Effects of Juice Fasting on the
Immune System

Effects Of Juice Fasting On The Immune System

Here are various effects on the immune system that have been observed during fasting.

Elevated Macrophage Activity: Macrophages engulf and destroy bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances. They can ingest worn-out or abnormal body cells. Macrophages form an important first line of defense against harmful particles that have reached the body's interior.

Increased Cell-Mediated Immunity: Lymphocytes are the white blood cells responsible for the body's ability to distinguish and react to foreign substances, including those of which microbes are composed. Lymphocytes have about 100,000 identical receptors on their cellular membrane that enables them to recognize specific antigens. Each receptor has proteins containing grooves that fit into patterns formed by the atoms of the antigen molecule so the lymphocyte can bind to the antigen. This works somewhat like a key fitting into a lock. There are more than 10 million different types of grooves in the lymphocytes of the human immune system. The T lymphocytes are responsible for continuous surveillance of cell surfaces for the presence of foreign antigens. Lymphocyte production is regulated by growth factors, known as lymphokines.

Increased Immunoglobulin Levels: Immunoglobulin is used to provide passive immunity to a variety of diseases such as measles, hepatitis A and hypogammaglobulinemia.

Increased Neutrophil Bactericidal Activity: Fifty-to-eighty percent of the white cells are neutrophils. Neutrophils move with amoeboid motion. They extend long projections followed by contraction of filaments drawing the nucleus and rear of the cell forward. In this way, neutrophils rapidly advance along a surface. Neutrophils are actively phagocytic engulfing bacteria and other microorganisms and microscopic particles. When they arrive at the target, neutrophils have microscopic packets of potent enzymes capable of digesting many types of cellular materials. 

The bone marrow of a normal adult produces about 100,000,000,000 neutrophils daily. When a bacterium is engulfed by a neutrophil, a metabolic process within the granules produces hydrogen peroxide and a highly active form of oxygen called "superoxide", which destroy the ingested bacteria.

Heightened Monocyte Killing and Bacterial Function: Monocytes are the largest cells of the blood, averaging 15-18 micrometers. They make up about 7 percent of the leukocytes. Monocytes are actively mobile and phagocytic. They are capable of ingesting infectious agents and other large particles. Monocytes usually enter areas of inflamed tissue or at sites of chronic infections.

Enhanced Natural Killer Cell Activity: Natural killer cells were first recognized in 1975. Researchers observed cells in the blood and lymphoid tissues that could kill tumor cells and cells infected with viruses. Most immunologists feel that natural killer cells play an important part in checking the growth of tumor cells and cells infected with some viruses.

Basically, you get to laze around while your immune system and cleansing organs do all the work. Billions of tiny employees working 24 hours per day, cleaning up your mess and working for free without any appreciation. You should feel guilty.