This is how you weaken your immunity. Immunologist: a sin, among others changing towels too often

We most often associate immunity with protection against viruses and bacteria. But resilience is so much more. We see the effects of her work every day, although we rarely realize it. What is the immune system really, what happens in the body when pathogens attack us, and what does the frequent change of towels and the risk of cancer have to do with it? In an interview with Medonet, the virologist and immunologist Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska.

1. In addition to the defensive function, immunity also has the task of maintaining balance in the body – it is necessary for proper functioning. An example is supporting the wound healing process
2. We inherit part of the immune system from our ancestors – this is called innate immunity. We also have a very specialized immune response, the so-called acquired immunity 
3. Innate immunity is not subject to improvement or acceleration – this is where genes decide. Unfortunately, we can weaken it, and this happens, for example, when we change towels too often
4. While innate immunity always has some degree of readiness, the acquired response does not activate until it is instructed by the innate immunity cells. Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska explains what happens in the body then and why, under certain circumstances, it can even promote the formation of cancer
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Monika Mikołajska / Medonet .: We usually start talking about immunity in autumn and winter, and the first association with it is an infection, now possibly also COVID-19. But resilience is so much more. It is involved, for example, in the healing of wounds … What is our immune system really?

Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska, Department of Virology and Immunology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin: Immunity is a defense system that protects us not only from threats from the outside world, but also from inside the body, such as cancer cells. But that’s not all. Immunity is also responsible for keeping the body in balance, the so-called homeostasis. Without it, the body cannot function properly. For example, the immune system is involved in the removal of old unnecessary cells, the renewal of the skin and mucous membranes, and the wound healing process you mentioned. All this enables the body to function harmoniously.

Do we inherit immunity from our parents, or is its condition already in our hands?

We actually inherit part of the immune system from our ancestors. This is called innate immunity, which is the first line of defense. We do not have much influence on it, its efficiency depends on the inherited genes. There are people who, for example, rarely catch a cold, others on the contrary – very often. This is precisely the link between the immune system and genes.

1. This is how your body tells you that your immunity is in a deplorable state

There are several barriers to innate immunity. Our skin belongs to the external ones, it can be compared to armor protecting the body against the intrusion of microorganisms (when it is undamaged, it fulfills its function perfectly). They are also the mucous membranes that line the body’s interior. Their area is huge – over 200 sq m! Due to the contact of mucous membranes with external factors, for example with the air we breathe or with food, the mucous membranes must be exceptionally equipped to defend themselves against possible threats. Another thing is the cunning of the microorganisms that overcome this barrier. When this happens, another line of innate defense awaits pathogens – immune cells, or leukocytes, which react very quickly to threats. These are, among others macrophages and the so-called NK cells (Natural Killers).

1. What do high leukocytes testify to?

It can therefore be said that the role of innate immunity is to stop the infection as early as possible. Importantly, it always works at its own pace no matter how many times we encounter the same microorganism – it is not subject to improvement and acceleration.

You can always support your immunity additionally, e.g. through appropriate supplementation. Try, for example, Panacea Immunity – Pharmovit liquid supplement, which you can find on Medonet Market at a promotional price.

The rest of the text is below the video.

Can you give us an example of how innate immunity works?

The secretion of the skin glands ensures its lower acidity (pH), which is unfavorable for some pathogenic bacteria. Hence, it is important to exercise moderation when it comes to hygiene. If we bathe too often and use soaps that do not restore the natural pH, good conditions will be created for the colonization of the skin by pathogenic bacteria.

The same will happen if we change towels too often. When, for example, a bath towel is used for a few days, then by wiping with it, we will re-apply our bacterial flora to the skin. For example, Jacqueline Kennedy required the White House to change towels twice a day. This is way too often. Of course, how often you change towels depends on how intensively you use them. Overall, however, it can be said that a weekly replacement will be a good solution. Exaggeration in all directions will be a disadvantage here. For everyday use, we recommend Bioherba hemp face towel, which is resistant to bacteria.

1. To support the functioning of your immune system, it is worth introducing Bioherba’s Carrot Sourdough with Beetroot into your diet, which can be ordered at Medonet Market in bottles of three different sizes or in a set of shots for 7 days.

Another example is the production of mucus by airway epithelial cells. It sticks together everything that gets into them, including pollutants and pathogens. The mucus is moved up the cilia of these cells, where it is swallowed or ejected. In terms of volume, we produce approx. Glasses of mucus per day.

The intestines are protected by the bacterial flora. It plays a significant role, not only producing vitamins (e.g. vitamin K), it also competes with pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, we should renew it after taking antibiotics. It is often said that our natural flora is the “second brain” that protects not only our physical but also our mental health.

1. Take care of your immunity and more by regularly using Bioherba Black Cumin Oil.

We said we inherit part of the immune system, what about the rest?

We also have a very specialized immune response – acquired (or specific) immunity. It targets a specific microorganism very precisely. Importantly, however, unlike innate immunity, the acquired response takes time to be fully active.

1. How do Polish doctors care for immunity? Wit is not on the list. D do supplements

Acquired response has two arms – the first are specialized cells, the second are antibodies. It does not activate itself, but when properly instructed by the cells to respond to the intruder. Then cell clones are formed, some of which are lethal (cytotoxic T lymphocytes), while the other produce antibodies (B lymphocytes). This is a very specific response, but only to that organism that has been informed about by the cells of the innate response.

Finally, memory lymphocytes are left behind, preventing us from encountering the same pathogen again in the future. And then the acquired answer starts immediately. Comparing these two types of response, innate and acquired, it can be said that the latter “learns” and improves each time it meets a given microorganism.

When is our immunity triggered?

While innate immunity always has some degree of readiness, the acquired response only activates when instructed to do so by the innate immunity cells.

The reaction that prepares the body to fight is inflammation (signs of which are, for example, a rise in temperature, redness, swelling). Inflammation is nothing more than creating the conditions for effective fight against pathogens – immune cells are more active, the liver produces more proteins, blood circulates faster to deliver leukocytes to the battlefield. The entire immune system is mobilized.

Supporting immunity is e.g. the use of Chinese cupping. Try the Chinese Fire Bubble Set available on Medonet Market.

But such mobilization cannot last too long, as it could turn against us. Therefore, after the elimination of the pathogen, the reaction is calmed down and the body regains its equilibrium. Remember that you need to quickly eliminate the cause of inflammation so that a chronic reaction does not develop, which may even promote the formation of cancer.