Take vitamin C supplements when you feel a cold coming on? The problem is, you can’t actually “strengthen” your immune system, says Dr. Jen Gunter. Diving into the elegant network of cells, tissues and organs that protect us every day, she introduces two kinds of immunity that specialize in recognizing and fighting off bad bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins — and shares what you can do to keep your immune system healthy.
Think you know how your body works? Think again! Dr. Jen Gunter is here to shake up everything you thought you knew — from how much water you need to drink to how often you need to poop and everything in between. This TED original series will tell you the truth about what’s *really* going on inside you. (Made possible with the support of Oura)
Want to hear more from Dr. Jen Gunter? Follow Body Stuff on Apple Podcasts:
Transcriber:
Turmeric ginger shots,
elderberry syrup, vitamin C tablets.
No one likes to be sick,
so it’s 100 percent understandable
why we’re all intrigued
by products that promise
to boost our immune system.
(Music)
[Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter]
The problem is that we often think
about the immune system in the wrong way.
We think of it like a muscle
that we can strengthen
by feeding it lots of antioxidants
and supplements.
But that’s just not
how the immune system works.
While the immune system can be suppressed
and can be less effective —
for example, in people
receiving chemotherapy —
the reverse, strengthening
the system overall,
just doesn’t happen.
Our immune system is what protects us
from the bacteria,
viruses, fungi and toxins
we encounter on a constant basis.
It also plays an integral part
in wound healing.
It’s an elegant network of cells,
tissues and organs,
all working together.
You can think of the immune
system in two broad terms,
innate immunity and adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity means
nonspecific defense mechanisms,
and this is our first line of protection.
It helps fight off pathogens
before they cause a problem.
It’s like a bouncer at the door of a club.
The innate immunity keeps invaders out
or neutralizes them shortly after entry
so they don’t start a fight inside.
It can only recognize self,
meaning what’s allowed in the club,
and nonself,
meaning what’s not allowed inside.
Think the physical barriers of our skin,
the hairs in our nose,
the eyelashes that blink out dirt,
even vaginal discharge
that prevents infections.
Now if a pathogen does manage to get past
the first line of defense,
we have another layer of protection,
the adaptive immune system,
which is more complex
and targeted than our bouncer.
The adaptive immune system
responds to antigens.
Antigens are unique proteins
on the surface of pathogens,
which helps identify
what kind of pathogen it is.
Kind of like a name tag.
Your immune system
is constantly reading name tags,
and when one is recognized as being
on the no-entry list,
the adaptive immune system
creates special immune cells to attack,
which are specialized
white blood cells called lymphocytes.
Here’s what’s really amazing:
our immune system remembers this process.
So the next time we’re exposed
to that same pathogen,
our immune system recognizes it
and remembers how to respond.
While we’re not sure how many
different antigens we can recognize,
some scientists think
that we produce over a billion antibodies.
But the important thing to remember
is that our immune system
has many different parts
playing many different roles.
That’s what makes this concept
of “boosting” so problematic.
When people say “boost the immune system,”
what do they even mean?
Do they mean boost the histamine
that’s released
when exposed to poison ivy?
Well, that would you itch a lot more.
Do they mean supercharge
your T and B cells?
Might that lead your body
to attack its own cells,
as we see with autoimmune conditions?
Instead of thinking of a muscle
that you can strengthen
with one simple exercise,
a better analogy may be a garden.
Your immune system has many components,
just like a garden
has many kinds of plants.
Each plant needs just the right amount
of sun, shade and water.
Too much sun might help one plant
but destroys another.
Increasing any single element
can throw off the balance
of the ecosystem overall.
If you’re getting all
the nutrients you need
from a healthy, balanced diet,
taking more of a single vitamin
won’t help your immune system
function any better overall.
For some vitamins, if you take in
more than you need,
your body will just get rid
of the excess as waste.
Vitamin supplements are only needed
if you have a true real deficiency.
In fact, some studies tell us
that vitamins and supplements,
when they’re not medically needed,
may have negative effects.
