/oss/taxonomy/term/5077/all en /oss/article/medical-contributors/get-lymph-moving <p>Foreign invaders, be they molds on walls, toxins in polluted air, contaminants in food, viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi, represent a threat to our health. Luckily, our body has a way of battling such invaders. A complex network of organs, white blood cells, proteins, and signaling molecules collectively known as the immune system are ready to wage war against the enemy.</p> Wed, 06 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000 Nancy Liu-Sullivan, PhD 9166 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-general-science/boost-your-knowledge-about-boosting-your-immune-system <p>“Reinforce and Boost Your Immune System” promised the ad splashed across two pages of a local newspaper. There were products galore! Mushroom extracts, probiotics, collagen supplements, exotic oils, bee propolis and various “kefir-kombucha fermented blends.” No direct reference is made to COVID-19, but the implicit message is clear. If somehow we can boost our immune system we will be in a better position to ward off this nasty virus. Sounds good, but the truth is that “boosting the immune system” is a scientifically meaningless claim.</p> Wed, 06 Jan 2021 19:19:09 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8547 at /oss