Your immune system is developed to be able to kill cells, such as bacteria cells or viruses; your immune cells can act against cancer cells within your body as well if it is able to tell that these cells are unhealthy to you. However, without proper control and the ability to differentiate healthy from unhealthy cells, your immune system can mistakenly kill your own healthy cells. Your inflammatory response is also developed to support healing, but when this response becomes overly active, it can become destructive. Autoimmune system diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, susceptibility to infections, and wounds that won't heal are some of the repercussions of immune system imbalance and dysfunction. Therefore, healthy immune and inflammatory responses must maintain a delicate balance to achieve protection without causing self-destruction.

Your body has a complex means of recognition on your cells' membranes to help your immune system. Some specific soluble factors of your immune system are also involved in turning-off your immune response. How well these responses function is defined in part by your genes; however, recent research has suggested that diet plays a much larger role in autoimmune system dysfunction than was once thought. For example, research has shown an association with low levels of vitamin D and increased risk of some autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Concentrated sources of vitamin D include cow's milk eggs and shellfish such as shrimp and fish such as cod.

The omega-3 fatty acids, which are produced in your body from the essential omega-3 fat ' alpha-linolenic acid ' have been studied for their effects on the immune system and inflammatory response. Diets low in omega-3 fatty acids are associated with chronic inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases. In order to achieve a more beneficial ratio of omega-3 fatty acids in your body, it is important to decrease the amount of omega-6 fatty acids in your diet, while increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids. This can be accomplished by reducing your consumption of meats, dairy products, and refined foods, while increasing consumption of the omega-3 rich foods such as wild-caught cold-water fish like salmon, flaxseed oil, walnuts, and leafy green vegetables.

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