Super interesting information about the importance of eating green vegetables from Wellness Resources:
In a stunning discovery researchers have shown for the first time how green vegetables are required to activate and maintain specialised lymphocytes (immune cells) that line our digestive tract.
These special immune cells not only protect against foreign invasion, they help to maintain harmony in the foreign cells that are naturally part of the intestinal balance.
Furthermore, these cells help coordinate the healthy structure of the intestinal wall and are involved with orchestrating repair of the intestinal wall as needed. If you don’t have enough of these immune cells working properly, then other immune cells get all bent out of shape and go into inflammatory hyper-drive.
“It is still surprising to me,” said Marc Veldhoen of The Babraham Institute in Cambridge. “I would have expected cells at the surface would play some role in the interaction with the outside world, but such a clear cut interaction with the diet was unexpected. After feeding otherwise healthy mice a vegetable-poor diet for two to three weeks, I was amazed to see 70 to 80 % of these protective cells disappeared.”
This study is extremely important as the health of our digestive tract has come front and centre in any efforts to be healthy based on many new gene discoveries.
For example, imbalanced digestive bacteria are involved with mood disorders and weight gain as primary causes of these problems.
This discovery places green veggies on par with adequate fibre and friendly flora as tools to help keep our digestive tract in optimal working order.
This information is especially important for people who get colds and flu regularly. Remember, when someone around you coughs and sneezes and you breathe in that air, you will then swallow and those germs will be in your digestive tract.
The hydrochloric acid in your stomach takes the first crack at them (hopefully you aren’t on antacids) and then it is up to your immune system.
Having adequate numbers of these specialised lymphocytes is vital for a healthy immune response, especially during the cold and flu season.
Source: www.wellnessresources.com
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Best of Health
Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Natural and Lifestyle Solutions for Abundant Health
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, particularly if you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications or have a medical condition.
Joanna Sochan is a Wholistic Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Wholistic Wellcare. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working with complex health presentations, with a focus on gut health, food sensitivities, women’s hormone health (including perimenopause and menopause), metabolic health, weight regulation, and senior health. She works with clients Australia-wide and online, and also develops therapeutic programs, eCourses, and educational resources designed to support long-term, sustainable wellbeing. View full bio.
[…] further more serious impact is the body’s immune system becoming compromised. This is likely as around 70% of the immune system is located in the abdomen […]