ourselves from most illness. Therein lies the importance of strengthening the immune system: through proper nutrition.
