3 Brought to you by & T he human body’s immune system is an intricate network of specialized tissues, organs, cells and chemicals. The lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, thymus gland and tonsils all play a role in fighting off germs and illnesses. When the immune system is running well, it keeps an eye out for potential infectious organisms. But, most of us don’t think about the immune system until it’s too late, when symptoms have already set in. Then, we often treat the symptoms with over the counter cough and cold remedies and suffer through until we feel better—and until the next time we come down with another bug, starting the cycle again. The winter makes things worse. Some experts speculate it’s because we’re spending more time indoors, where we miss out on vitamin D, making us more susceptible to disease. Others say the body uses more energy to stay warm—energy it could otherwise put toward fending off infection. Emerging research shows that the immune system simply doesn’t work as well in winter, upping our chances of catching colds and flus. Other research shows that immune system function— including the direct action of natural killer cells—decreases as we age, providing all the more reason for added support. What Is The IMMUNE SYSTEM And How Does It Work?