Things can go wrong
with our immune system for sure,
like allergies or autoimmune conditions
and failure to catch abnormal cells.
But the reasons for each of these things
are complex and often
not fully understood.
And they certainly won’t be solved
by some immune-boosting miracle pill.
There is however, one thing
that has been shown again and again
to be incredible for your immune system.
Vaccines.
Vaccines are truly genius.
They contain a weakened or inactive
part of a pathogen, like the flu,
that includes its antigen name tag.
They trigger the body
into making antibodies
without needing to get sick
from an illness first.
Instead of boosting
the immune system overall,
they give the system
exactly what it needs to respond
to a specific pathogen
quickly and aggressively.
So get your immunizations
and get your flu shot every year.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
If you want a healthy immune system,
don’t smoke and try to get enough sleep.
And otherwise, just let
your immune system do its thing.
Danu
June 18, 2021 at 10:44 am
I need this course in the first day of the pandemic!
Onochie Afigbo
June 18, 2021 at 11:05 am
I understand what you are saying about the “impossibility” of making one’s immune system stronger. But, are you also saying that nutrition does not play a part in making our immune system function as it should? Things like turmeric are part the daily diet in some cultures after all.
al al
June 18, 2021 at 11:29 am
So many things wrong with this video.. Don’t even know where to start…
Vel A
June 18, 2021 at 12:27 pm
All this data just for a Vaccine ad!?
Deval Maheshwari
June 18, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Baba Ramdev and Patanjali be like: Surprised Pikachu Face
Sumukh
June 18, 2021 at 5:04 pm
😂😂😂
Kumar Ramalingam
June 18, 2021 at 1:50 pm
You sure can weakend your immune with prolong allopathic drug consumption. Just like how 99% of covid death are with comorbidity who takes ace2 up regulating drugs. Sleep deprivation, poor diet, lack of outdoor, sunlight, stress all makes us fall sick easily. The speaker only mention innate and adaptive. Please watch Dr Shiva Ayyadurai’s explanation based on new understanding of the immune where he mention innate, neural, Interferon, adaptive part of the immune system. How important is the microbiome to optimal immune system.
Roxanne M.
June 18, 2021 at 2:26 pm
Ted Talk please have a real immunologist give another little talk about the real immune system. And maybe she wants to study for example the effect of antioxidants on oxidation. How can she say food has nothing to do with strengthening the immune system. Who pays her?
Ieva Rainyte
June 18, 2021 at 5:19 pm
Pfizer, Moderna..? 🤣
Xiph1980
June 18, 2021 at 9:05 pm
How many real immunologists does it take to convince you?
ceneezer
June 18, 2021 at 2:54 pm
in other words, you *can boost your immune system – but only by not avoiding sickness!
Don’t use anti-microbials, you are after all made of microbials…
凌lzl
June 18, 2021 at 2:58 pm
So balance is the key to boost our immune system?
DiN WiNNeRs
June 18, 2021 at 3:00 pm
Yes. Balance Immune System and need to ‘ Educate’ them too
DiN WiNNeRs
June 18, 2021 at 3:02 pm
We need to BOOST, BALANCE and EDUCATE our Immune System
Muscle E-Mac
June 18, 2021 at 3:10 pm
It’s been scientifically proven through decades of research that a great diet, some cardiovascular exercise, and plenty of sleep (8+ hours) is the key to staying healthy, both against the common cold and cancer alike. THAT’S the way to “boost” or support your immune system
KONJO VIDA
June 18, 2021 at 3:10 pm
Hmmm???? Bullshit, and crap info, am not against vaccination but the way they she concluded her case is questionable???? Well done dr who
WELDER OF MASTER
June 18, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Very good videos infomation 👌💯
Nils Petras
June 18, 2021 at 3:29 pm
Vaccines are only useful if the stressful reaction to them is less dangerous than the risk of catching the disease combined with its severity. So vaccines are not always good and never only good. But before you jump to stupid conclusions: in case of Covid 19 the odds are stacked extremely far in favor of the vaccine. Taking a flu vaccine every year is probably debatable much more.
