Boosting vs. Supporting Your Immune System. What’s the Difference?

 


When it comes to the immune system, it seems the term ‘boost’ is everywhere. Articles cascade across the internet. Commercials beckon, asking the questions “Can you really ‘boost’ your immune system?” “What foods or beverages can help you ‘boost’ your immune system?” And the list goes on.

But what does ‘boost’ really mean? And is ‘boosting’ really the best thing for immune health? Or might there be another way to support your immune system’s ability to respond to a threat? And, most importantly, what’s the best way to obtain these benefits?

Sonja Nodland, Kerry ProActive Health Principal Scientist, shares insights on the important differences between boosting and supporting immune health, and discusses priming the immune system.

You’re probably already doing more than you think.

Most health-conscious people take steps to protect their immune health as part of their everyday life—likely without realizing it. Diet, exercise and adequate sleep play a well-documented critical role in maintaining overall wellness. In fact, these habits form the foundation of good health. But as the pandemic showed us, many of us are looking for another tool to help support our overall immune health.

So is more better?

While being proactive is well-intentioned, the problem lies in attempting to ‘boost’ the immune system. In its simplest form, the term ‘boost’ means ‘to improve the function of’. As used in the context of improving the immune system, the confusion may be related to semantics. While boosting is sometimes used to mean supporting, the risk may come in when boosting goes beyond supporting. In those cases, the result could be overstimulation. ‘Boosting’ can mean causing the immune system to overcompensate, resulting in a potentially negative reaction.

Our immune system is actually comprised of two parts: the adaptive and innate immune systems. Our innate immune system has the unique ability to become ‘primed’ for performance. This allows our bodies to support our health by helping to maintain the immune system’s natural balance. So perhaps the best course of action is to support the immune system by priming it, rather than ‘boosting’ it.

To understand priming, you need to know that the immune system can be prepped to perform better with substances that function as immunomodulators, substances that can help support immune function by regulating the immune system’s response to a threat. Emerging evidence indicates that yeast beta glucans may ‘train’ or ‘prime’ the body’s immune cells to react. It’s important to note, however, that although multiple biological activities have been attributed to beta glucans, including immunomodulatory effects, not all beta glucans affect immune activity, with such benefits depending on their chemical structure. A recent study, published in peer-reviewed scientific journal Food Chemistry, helps to illustrate that each source of yeast beta glucan has a unique chemical structure that correlates to its benefits.

Homeostasis is key.

The immune system’s role is intertwined with the functioning of many other body systems, including the nervous system, endocrine system, and digestive system, to name a few. Your body thrives on maintaining homeostasis in all functions, for example, maintaining body temperature and hormonal balance. In the same way, the immune system is also designed to preserve a steady state, performing optimally and responding effectively to illness. A supported immune system is primed for performance.


 

Why is priming your immune health a good thing?

Immune response is a delicate thing. While it seems like ‘boosting’ it will help it respond more efficiently to an illness, the opposite is often true. A boosted immune system can overstimulate the immune response, throwing it out of balance, and affecting many systems regulated by the body.

‘Boosting’ rather than supporting the immune system by priming it can force the body out of homeostasis (the green zone). Supporting or priming your immune system can help keep you in the green zone, bring you back to homeostasis quicker, or moderate the size or duration of the spike out of the green zone.

Making the case for supporting immune health.

Supporting your immune system by priming it, as opposed to boosting it, means making it as strong as possible. Again, the primary way to do this is to maintain the healthy habits that keep your immune system running smoothly. Providing sufficient nourishment and time to repair itself  are the two best gifts you can give your immune system. But experts also agree that sometimes extra nutrients are beneficial to immune health. Providing these nutrients in a manner that helps keep your body well is integral to the concept of supporting, as opposed to boosting.

Supporting is a holistic concept that takes into account all of the immune system’s components and mechanisms of action. Supporting means compensating for natural, age-related declines in immunity, the effects of stress, and other conditions antithetical to good health. Supporting immunity means providing your body with the tools it needs to function optimally.

How can Wellmune® help support immune health?

Research shows Wellmune®, a yeast beta glucan, works to prime your immune system rather than boost it. When taken daily, as a supplement or formulated into a food or beverage, research shows that Wellmune works to support immune health by binding to neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the body. Primed by Wellmune, neutrophils move more quickly to recognize and kill foreign challenges, helping to keep your immune system ready to react.

Clinical research has shown that Wellmune®e can help support the need states that contribute to overall immune health, including:

  • Improving general immune health and well-being
  • Protecting against the harmful effects of stress
  • Promoting healthy energy levels and mental clarity

Wellmune® has been a key ingredient in a variety of products, including functional foods, beverages, and supplements around the world.

 

 Click here to order: Wellmune Beta Glucan


Originally posted: March 11, 2021 - Wellmune.com


Popular posts from this blog

What is Essiac Tea?

Image
  Essiac. What a funny-looking word! Who made that up, and what in the world is “essiac” tea anyway? This blend of tea has its origins in a mining community in Canada. A nurse by the name of Rene Caisse (pronounced reen case) was working there in the early 1900s. She found that a miner’s wife, who had been suffering from a serious illness, was seemingly cured after taking an old Native American herbal recipe given by an “old Indian medicine man.”   Caisse experimented with this herbal blend, and she soon found that it seemed to promote wellness in her patients. Many of her patients reported feeling more healthy, and some living with terminal illness reported that the tea made their condition more bearable. Nurse Caisse gave the formula the name essiac (pronounced ess-ee-ack), which is her own last name spelled backward. So what’s in Essiac tea? Many companies out there include all sorts of herbs in their blend. We at Ojibwa Tea of Life use the original, 4-herb recipe. Some of y
Read more

Understanding Grounding: A Natural Approach to Health and Well-Being

Image
  “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better”-Albert Einstein We are in a constant stimulation between stress and a world filled with technology, and many people are seeking ways to reconnect with nature and find balance in their lives. One practice that has gained attention for its potential health benefits is grounding, also known as earthing. But what exactly is grounding, and how can it improve your health? What is Grounding? Grounding refers to the practice of connecting directly with the Earth's surface, typically by walking barefoot outdoors or using grounding devices indoors. The concept is rooted in the idea that the Earth carries a subtle electric charge, and by coming into direct contact with it, we can absorb electrons that neutralize free radicals in the body, thereby reducing inflammation and promoting overall well-being. While the scientific research on grounding is still in its early stages, several studies have shown promising results
Read more

Unveiling the Power of Vitamin K2: Types, Functions, and Benefits

Image
        Vitamin K2 , often overshadowed by its more popular counterparts like vitamin D and vitamin C, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. This lesser-known nutrient is gaining recognition for its unique functions and potential benefits. In this article, we will delve into the world of vitamin K2, exploring its various types, mechanisms in the body, and the multitude of advantages it offers. Additionally, we'll provide practical tips on how to incorporate more vitamin K2 into your daily routine, especially when combined with vitamin D3. Understanding Vitamin K2 Vitamin K2, a lesser-known sibling of Vitamin K, is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Unlike Vitamin K1, which is primarily involved in blood clotting, Vitamin K2 has unique functions related to bone health, cardiovascular health, and more. Types of Vitamin K2 There are two main forms of Vitamin K2: MK-4(menaquinone-4) and MK-7 (menaquinone-7) . M
Read more