[Kim Jaeho's Life Story]<233> Things That Lower Our Immunity

Two years have passed since COVID-19 first appeared in China, claiming the precious lives of countless people. According to Worldometers, which tracks and publishes data on COVID-19 infections and casualties, the cumulative number of cases is approaching 500 million, with deaths exceeding 6 million, and South Korea’s death toll has surpassed 10,000.

While COVID-19 has caused significant damage, it has also made many people aware of the importance of immune cells. More people now understand that having strong immunity reduces the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases like COVID-19, and even if infected, one can overcome the illness more effectively. But why do some people have strong immunity while others suffer from various infectious diseases or cancer due to weak immunity?

Looking at how our body functions, it is designed to have very strong immunity to overcome all external invaders and cancer cells. Modern science has confirmed an important fact that immune cells in our body have a perfect program in the form of genes that can defeat any pathogen or cancer cell. I call this system the “Best Doctor.”

However, the program that the “Best Doctor,” called genes, operates is intricately made of DNA, the smallest unit that makes up our body, but unfortunately, DNA can be easily damaged. Also, these genes have an enormous number of switches that can turn the program on or off, and these switches can be turned on or off frequently. If the necessary genes are not properly activated, the functions of cells or organs weaken.

To use an analogy with a car, a high-end passenger car can perform at its best only if it is well maintained, always fueled, and driven carefully on good roads. If maintenance is neglected, fuel runs out, or it is recklessly driven on poorly paved roads, even this excellent car can easily break down and fail to perform when needed.

For immune cells to perform their roles, they must always maintain an appropriate number and live healthily for their lifespan. Immune cells that die after their lifespan must be replenished adequately. When encountering external invaders or cancer cells, they must detect them well and produce the necessary substances to attack and eliminate them. In all these processes, the switches on the genes inside the cells must be properly turned on to produce the required substances and perform their functions.

Weak immunity means that in all these processes, the necessary genes of immune cells or related cells are damaged or their switches are turned off, resulting in poor production of necessary substances. Factors that damage our immune cell genes or turn off gene switches, thereby restricting immune cell activity, include infection by certain viruses, chronic diseases, use of various drugs, and deficiency of essential nutrients.

Among viruses, there are deadly ones like the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). When infected with AIDS, immunity becomes very weak, so blocking the transmission routes of this virus is crucial. HIV is transmitted through blood and semen, especially through homosexual sexual contact, habitual blood product transfusions in hemophilia patients, and habitual drug users who use unclean needles.

Many chronic diseases directly or indirectly reduce immunity. High blood sugar impairs white blood cell function, so diabetes can cause weakened immunity. Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, which affect the bone marrow, interfere with normal white blood cell production or damage the bone marrow, reducing immunity. Chronic kidney disease, hormonal, and metabolic disorders also cause immunodeficiency.

Additionally, drugs that reduce immunity include chemotherapy or radiation used to treat cancer, immunosuppressants like steroids used to prevent rejection in organ or bone marrow transplants or to alleviate autoimmune disease symptoms. Environmental toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, petrochemical products, smoking, alcohol, and abuse of other drugs also contribute.

Immunodeficiency caused by nutrient deficiency arises from overall malnutrition including protein deficiency or lack of trace nutrients such as calcium and zinc, especially common in growing infants, children, adolescents, and the elderly.

To restore weakened immunity to its original strong state, it is important to change the factors that reduce immunity, that is, the wrong lifestyle habits that damage immune cell genes or interfere with gene activation, as discussed earlier. This is what Newsstart is about (see Life Story Part 6).

The first of the eight Newsstart items, Life Food, involves eating a variety of plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, and grains in their whole form without selective eating. Along with this, it is important to reduce intake of sugar?which causes many problems when consumed excessively?processed or refined bad carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats, salt, and alcohol.

Along with this, practicing the remaining Newsstart items?exercise, water, sunlight, moderation, air, rest, trust, and love?is also important.

Jaeho Kim, Independent Researcher

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.