HEALTH NEWS

by Lynne Gully

January 2008

IMMUNE SYSTEM

It’s that time of year again when all you see on television are adverts for weight-loss products and workout routines promoted by various celebrities trying to sell their DVDs. Magazines are full of detox articles and the latest diets.

Many people put themselves under a lot of unnecessary pressure in January trying to lose weight, getting fit, thinking of ways to save money, getting out of debt, starting a new hobby etc. Turning January into some sort of punishment can lead to feelings of depression. It’s already cold, dark and damp and the last thing you want is to feel miserable. Possibly the last thing you should be thinking of is a detox programme. You can leave that until February or March.

Don’t be too hard on yourself in the New Year. So you may have over-indulged over Christmas but don’t feel guilty as most people over-indulge at this time of year. It’s always a good idea to settle down to a healthier routine in January, but this doesn't mean giving up food and fun. Always remember that food is your body’s main source of energy and the role it plays in maintaining and restoring health is as important as the air you breathe.

At this time of year you need to fuel your body to ward off illness and infection, which means stocking up on foods that help boost immunity. Garlic and onions are both excellent winter foods. They are packed with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent illness.

We’re always told to eat our greens but this is good advice. Leafy green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, spinach and kale all contain essential minerals like magnesium and zinc, which help boost immunity.

Keep eating the leftover Christmas nuts provided they are not salted or covered in chocolate. Walnuts, pecans, Brazils, and peanuts all contain the antioxidant vitamin E, which helps mop up harmful free radicals.

Try and get back to a sensible diet. I know there will be a temptation to starve off any extra weight you've added to your body, but this is a big mistake. As I've already mentioned, you need more fuel in the winter months to boost your immune system and see you through the harsh weather. A good idea is to cut back on the chocolates, cakes and alcohol and the high fat snacks. Make sure you have three meals a day starting with a good breakfast like porridge and fruit. Make lots of soups with a variety of vegetables. Curries are an excellent choice of food in the winter months.

Do You Suffer From Cramps?

If you’ve been suffering from cramps you may have a magnesium deficiency. Alcohol, stress, caffeine, refined sugar consumption, diuretics and perspiration burn up magnesium reserves.

Magnesium is a vital element of the body, concentrated primarily in bones and within each cell. Magnesium is essential for proper muscle contraction, nerve conduction, regular heartbeat, calcium absorption and venous health. A magnesium deficiency can result in osteoporosis, confusion, convulsions, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, nausea, tremors, and vomiting. Health experts believe borderline magnesium deficiency is quite common. Even a slight shortage of magnesium can result in life-threatening deviations from the normal heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia. Some doctors have begun using magnesium supplements to help protect the heart from damage caused by congested arteries.

Research shows the standard diet is lacking sufficient magnesium, which may be one explanation for the high rate of cardiovascular disease in this country. An article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms that sufficient magnesium intake can reduce blood pressure levels. Include lots of brown rice, nuts and leafy green vegetables in your diet, as these are good sources of magnesium.

You may decide to take a magnesium supplement. Nature’s Sunshine has two main magnesium products.

Magnesium – Stock no: 1786.

Skeletal Strength – a combination of vitamins and minerals including calcium and magnesium for the nutritional support of the skeletal system. Stock no: 1356.

If you want copies of any previous newsletters you can visit my website at www.optimumhealth.co.uk

Contact Lynne at lynne.gully@optimumhealth.co.uk or tel: 0030 28920 42356

Does Your Immune System

Need a Boost?

The scientists at Nature’s Sunshine have developed a test called the Lifestyle Analysis, which identifies which systems of your body are in need of a boost. You can take this test on my website at www.optimumhealth.co.uk

If five or more of the statements below apply to your lifestyle then your immune system probably needs strengthening with nutritional supplementation.

• Would you like more energy?

• Frequent illness (once/twice a year)

• Difficulty digesting certain foods.