Targeted Victim
June 18, 2021 at 3:49 pm
The dutch mainstream media, the dutch police, are using gangstalkers to drive me to suicide. They have been for 3 years now. There are also a lot of youtubers, and twitchers involved. These psychopaths belong in jail. I am under 24/7 surveillance and torture.
mindyourbusiness
June 18, 2021 at 5:17 pm
boost their vagina acid and ear wax…those too are part of the immune system
Honza Hummel
June 18, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Provaxx propaganda. Good job TED. How dare you saying that ” There is this wonderful thing for your body and immune system – vaccine? ” smh
soldierofallah
June 18, 2021 at 6:34 pm
oh you don’t boost it, U just add new stuff, which had me thinking :)))
Hund Redfire
June 18, 2021 at 7:14 pm
You should credit your illustrators/animators. The quality of the animated sequences is top-notch. Great job
WeBeGood
June 18, 2021 at 8:14 pm
LOL, I like the Sunshine analogy. Except she should have reversed it. Plants may grow without enough Sunshine, but won’t thrive. So, go outside and get your daily dose of Sunshine to make your own Vitamin D. Because Vitamin D really will Boost your Immune System. We even have a Term for Vitamin D deficiency, it’s called “Cold and Flu Season”. So, go ahead and Boost your Immunity with Vitamin D Supplement in the fall and winter, if your dark skinned or stay indoors too much.
cakewalk
June 18, 2021 at 9:27 pm
The term “boost” is bandied around, but actually what is meant is optimisation of the immune system, which is achievable.
Lena
June 18, 2021 at 9:57 pm
Super well illustrated and well explained! Thanks
Todd Akes
June 18, 2021 at 10:48 pm
BS, I speak from experience when I say I’m much healthier and resilient now after almost a decade of working on my health vs. being an overweight alcoholic.
PseudoTao
June 18, 2021 at 11:32 pm
YouTube should link this to a fact-check under Joe Rogan videos!
Justice Perhay
June 19, 2021 at 12:08 am
I can feel Joe Rogan screaming as he dissolves into a pile of protein while this video plays.
luka vravnik
June 19, 2021 at 4:46 am
Advertise for vaccines.
راه مستقيم
June 19, 2021 at 4:49 am
مژده به علاقه مندان دروس حديث.
شما ميتوانيد دروس حديث مشكاة المصابيح را در اين چينل تعقيب كنيد.
Anrich Slater
June 19, 2021 at 7:30 am
I like this cus its not trying to bullshit me
TH Channel
June 19, 2021 at 7:41 am
hey dear Ted, can you explain how can exist a vaccine against a not isolated virus? thank you again for show us what propaganda follow
Bassel HF
June 19, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Lol, if you’re talking about the SARS-COV-2, the whole genome is sequenced. So the development to a mRNA vaccine is pretty easy.
A D
June 19, 2021 at 8:51 am
This is so narrow sited. Vitamins are bad and vaccines are good. This is not true at all. Most vaccines contain a lot of dangerous substances which causes allergies and weaken the body . Like aluminium or spike proteins. You cannot get all the nutrients out of even a so called healthy diet . Nobody of us mange to eat 7 times biological grown and fresh picked and rapid eaten vegetables and fruits. This video seams to be sponsored by the Pharma Industrie . Im really disappointed thought TED is different from the mainstream media.
Hasan OZCELIK
June 19, 2021 at 11:32 am
HMMMMM…. I like What you GOT!!!
Melinda Cryder
June 19, 2021 at 12:39 pm
The smart closet luckily poke because airship emphatically pinch amid a somber millisecond. disgusted, tedious offence
Achmad Hanif Mardinsyah
June 19, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Subtittile seems come slower then expected 🙂
Random Flying Frag
June 19, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for the lecture professor trelawney
raf raf
June 19, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Another ad for vaccination.
thanh văn
June 19, 2021 at 3:12 pm
I don’t see script
Mustafa Hasan
June 19, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Not all vaccines are safe!
