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Are you Th1 or Th2 dominant and why is this so important to know?
To help us understand what’s happening on the outside, we first have to look on the inside. For this exercise lets split your immune system into two. We’ll call the first half Th1 and the second half Th2. We’ll then look deeper at the one that applies to YOU.
But first, let's simplify what Th actually means …
Th, is an abbreviation for T-helper cells which form part of the immune system. Their job is to recognize and destroy any foreign microorganism that can cause disease. Th1 cells typically deal with infections by viruses and certain bacteria.
They are the body’s first line of defense against any pathogen that gets inside our cells. Th1 cells tend to be pro-inflammatory. Th2 cells on the other hand typically deal with bacteria, toxins, and allergens. They are responsible for stimulating the production of antibodies. Th2 cells tend not to be inflammatory.
But what does that mean and why is this so important to know?
While it may sound complicated on the surface, it’s really not. Both work sides of the immune system are working together, think of them as a kind of tag-team. Depending on the threat level, sometimes Th1 does more of the work and Th2 may play a lesser role. As the threat changes, roles are quickly switched. Once the…
