1. It is at its greatest in children.

2. With puberty, it eventually shrinks and is replaced by fat.

3. It produces and secretes thymosin, an essential hormone for T cell development and production.

4. Thymus gland is a small organ located under the breast bone in the upper chest.

5. It produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which protect the body from infection.

Yams, beets, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, carrots, yuca, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, celery root (or celeriac), horseradish, daikon, turmeric, jicama, Jerusalem artichokes, radishes, and ginger are all considered roots. Because root vegetables grow underground, they absorb a great amount of nutrients from the soil.