Bassel HF
June 19, 2021 at 9:35 pm
It’s not easy to have access to an unsafe vaccine anyway.
fresh start
June 21, 2021 at 2:54 pm
vaccination is 99.999 percentage safe 0.001 percentage unsafe
Minivan Recon
June 19, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Joe Rogan isn’t a science nerd. But I’m going with him on this one. Multivitamins and exercise. Couldn’t hurt.
Luke Baker
June 19, 2021 at 9:09 pm
How patronising.
aris laris
June 19, 2021 at 9:15 pm
lets talk about immune system…. you just need vacines ! a video sponsored by phizer…
Stefan Nikola
June 19, 2021 at 11:17 pm
Frequent dental cleanings (like three to four times a year) boost your white blood cell count because the dentist is physically removing the bacteria instead of your immune system fighting them off.
Moonchild
June 20, 2021 at 1:57 am
Yes yes! of course this comes from TED, one day humanity will be sorry for letting itself be gaslighted… nice pr0p4g4nd4
Moonchild
June 20, 2021 at 2:16 am
Now who’s handing out miss-information huh? Nice try 🥴
Reeta Chauhan
June 20, 2021 at 2:19 am
It’s a TedEx episode.
Sso Bba
June 20, 2021 at 3:02 am
Many high quality studies of most herbs and natural dietary items have proved significant improvements in many functions of the immune system. IT’S A SCIENTIFIC FACT – Dr. Badaway
Leah R
June 20, 2021 at 3:03 am
Just saw an ad on tv from Kaiser encouraging vaccines but also exercise. He stated that those who were regular exercisers had half the COVID problems. And how do you explain the placebo effect? There have even been studies showing the efficacy of prayer on healing. And then there’s the whole gut microbiome which is just barely understood by medicine and has huge potential to affect health. I think she needs to do some more research and keep an open mind.
Marcin R
June 20, 2021 at 3:08 am
How we should understand this statement : “some studies” , what this even mean in this day’s. If we use it, then a logical person should think that “some studies” have “true” as a result, and some studies ( about the same subject) have “false” as a result …for me this combination of words indicate that we should avoid a particular article because it clearly has the “agenda” (for those who thinks I’m not agreeing with this video next statement is for You ….I fully agree with this video 🙂 ) …my problem is only with using this combination of words “some studies” …statistically it is better to avoid sources where this combination is used, but this video is an exception … I’m not surprised that we have so many confused people, and I’m one of them 🙂
Sacda Abdurhman-Personal Growth
June 20, 2021 at 7:07 am
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” Sharing some love from small YouTuber 🤍
R R
June 20, 2021 at 1:37 pm
This video was no better than quacks selling immune booster supplements. I mean how do you monitor on a regular basis what nutrients, vitamins etc body is lacking? How do you decide what to supplement or not on a tegular basis. Can’t do a blood test each day. Everyone’s body is a unique chemistry but in the absence of the knowledge of whether it is in right balance people make guesses and do self supplementation which in rare cases does fetch some results. But overall managing good health and immunity is no more than a chance thing, a random guesswork.
Sarah Sofia
June 21, 2021 at 6:01 am
When you are vitamin deficient your body TELLS you. Sudden hair loss? could be vit.D deficiency. Your vision gets blurry in the evening? Vit. A deficiency. Unless your diet is extremely bad, it’s REALLY hard to get vitamin deficiency in the modern world because a lot of our foods are already fortified with vitamins. For example, one case of vitamin deficiency in the UK was from a man who ONLY eats white bread for months on ends, and even then the vitamin deficiency occurs only after some time because even white breads are fortified with vitamins. Overall just eat your damn fruit and veggies and you’ll be just fine.
M A J
June 20, 2021 at 3:08 pm
O this is a vaccine advert. Ok no thanx
M A J
June 20, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Report this for spam and misleading , spreading misinformation
Melvin Deeply
June 20, 2021 at 5:34 pm
She doesn’t seem to have a clue what she’s talking about. Oops.
