127: Girl, Know Your Immune System! with Carly Stagg, BSN, RN, FNTP

In these crazy health times, you’ve got to know your immune system. You’ve got to understand how awesome God made it. And you’ve got to do all that you can to help it do its job.

In this week’s episode Carly is explaining how things work and giving us prevention and lifestyle strategies (including supplement recommendations). 

Now is the perfect time to listen and learn how to optimize your immune function. 

EPISODE 127: Girl, Know Your Immune System

Show Notes

• (00:00) Intro

• (04:24) How the immune system works

  • 3 components/ “layers” a pathogen must pass through

    • Physical + Chemical Barriers ex: skin, antimicrobial peptides in secretions

    • Non-Specific ex: immune system “sees” pathogen, sends white blood cells to fight off

    • Specific ex: “learned” or adaptive immune response

      • Includes T- cells (cell-mediated)

      • And B-cells (antibody-mediate)

• (10:37) How illness spreads

  • Contact with infected people, surfaces, air

  • Different pathogens have different types of transmission

    • 3 basic types

      • Airborne

      • Droplet

      • Contact

• (13:30) Pathogen examples

  • Viruses: not technically living- can’t replicate unless attached to another organism’s cells

    • Basically, the ultimate freeloader 😂

  • Bacteria: most are neutral or good; fewer than 1% can cause disease in people, can reproduce on their own

    • Good bacteria help us digest food, produce essential nutrients in the GI tract through their life cycle (ex: butyrate and vitamin K).

• (17:00) Symptoms of sickness- why do they happen?

  • Because of inflammation, body trying to expel the pathogen

  • Fevers are due to endogenous compounds called pyrogens that raise body temperature to kill pathogens

• (23:35) Is your immune system both SMART and STRONG?

  • Smart vs. Strong

    • Smart- Your immune system fights off the RIGHT things.

    • Strong- Has enough strength to it to pack a PUNCH to target any foreign invaders (pathogens, etc). 

    • We need both components in place. 

      • EX: Strong but not smart: Autoimmune disease or Allergies.

• (26:01): Sleep and Circadian Rhythm

  • Wake up with sun; go to sleep when it’s dark.

  • Sunlight in your eyes in the morning

  • Goal is to be connected to the Earth and to God’s rhythm for our lives

• (28:40) Breath, Dental Health and Oral Hygiene

  • Oil pulling with ozonated coconut oil

  • The Breath of Health and Fat Loss podcast

• (34:09) Nutrition

  • Balance blood sugar and insulin levels

    • High blood sugar causes dysfunctional immune response

    • Feast 2 Fast®

  • Focus on easy to digest foods.

    • Carly likes to avoid cold, sweet, “damp” foods while sick- cold/raw foods, dairy, peanuts, sugar/sweets per TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

• (44:30): Supplement Support

  • Grab recommended supplements here.

    • Vitamin C- Antioxidant and fuel for immune cells

      • Vitamin C and immune function (2009). Strohle, A. & Hahn, A.

        • Suggested Brands

          • Pure Radiance Vitamin C

          • Vitamin Code Raw Vitamin C

    • Vitamin D- Immune system balancer

      • Immune modulatory effects of vitamin D on viral infections (2020). Siddiqui et al.

      • Combine D3 with Vitamin K2 for optimal absorption.

        • Suggested Brands

          • Seeking Health K2/D3

    • Zinc/Quercetin

      • We like this zinc & quercetin combination along with complementary microbiome tea and tincture (see below).

      • Quercetin is a zinc ionophore which means it opens up the cell channel to allow zinc inside the cell to fight viruses.

      • Zinc Self Test

    • N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

      • Why take NAC versus glutathione?

        • NAC is a precursor to glutathione (body’s main antioxidant) and also disrupts bacterial biofilms.

      • Best on empty stomach (if taken with food will assist in digestion; if taken without food, more likely to be used for anti-inflammatory/biofilm-busting effects.)

      • Bacterial biofilm as an invisibility cloak

    • Microbiome Tea- Organic Olivia

    • Microbiome Guard (Tincture)- Organic Olivia

    • Xlear Nasal Spray

    • Colloidal Silver Nasal Spray

• (66:37): Anchor Questions

  • Egg Roll In A Bowl

  • Isaiah 41:10 “Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear– for I am your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”

• Other Resources

  • Carly’s Website

  • Work with Carly

Thanks for listening! Have a healthy and blessed week!

XOXO,

Chelsea