Unlock Your Immune Potential with Compass Chiropractic

Dr. Mackenzie, from Compass Chiropractic answers your top immunity questions and shares her favorite wellness tips.

It’s that time of year again—when strengthening our immune system becomes top of mind as the weather cools. To help you stay at your best this season, we sat down with Dr. Mackenzie from Compass Chiropractic to discuss her tips for optimal health and the surprising connection between immunity and chiropractic care.

Join us for our Immunity Workshop next Thursday, November 13th at 12:30 PM! Dr. Mackenzie will share her favorite wellness tips, highlight her go-to Haskill supplements, and we’ll be unveiling our brand-new Immunity Smoothie. Plus, enjoy 15% off supplements during the event—an opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Let’s start simple — what does “immunity” really mean?
Most of us think of it as “not getting sick,” but there’s a lot more happening under the surface. How would you describe what the immune system actually does?

To briefly describe the immune system, it is an intricate network that includes various cells, tissues, and organs programmed to defend the body against harmful invaders. Various immune cells work together to identify and eliminate pathogens, which are organisms that can cause disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The immune system’s primary job is to maintain our body’s homeostasis, which is to ensure optimal health. 

How does the nervous system play a role in how our bodies fight off illness and stress?

The nervous and immune system communicate through a two-way “hardwired” network of nerves, chemical messengers and cell to cell contact. The nervous system communicates with different immune organs like our lymph nodes and spleen to release various immune cells to protect us from pathogens. When immune cells detect pathogens they release these mediators that trigger the nervous system. We feel this communication as symptoms like fatigue, pain, running nose, etc. These symptoms/ triggers are influencing the nervous system to help the body focus on fighting those pathogens. 

Chiropractic care and immunity might not be an obvious connection — can you explain how spinal health supports immune health?

Chiropractic care can support the immune system by restoring nerve communication, reducing stress, and improving circulation. Misaligned spinal joints, or subluxations, can interfere with the nervous system’s ability to effectively communicate with the immune system. Chiropractic adjustments can lead to reduced stress hormone production, better circulation for immune cell delivery, and improved lymphatic drainage, all of which help enhance the body’s overall immune response.

What are a few sneaky habits or everyday stressors that quietly weaken our immunity?

A few sneaky habits and everyday stressors that can weaken our immune system are excess sugar, lack of sleep, lack of Vitamin D, and stress. There is a reason we are told this time of year is the “Flu/Cold” Season. As the holiday’s are approaching we start to increase our sugar intake, the sun is no longer as present decreasing our Vitamin D consumption, we find ourselves more busy with various events, traveling, family, and the stress of all of it topping it off for us, which can impact our sleep and overall immune support.

If someone wanted to give their immune system a natural boost, where’s the best place to start?
Are there simple changes that make the biggest difference?

If someone wanted to give thier immune system a natural boost the first thing I would recommend is getting adjusted. Getting adjusted will allow your body to adapt more efficently to your internal and external environments. The next recommendation is making sure your cabinets are stocked with immune supporting supplements, like Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, medicinal mushrooms, Echineacea, and Elderberry to name a few. I always tell people to focus on the fundamentals like our vitamins and minerals. My top three go to immune supporting supplements are Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Zinc. 

We know sleep, stress, and movement are all important — how do each of these tie into immune strength, and what’s one easy, real-life tip for improving them?

Sleep is essential for a healthy and functioning immune system. Adequate sleep duration and quality promote the production of immune cells, and can reduce inflammation. Lack of sleep can weaken the immune system which then increases your risk of getting sick. Movement strengthens the immune system by improving circulation, which helps immune cells travel through the body to find and fight pathogens. Regular, moderate exercise strengthens the immune response, while prolonged, intense exercise can temporarily suppress it, so be mindful of the types of workouts you are engaging in while sick or if you are feeling like you are getting sick. Stress can be one of the biggest impacts on the immune system, because we tend to be surrounded by stress 24/7 these days. When our body is constantly stressed, it can suppress the immune system over time. This is because the constant release of stress hormones can exhaust the body’s resources and make it more susceptible to infections and illnesses. 

Gut health is a big buzzword right now — how does the gut actually influence our immune system, and what should people know about that connection?

The gut microbiome is crucial for the proper development of the immune system. Beneficial bacteria help train the immune system to recognize threats, and they also ferment dietary fibers and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate, which can help the production of regulatory T cells, which help to modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation. The gut microbiome doesn’t just affect local immunity in the gut, it also influences systemic immune responses. Microbial metabolites, what I call messengers can enter the bloodstream and interact with various immune cells, telling them how to function. 

For someone who always feels run down or like they “catch everything,” what would you suggest as a starting point?

If someone constantly feels run down or they always feel like they are catching colds, I recommend two things. Get adjusted and make sure you are fueling your body with vitamins and minerals. Again my top three immune supporters I recommend people take daily are Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc. The immune system is complex but taking care of our immune system can be simple and straightforward. 

To learn more about Dr. Mackenzie’s Chiropractic care, visit Compass Chiropractic.

And don’t forget to join us for our Immunity Workshop next Thursday, November 13th at 12:30 PM!

Dr. Mackenzie will share her favorite wellness tips, highlight her go-to Haskill supplements, and we’ll be unveiling our brand-new Immunity Smoothie. Plus, enjoy 15% off supplements during the event.

Hope to see you there!