Emil Nordh
June 20, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Haha! Just waited for the v@xclņ€ sell! Pharma money everywhere
Eluan Lien
June 20, 2021 at 7:55 pm
Could you please put the sources in the description of the video ? For example, when she’s talking about scientific studies and stuff…
The video was really interesting and now I want to do more research about the topic
SeductiveMurder
June 20, 2021 at 8:35 pm
The only thing I take for my immune system are pills called SuperLysine+. It has vitamin c, lysine, echinacea, licorice, propolis and garlic. I take them because I had bad frequent cold sores. Since taking them I have not had a single outbreak! So I know it helps my immune system
Joseph L. Truly Random
June 21, 2021 at 5:45 am
What boosting is relieving some pressure off the immune system so it could function better
Gamer Chief
June 21, 2021 at 6:26 am
School trying to shut down my whole inmune system
mansi rajput
June 21, 2021 at 1:38 pm
I just got vaccinated today
sohail islam
June 21, 2021 at 6:32 pm
There are many many herbs and foods that can stimulate the immune system through production of killer T cells and phagocytes. In fact white button mushrooms have been found to benefit a lot people with autoimmune condition by boosting immunity while also decreasing inflammation at the same time!! Better than using steroids to numb your immune system, think of it logically, if your body is attacking itself something must be wrong, find the cause and treat it rather than suppressing the entire immune system leaving you susceptible to cancers, viruses, infections etc. Also, they don’t often tell you especially while giving you antibiotics to fight off the infections they caused in the first place by dampening your immune system that they are killing your micro biome and gut flora. You’re gut flora and microbiome contains bacteria’s, viruses, protozoa and fungi and actually plays a very significant role in the function of your immune system, Another point is is their are over 20 nutrients for your immune system and most people are deficient in these and alot of the rates the rda say is just enough to keep you functioning. We need zinc (which a 3rd of the population is deficient in), copper, SELENIUM which is the master antioxidant in your body for glutathione, vit D (most people are deficient), vitamin e (again most people are deficient and when they take more they gain significant results), vitamin a (most people are deficient in as it’s not into that many foods), a lot of b vitamins which most people are low in most of them, there are sooo many more nutrients for the immune systems but just the main ones people are deficient in.
James Of Habit (J.O.H.)
June 21, 2021 at 11:05 pm
Finn and Jake animation!!!!
P G
June 22, 2021 at 1:44 am
I rarely down thumb a video… however, what I see here is a hidden agenda.
I personally have seen more sick vaccinated individuals then not.
Dewyu Nohmi
June 22, 2021 at 3:49 am
No. You cannot.
You can only help it.
Ezekiel Ngaledzani
June 22, 2021 at 4:46 am
Neh no way I am coming close to a vaccine. I tried it last year and my body did not take it well. I experience some complications. The thing that is working me is extreme workout session (Body weight training with no supplement just a pure health diet). I used to have a sleeping disorder and skin problems. But exercise helped me with that, now I am off my 💊 meds. I am healthy as ox.
I am not saying the vaccine is good or bad. I just reporting that it’s not a quick fix for everyone. My body happens to reacts better to exercise and healthy eating. [So I am not taking the shot💉]
Ezekiel Ngaledzani
June 22, 2021 at 4:49 am
But on a serious note if you think. you want a vaccine take it. Because some people are getting sickout there.
Ty Ward
June 22, 2021 at 5:57 am
3:53 OK, So How do We Know? So Vitamins Are Always Useless Without A Doctor Telling You What To Do? How Do We Know?
佐竹春香
June 22, 2021 at 8:28 am
the images of immune system are so cute…..
