The bugs are out! Our little petri dishes are cultivating all kinds of opportunistic “bugs” as they go back to school and sports activities. A “petri dish” is a shallow container filled with a nutrient-rich medium that is used to grow cultures of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or cells, used for diagnostic or experimental purposes in a laboratory. When used in the context of children, they, (children), seem to grow all kinds of bacteria and viruses, then take them home and get the whole family sick! Ugh!
So what is our defense against everyone getting sick? It ultimately comes down to 3 things: sanitation, good nutrition, and strong immunity.
Sanitation is pretty well understood: wash hands frequently, keep surfaces clean, cough into a sleeve or arm pit, and not towards anyone, don’t share eating utensils, and keep sick kids at home.
Good nutrition is key. As little as 75 grams of sugar can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system for 5 hours and continue to weaken it for the next few days, and even longer. The mechanism by which that occurs is reduced function of natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, B cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells – all responsible for either prevention or alleviation of a bacterial or viral infection. Sugar also increases inflammation, which can lead to the immune system being overworked, impairing its ability to fight new infections and repair damaged tissues. Sugar interferes with the balance of the beneficial bacteria in the gut, the microbiome, which supports a strong immune response (the gut houses 70% of the immune system).
Sugar also has a negative impact on sleep and stress, both of which are important to a healthy immune response. You know the practice of feeding kids popsicles, ice cream, jello and carbonated drinks to make them “feel better”? Wrong! This practice actually prolongs their illness!
I could end it there, but there are a few more dietary factors that diminish immune function: unhealthy fats, alcohol, and a lack of nutrient-dense foods which contain vitamins C and D, zinc and other minerals, fats and proteins that help the strength of the immune system.
The use of acupuncture, herbs, and other natural modalities can be very effective in both preventing and alleviating illnesses. Acupuncture strengthens the immune system by stimulating immune cells such as T cells, white blood cells, NK cells, etc. It helps with a balanced gut microbiome, reduces inflammation and stress and several other ways.
As children return to school and sports activities, they become “petri dishes” for various illnesses, but maintaining strong immunity through proper sanitation, good nutrition (especially limiting sugar intake), and supporting gut health can help protect families from getting sick. Want to hear more from Dr. Carling? Check out our podcast. Search for VitalHealth4You on your favorite podcast listening app or go to vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/
©2024 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
