The immune system is constantly working to keep the body healthy.  It fights off illnesses and combats infections, which are caused by viruses, parasites, bacteria, and toxins that are all around us, even if we are unaware of them.  Much like any system or organ in the body, the immune system can weaken or function improperly.  Immune Deficiency makes the body more succeptable to invasive organisms, which can make the person sick more often.  An Immune Deficiency can vary in severity, but it ultimately means that the body's defense system is compromised. 

Depending on the severity of the Immune Deficiency, different symptoms may arise.  The person may develop Common Colds more often, be more succeptable to flu viruses, or develop symptoms on the skin.  Symptoms of Immune Deficiency may include:

• Gum Disease
• Alopecia
• Skin Disorders (Warts, Eczema, or Acne)
• Cold Sores
• Diarrhea
• Ear Infections

When the body is under attack from an infection or illness, the immune system needs time to recover.  If you contract another illness or infection while your immune system is weak, this can impact the immune system and make it harder to recover. Most Immune Deficiencies are inherited, often passed down from both parents, but people can develop Immune Deficiencies after contracting an illness as well.  Common causes are:

• Genetics (inherited from parents)
• Burn Trauma
• B Cell deficiencies
• T Cell deficiencies
• Malnutrition
• Stress
• Radiation therapy

• Minimize the amount of stress as this can put strain on your immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections and other viruses.  A great way to decrease stress is to ensure you are getting a good amount of sleep.  Sleep is the body's way of recuperating and it's important to allow it do so.  Exercising can also help relieve the body of stress.  When you’re exercising, your focus is not on the stressful things life, rather you concentrate on the way you feel.  Tai Chi and Yoga are great examples of exercises that help to reduce the constant feeling of stress.
• Processed foods, junk foods, meat, dairy products, refined sugars, artificial flavors, and trans fats wreak havoc on the body and can impair proper immune system function.  By adopting more of a plant-based diet, you can get the proper nutrients you need to keep your immune system strong.  In addition to eating healthily, try to exercise regularly, control blood pressure, avoid smoking, and maintain a healthy weight.  

• Not only is getting some sunshine relaxing, but it also triggers your skin to produce vitamin D, which supercharges the immune system.  Getting too much sun exposure, however, can cause sunburns, skin damage, and even skin cancer if protective measures aren’t taken.  If you aren’t an outside person, you can take an herbal supplement to get your daily dose of the good stuff. 

• Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and regulate hormonal jobs in the body.  Modern stressors can throw your adrenals into overdrive and make them fatigued.  When your adrenals go down, so does your immune system.  Keep your adrenals healthy by lowering stress and eating foods high in antioxidants. 

• Fruits and vegetables with anti-inflammatory properties help calm the immune system.  Mushrooms, coconut oil, dark leafy greens, and fermented foods such as kimchi or sauerkraut help benefit the immune system.  Try eating more alkaline foods as well to help establish a neutral pH balance in the body. 
• It may be beneficial to get some bloodwork done to figure out what cells, nutrients, or compounds you are deficient in.  If you figure out what you are deficient in, you can take the right steps to balance your diet or incoporate things that help elevate the levels of what you're missing. 

• Mushrooms
• Avocados
• Oil of Oregano
• Garlic
• Spirulina
• Broccoli
• Dark Leafy Greens (kale, spinach, or chard)
• Squash
• Cantaloupe
• Stone Fruit (peaches, plums, and apricots)
• Legumes
• Nuts and Seeds
• Guavas
• Oranges
• Carrots
• Flaxseeds
• Red Pumpkin
• Turmeric
• Green Tea