The immune system is a complex network that defends the body against harmful foreign invaders. It uses antibodies, white blood cells, and the lymphatic system to recognize and eliminate bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins. When the immune system is weakened, the body is more vulnerable to infection, disease, and sickness. People can boost their immune health through lifestyle habits like a nutritious diet, exercise, managing stress, avoiding tobacco, and practicing good hygiene. Vaccines also play an important role in strengthening immunity.

1. The Immune System
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2. How does your immune system work?
• It is a mechanism designed to defend you against
millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins
and parasites that would love to invade your
body.
• When something dies, its immune system (along
with everything else) shuts down.
• The immune system is complex, intricate and
interesting!

3. “I feel sick today”
• Mechanical damage
• Vitamin or mineral deficiency
• Organ degradation
• Genetic disease
• Cancer

4. Antibodies
• Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
• Immunoglobulin D (IgD)
• Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
• Immunoglobulin G (IgG)
• Immunoglobulin M (IgM)

5. Vaccinations
• A vaccine is a weakened form of a disease. It is
either a killed form of the disease, or it is a
similar but less virulent strain. Once inside your
body your immune system mounts the same
defense, but because the disease is different or
weaker you get few or no symptoms of the
disease. Now, when the real disease invades your
body, your body is able to eliminate it
immediately.

6. Antibiotics
• Sometimes your immune system is not able to
activate itself quickly enough to outpace the
reproductive rate of a certain bacteria, or the
bacteria is producing a toxin so quickly that it
will cause permanent damage before the
immune system can eliminate the bacteria. In
these cases it would be nice to help the immune
system by killing the offending bacteria directly.

7. Boost your immune system
• Don’t smoke.
• Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and
low in saturated fat.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Control your blood pressure.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands
frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
• Get regular medical screening tests for people in your age
group and risk category.

8. The Immune System
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