• Use of antibiotic medication in the last three years

• Food allergies

• Poor resistance to disease

• Indigestion after meals

• Stressful lifestyle

• Difficulty in maintaining ideal weight

• Exposure to air pollution

• Feeling out of control

• Food/chemical sensitivities

• Problems with yeast/fungus such as thrush or athlete’s foot

• Muscle/joint pain or weakness

• Insufficient exercise.

Nature’s Sunshine has developed specific products for each system of the body. The product to strengthen the immune system is called Defence Maintenance.

Defence Maintenance combines vitamins, minerals, herbs and cruciferous vegetables, all beneficial for increasing immunity and protecting the body against free radical damage. Many of these nutrients are known not only for stimulating the immune system but also for inhibiting cancer. Defence Maintenance also contains nutrients required by the body to make a powerful antioxidant known as Super-Oxide Dismutase

(SOD). This helps to slow cellular degeneration and mutation, making it highly beneficial for treating degenerative diseases, as well as ageing in general.

Each capsule of Defence Maintenance provides:

• Vitamin A (from beta-carotene and fish oils) - 5,000 IU

• Vitamin C - 120mg

• Vitamin E - 60 IU

• Zinc (gluconate, oxide) - 5mg

• Selenium (amino acid chelate) - 25mcg

• Barley grass juice powder - 30mg

• Asparagus powder - 20mg

• Astragalus root - 20mg

• Broccoli powder - 20mg

• Cabbage powder - 20mg

• Ganoderma herb - 20mg

• Pau D’Arco bark - 20mg

• Parthenium root - 20mg

• Schizandra fruit - 20mg

• Siberian ginseng root - 20mg

• Wheat grass juice powder - 20mg

• Myrrh gum - 10mg

Defence Maintenance. Stock no: 1654.

The Importance of Pro-Biotics

You've probably heard of MRSA and SARs. It seems that not a month goes by without a new strain of bacteria or virus evolving. I'm talking about perhaps one of the biggest threats to our health - mutant microbes.

Our immune systems are struggling to keep up. To quote from a serious source:

"The problem is diseases and viruses are getting stronger. They're evolving. They're adapting to antibiotics and flu vaccines...and they're getting harder and harder to defend against...In fact, the most dangerous strain of MRSA is resistant to all but one antibiotic treatment – vancomycin”.

So what to do?

You can't avoid these harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. They aren't confined to hospitals.

They can get anywhere. Your home. Your workplace. Your local shopping centre.

But you can take simple and natural steps to build up your immune system and make your body as resistant as possible to these new 'mutant microbes'.

Make sure you have regular bowel movements as this helps food pass through the body properly, meaning your immune system will get all the help it needs. Twice a day should be minimum, otherwise putrid material will back up and leak into the body cavity, putting a strain on your immune system. If you suffer from constipation or sluggish bowels try Cascara and Buckthorn Combination – Stock no: 990.

To boost the friendly bacteria in your intestinal system it is important to take a pro-biotic. This is especially relevant if you have been taking a course of antibiotics. Bifidophilus – Stock no: 4100.

Herbasaurs Bifidophilus For Kids – Stock no: 3302.

Other Products to Boost the Immune System

• Ultimate Echinacea: This is a liquid extract combining three types of the echinacea roots making it a very powerful combination. Echinacea is one of the best-known and extremely safe immune strengtheners available. Taken at the first sign of a cold or flu Echinacea can arrest the problems and greatly shorten the duration of symptoms. Stock no: 3181.

• Olive Leaf Extract: An effective remedy against colds, flu and other viral diseases and it increases immune function by increasing the number of killer T-cells in the body. Olive leaf extract has proven to be the first successful, natural treatment against both herpes simplex type I (cold sores) and type II (genital herpes). Olive leaf is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. Stock no: 204.

• Zambroza: The antioxidant fruit drink, which contains a unique blend of ten fruits and herbs that have been chosen for their antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. Zambroza helps to prevent premature ageing, increases vital energy, boosts your immune system and protects your body from free-radical damage. It has truly exceptional holistic properties - and it tastes delicious! Stock no: 4098.

To order any of these products– call Nature’s Sunshine Products on 08458 40 50 60 or the main telephone line on 01952 671600.