This week on A Different Perspective, Dr. Mitch Sutton from The Wellness Way – Green Bay shares tools and strategies for building a healthy immune response amidst this back to school season.
Innate Immune Response
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An innate immune response is your body’s first line of defense. In order to stimulate an adaptive immune response that can fight against pathogens, you first must have a healthy innate immune response.
What makes up the innate immune response? Neutrophils, mast cells, basophils, dendritic cells, eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells make up the innate immune response. Dr. Mitch breaks down what each of these cells do and how they are responsible for immune function.
He goes on to explain that you also have an immune barrier, your “castle wall” so to speak. There are three parts to that barrier: a physical barrier, chemical barrier, and biological barrier. When these barriers start to be destroyed or weakened, that’s when your body will be vulnerable to infectious agents. (Your skin, sinus cavity, and intestinal tract are all areas where you have susceptibility to infectious agents provoking an immune response.)
Destroying Barriers
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So what destroys physical, chemical, or biological barriers? Hand sanitizer, for one, disrupts the normal biological flora that is naturally present (and healthfully present!) on skin. Destroying that barrier leaves the body vulnerable for other opportunistic bacteria to come in. Use regular soap and water to wash your hands, not antimicrobial/antibacterial products that will decrease skin’s natural acidity, which is designed to help protect body from infections.
COVID tests at regular intervals (such as weekly) are an example of constantly disrupting the nasal cavity, thereby creating a vulnerability with continued possibility for irritation.
Other barrier destroyers include food allergies and exposure to toxins (such as cleaning products, chemicals in beauty products, etc.).
Building Barriers
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An important barrier to build is the GI epithelium and stomach lining as well as stomach acidity. Stomach acidity is needed for the body to effectively break down food and thereby supply the body with immune-supportive nutrients. Apple cider vinegar as well as lemon juice and, in some case, targeted supplements, can help support acid production and gut integrity.
When it comes to the nose and pharynx (sinus cavity) epithelium, Dr. Mitch shares that this is an important area of focus. To work on normalizing your immune response as it pertains to sinus issues and manage your allergic response, herbs like albizia and astragalus are helpful. Vitamin D is also a key player.
As for the skin epithelium, remember that the skin has an acidic barrier. The pH of the skin is acidic to keep out pathogens and bacteria. Use apple cider vinegar on the surface of your skin as a toner to help reinforce and build the acidic barrier. Coconut oil and avocado oil are great to apply topically as well to encourage healing of any cuts or skin wounds.
Superior Protection
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Studies are showing that natural immunity is superior to vaccination immunity. Dr. Mitch cites studies showing data indicating people who get vaccinated are more likely to develop breakthrough case than those previously infected naturally.
Why is the body’s innate immune response way better than a vaccine induced immune response? Dr. Mitch explains that when you are stimulating the virus spike protein with a vaccine, you are solely creating an antibody designed to only attach to that one spike protein. If you develop a natural immune response through natural exposure to the virus, you will not only develop an antibody in regards to that one spike protein, but your body will also be creating 28 other responses to the additional proteins in the virus. “Instead of having one guy on your wall, you’ve got 29 guys on your wall,” Dr. Mitch says.
If there is even one variant to the entire protein structure of the virus, the vaccine is not equipped to handle it. Natural immunity, on the other hand, has equipped your body with 29 different responses that are far superior and more robust against virus variants.
Mother’s Moment
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This week Jamie Barke digs into the topic of unnecessary quarantines for kids. Healthy kids are being quarantined (forced to remain home if exposed to COVID). How does this affect kids psychologically? Jamie cites research stating, “Uncertainties regarding the pandemic itself, strict social distancing measures, widespread and prolonged school closures, parental stressors, and loss of loved ones are likely to affect children and adolescent’s wellbeing in addition to specific psychological effects of quarantine and isolation.”
She then cites the CDC website regarding quarantines, noting how division is being created between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Numbers from past flu seasons illustrate just how small COVID’s impact on children is in comparison.
Jamie and Dr. Mitch review school paperwork from a child’s classroom showing how just how damaging teaching is getting in regards to social distancing and masking. A story recently made headlines when a substitute teacher was accused of taping a mask to a child’s face.
But there is hope. There are school districts that are ending COVID protocols for the sake of children’s health and mental wellbeing. More of these victories can happen if people continue to keep the pressure on their school boards to stand up for health freedoms.
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