It has long been believed that the appendix, a small cul-de-sac thingy that hangs off your intestine, served no purpose. The theory was that it was merely a dried up evolutionary leftover of something that used to serve a purpose. Well not anymore! The appendix is finally getting the credit it has deserved (for the last 80 million years or so) as a contributor to the well-being of your body.
New research at Duke University Medical Center is suggesting that the appendix might play an important role in your immune system. That little soft-tissue cubby-hole might in fact be a clubhouse where all the cool white blood cells can hang out and trade tips on fighting disease. Also it can store good bacteria so it’s ready and waiting when called upon to support the troops.
Perhaps the reason that the appendix remained a mystery for so long is that we are too darn healthy. Due to modern sanitation, the immune system has less work to do. Much like teenagers, boredom equals trouble. Some medical problems, from allergies to diabetes (things that barely existed more than 100 years ago), may in fact be caused by an under-utilized immune system. So get out there and eat some dirt.*
*I’m not a real doctor, so you probably shouldn’t accept any medical advice on this blog.
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FACT: your appendix is back in business
It has long been believed that the appendix, a small cul-de-sac thingy that hangs off your intestine, served no purpose. The theory was that it was merely a dried up evolutionary leftover of something that used to serve a purpose. Well not anymore! The appendix is finally getting the credit it has deserved (for the last 80 million years or so) as a contributor to the well-being of your body.
New research at Duke University Medical Center is suggesting that the appendix might play an important role in your immune system. That little soft-tissue cubby-hole might in fact be a clubhouse where all the cool white blood cells can hang out and trade tips on fighting disease. Also it can store good bacteria so it’s ready and waiting when called upon to support the troops.
Perhaps the reason that the appendix remained a mystery for so long is that we are too darn healthy. Due to modern sanitation, the immune system has less work to do. Much like teenagers, boredom equals trouble. Some medical problems, from allergies to diabetes (things that barely existed more than 100 years ago), may in fact be caused by an under-utilized immune system. So get out there and eat some dirt.*
*I’m not a real doctor, so you probably shouldn’t accept any medical advice on this blog.
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