What is nutritional immunology?

Nutritional immunology is the study of how nutrition affects the immune system and the body's ability to fight infection and disease. It has long been known that food provides people and animals the necessary vitamins and nutrients for a healthy physical function. Those who study nutritional immunology seek to take this concept one step further by looking at how malnutrition can affect the immune system. The theory is such that malnutrition leaves the body weak and prone to illness, while proper nutrition allows the body to remain strong and healthy. Studies of this kind have been conducted for thousands of years.

According to historical documents, the Greek physician Hippocrates is credited with a quote "Let food be your medicine and medicine." This statement shows a remarkable understanding of the role played by nutrition in the body of the body. It is very likely that Hippocrates observed that those who had access to a permanent and diverse food supply were less susceptible to illness than those who tried to find every meal. His observations were the truthSimilarly, some of the first studies of nutritional immunology.

This formula was also noted by other ancient physicians. Indian, Egyptian, Chinese and Celtic medical practices recommended certain herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables to turn away certain diseases and conditions. Ancient doctors understood that a kind of diet helped support longevity, although they did not understand why. Their observations were generally only on the surface. For example, an ancient Indian doctor does not have to understand why those who ate oranges have experienced the disease less often than those who did not. All he could do was to create a surface correlation.

The support of nutritional immunology seemed to increase with the discoveries of scientist J.F. Menkela. Menkel was able to draw a correlation between the disease and the conditness of the thymus, the glands located on the base of the neck. The thymus regulates many functions of the lymphatic system that controls immunity. When examining malnourishedMenkel patients found that many of these people were not only susceptible to illness, but also showed atroph's thymus activity.

This discovery was incredibly important, but Menkel never understood why Malnutrice influenced it in this way. Until the 20th century, doctors and scientists found that foods contain vitamins. During this time, the study of nutritional immunology really took off. During the 1920s and 1930s, medical scientists were able to insulate vitamins in food and create some of the first vitamin supplements. These supplements were often used to treat diseases until popular vaccines became popular during World War II.

The world war is often called a vaccine in medical studies. Vaccines and later antibiotics have become primary treatmes for most conditions until the reemphence of nutritional immunology at the age of 60. From there, these studies continued to obtain land, with smaller starts and stopping along the way. Many modern doctors examine the diet of the patient and koIt mbins improved nutrition with prescription drugs for a permanent and holistic treatment plan.