Arthur He
June 22, 2021 at 9:12 am
the question is what is “catching a cold” when it’s not caused by a bacterium or a virus
Pawol Z
June 22, 2021 at 10:08 am
Have you ever digged dipper what vaccine’s ingredients are? Majority of them contain aluminium which is extremely toxic to our system. What is more, immune system remembers virus for life time, e.g. ‘measles’. Nevertheless, you must do vaccination periodically till the end of your life if you choose vaccine’s path instead
Srinivas Lavudya
June 22, 2021 at 10:11 am
Sync the captions correctly
eL
June 22, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Why do we need a vaccine even if we used to get a desease from it and recover naturally? What’s the point of inserting more of that things inside again if our immune system remember them in a first place? There’s actually a way to make your immune system “stronger” by not living too clean and sterile and train the immune system to fight and remember anything they encounter. Adaptability is a key of evolution.
Michael Marshall
June 22, 2021 at 3:44 pm
I thought the way Vaccines are made compared to the way the Newest Gene Therapies are made, weren’t as Effective as once thought ?
sheemnewera
June 22, 2021 at 5:37 pm
How can we get ppl to get the c19 shot …
j l1
June 22, 2021 at 8:52 pm
I was waiting the whole video her to introduce vaccines. Well made propaganda.
Alex Jarrah
June 23, 2021 at 12:25 am
The possible ashtray additionaly arrest because kitchen finallly whine off a hideous high author. flaky, abortive handsaw
Havital Miltz
June 23, 2021 at 2:24 am
Give me a break!
Aadityakiran S
June 23, 2021 at 4:52 am
Someone should tell this to Ramdev and Dr Harsh.
SAMCA San Andreas
June 23, 2021 at 11:18 am
Yes, you can. Source: medical professionals
Tom McCutchan
June 23, 2021 at 11:38 am
My personal experience is that making sure I get enough sleep and taking 2-3 thousand IU of Vitamin D during the cold & flu season helps immensely in preventing those sicknesses.
lee yoon
June 23, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Taking vitamin supplement is not helpful that much. but getting vaccinated is soooooo good for boosting our immune system…?? are u sure ??
Onochie Afigbo
June 24, 2021 at 6:54 pm
Valid question.
sunniesH
June 23, 2021 at 12:17 pm
would be great if you discuss immune system and cancer. its basically our immune system fighting against us. A lot of people i know turn to alternative ones that says it can boost your immune system.
Sifiso Jcooler
June 23, 2021 at 2:36 pm
LOL this is a pitch for Vaccines not just for the sake of natural immune boost talk. No thanks, my body has survived through natural food immune boost, and physical exercise, and beside Jesus is my lifeline. God bless you all in Jesus’ name Amen!
ronishez
June 23, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Where is baba Ramdev?
Archie de Leon
June 23, 2021 at 3:50 pm
Give your animators a raise. Exceptional work guys!
Pierre
June 23, 2021 at 8:12 pm
I think boosting your immune IQ is perhaps a better concept
finbom
June 23, 2021 at 8:51 pm
This is BS.
Rona Mona
June 23, 2021 at 9:04 pm
The sun is the best immune booster
Lattitude Adjustment Videos
June 23, 2021 at 10:10 pm
There is NO miracle pill…BUT…vaccines! Get your vaccines…mmmm mmmm, yum. Paid for by the Bill Gates Foundation.
120dale
June 24, 2021 at 2:58 am
Paid for by the vaccine manufacturers.
ALFA LAMI
June 24, 2021 at 3:55 am
My Hsv 2 test results came out NEGATIVE after using Dr Azaka’s herbal medicine for 2 weeks, thank God I’m now cured from this genital herpes virus, 👀👀 👉DR AZAKA CURE REMEDIES on YouTube
Sani Usman Mande
June 24, 2021 at 4:00 am
My Hsv 2 test results came out NEGATIVE after using Dr Azaka’s herbal medicine for 2 weeks, thank God I’m now cured from this genital herpes virus, 👀👀 👉DR AZAKA CURE REMEDIES on YouTube
Simonas B
June 24, 2021 at 10:20 am
Excellent.
Sara Larios
June 24, 2021 at 6:53 pm
This episode has to be sponsored by big pharma.
Nashy119
June 24, 2021 at 9:58 pm
I don’t know why you would put in something about “the American health care system” in the middle of an otherwise internationally applicable video.