A new school year brings new classes, new teachers, and reconnecting with friends after the summer break. But if you've ever noticed that the school year also brings increased sniffles and coughs, you're not alone.
When large groups of children are confined in closed spaces for long periods during the school day, everyone's germs are shared. These 'germs' are mostly viruses and can linger on classroom desks, tables, or doorknobs for fellow students to be exposed to.
If your child is repeatedly sick since starting school, you may be experiencing what many parents refer to as the "back-to-school plague." Colds, coughs, and stomach bugs are among the most common viruses that are spread at school. Children can also spread bacterial infections, including impetigo (an infection of the skin) and strep throat in addition to lingering concerns about contracting COVID-19.
While there's no secret formula to keep kids from getting sick, the body is an incredible feat of biological engineering. By design, we have an excellent immune system that looks after us every minute of every day, seeking out and destroying pathogens and other foreign invaders that can cause us to become ill or infect open wounds and cuts.
To say we can 'boost' our immune system is technically incorrect, as our bodies are working at total capacity, or is at least in standby to be at maximum capacity, all of the time. This is the case unless you're currently sick, have an autoimmune disease, or are immunocompromised.
In your search to be healthier, be wary of products that claim to boost the immune system.
That said, it is possible to eat a diet and live a lifestyle that supports a robust, healthy immune system for when we need it. This means exercising and eating a healthy and balanced diet. It also means keeping an eye on our stress levels, sleep, and other bad habits.
To help support good immunity, you can also consume pure raw honey such as that produced by World Honey Market. While it may seem like a slight diet change, it can go a long way to helping you keep a robust immune system.
To understand how honey supports good immunity, we first need to know how the immune system works.
How the Immune System Works
The immune system is a complex system of cells, molecules, tissues, and organs, each with its role and that runs throughout the entire body.
The immune system has two 'branches' – the innate immune system, which is our defense against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and the adaptive immune system, which learns which pathogens it's come into contact with before and forms antibodies against them to help fight them if we come into contact with them again.
The immune system cells are generally types of white blood cells, of which there are many. These include the B cells that produce the antibodies we need to fight infections such as the common cold and signaling cells such as CD4 helper T cells that send messages around the immune system. Macrophages engulf and destroy harmful pathogens.
The molecules of the immune system include antibodies and cytokines, types of messenger molecules to alert different aspects of the immune system to the presence of invaders.
Finally, the tissues and organs of the immune system include the appendix, spleen, lymph nodes, skin, and bone marrow. Each has a different role in protecting us from disease and infection.
But like any bodily system, the immune system can become weakened and less efficient. This could be due to disease, stress, unhealthy living, and a poor diet.
How Honey Helps Immunity
Numerous studies have shown that active and healing honeys can help to support a healthy immune system.
Honey such as ours is rich in antioxidants, and antioxidants help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals. Free radicals move around the body looking for spare oxygen molecules to make them stable, and in doing so, can cause damage our cells, tissues, and DNA, including the cells and tissues of the immune system. This damage can lead to a condition called oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic disease.
The high antioxidant profile of honey helps to prevent immune system damage and disease. The higher the antioxidant levels, the darker the honey this is why our wildflower jars of honey are deliciously dark and luxurious!
Honey also promotes white blood cells, mainly T and B cells and natural killer cells, all essential components of the immune system. This helps to promote a healthier and more robust immune response.
So adding a teaspoon of our pure, raw, pure WHM honey to your daily health regime could provide the immune support you need!