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IMMUNE
SYSTEM
It’s
that time of year again when various viruses and bacteria enter
our bodies causing coughs and colds, sore throats, ‘flu and
stomach upsets.
By
maintaining our immune system in peak condition, we can avoid
symptoms of illness completely or at least make the illness less
severe. So, what is the immune system? Think of it as your own
personal medical team, skilled in the art of healing, always on
call and always there to take preventive measures to avert a
crisis. Whether you are trying to prevent or cure an illness,
your immune system is your main line of defence. It is essential
that you look after it to allow you to enjoy a happy, healthy
life. Sadly, the current way that most people live tends to do
the opposite – stressing rather than strengthening the
immune system.
Over
the past few decades we have dramatically changed our food, air,
water and the amount we exercise. How can we expect our bodies to
have adapted to finding new ways of disposing all of the 7000 new
chemicals we are exposed to – pesticides, food additives,
drugs, domestic detergents and other chemicals. Scary stuff, as
these have to be detoxified within our bodies if they are to do
no harm.
The
immune system can also destroy cancer cells. We all generate
these abnormal cells but usually keep them under control. It is
when they are formed too quickly for the immune system to keep up
with, that cancer becomes a problem.
Nutrients
found naturally in our food are often no longer sufficient to
enable our immune system to cope efficiently with the increasing
onslaught. Sadly, in food manufacture and preparation, nutrients
are processed out of food leaving us with nutrient-deficient
products loaded with empty calories.
Here
are some of the main enemies of the immune system:
Smoke
(tobacco, chimneys etc), stress, pollution, pesticides,
radiation, carcinogenic chemicals, drugs (legal, illegal,
medical), food additives (colours and flavours), incorrect
balance of food (e.g. too much salt, fat or sugar), obesity or
starvation, poor mineral and/or vitamin balance, inappropriate
exercise, genetic defects, infections (from bacteria, viruses,
fungi, worms etc), negative attitude to life and unhappiness.
Boost
Your Immune System
It’s
always a good idea to give your immune system a boost before any
illness can take hold. Check out the early warning signs of an
immune system in trouble, which I have listed over the page.
There
are various ways you can boost your immune system:
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Start
off with a gentle detox. Nature’s Sunshine has a new
Healthy Starter Pack which contains Black Walnut, Psyllium
Hulls, Cascara & Buckthorn, Gentian & Cascara, Peony &
Cinnamon which help to detox the liver, blood and intestinal
system. Stock no 5882.
-
Then
take some immune boosters as listed over the page.
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Cut
down or cut out stimulants such as cigarettes, coffee and black
tea. Prolonged excessive use of stimulants leads to prolonged
stress, which is a powerful immune suppressor.
-
Cut
down on alcohol, as this is the most powerful immune suppressor.
It’s critical to cut out or at least cut down on alcohol
consumption when your immune strength is already low.
-
Getting
enough sleep is vital for the immune system. Just one night
without sleep can reduce natural killer cell activity by as much
as 30%. Make sure you sleep between 6.5 and 8 hours a night,
which is the ideal time. When your body is fighting an infection
you may need more sleep.
-
Take
regular exercise to stimulate your immune system but don’t
overdo it as too much exercise suppresses immunity. Walking,
swimming and yoga are ideal exercises for the body to stay
healthy.
-
Some
daily exposure to natural sunlight is also vital in order to
maintain a healthy immune system.
-
Stay
away from sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white bread,
white pasta, all white flour products as these rob your body of
nutrients.
-
Eat
lots of fresh fruit and vegetables including onions and garlic.
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Early
Warning Signs of an Immune System in Trouble
-
Hair
–
falling out, dry or greasy, lack of growth
-
Head
–
dull ache, pain on movement, dizziness
-
Eyes
–
yellowed whites, bloodshot, itchy, stinging, watery, change in
vision
-
Ears
–
itchy, painful, noises inside
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Nose
–
running, itching, sore, congested, difficulty breathing, loss of
smell, sneezing
-
Mouth
–
bad taste, bad breath, coated tongue, ulcers, loss of taste,
bleeding gums, bad teeth, sore tongue, difficulty chewing
-
Neck
–
stiffness or pain on movement
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Throat
–
sore, painful to swallow, swollen glands
-
Digestive
tract –
indigestion, gas, burning sensations, bloatedness, pain,
constipation, diarrhoea
-
Muscles
–
weakened, painful, numb, tingling, flabby, tense, easily injured
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Joints
–
stiffness, weakness, tremors, swelling, pain
-
Skin
–
spots, rashes, dry flaky, blotchy, new or altered moles
-
Nails
–
ridged, brittle, white spots, blue-tinged, split
-
Energy
levels –
higher, lower, erratic, hyperactive, dependent on coffee or
other stimulants
-
Sleep
–
poor, broken, heavy, restless, excessive sweating, altered
dreaming
-
Mental
state –
poor concentration, poor memory, lack of interest, forgetfulness
-
Mood
–
depressed, sad, up and down, irritable, frustrated, despairing.
Your
body will tell you if something is wrong with an early warning
sign. Don’t ignore this sign, as the earlier you recognise
the symptoms, the faster you can take corrective action and the
more likely you are to avoid becoming really ill.
Use
the above list of early warning signs as a checklist. If your
score is high, it’s time to give your immune system a
boost. Pay attention to your body’s messages and try to
supply its needs.
In
addition to eating an immune-boosting diet, there’s
definite value in taking supplements of certain vitamins,
minerals and herbs.
Basic
Recommendations
Antioxidant
Arsenal
containing vitamins A, C, E and the minerals zinc and selenium
together with grapine giving a powerful combination. Stock no
4033.
Mega
Chel
as your daily multivitamin and mineral, which contains extra
nutrients for your circulation system. Stock no 1821.
Bifidophilus
(milk free), which provides healthy bacteria for the gut and
so builds immunity. Particularly important if you have
recently taken a course of antibiotics. Stock no 4100.
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Garlic
(High Potency), which is anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and also acts as an antioxidant.
Garlic eaters have the lowest incidence of cancer so if you
don’t eat a clove per day consider taking a capsule of
garlic. Stock no 292.
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Other
Products to Boost the Immune System
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Defence
Maintenance. This
is the key product for the immune system. It provides a large
array of valuable vitamins, antioxidants and cruciferous
vegetables, which synergistically boost the immune system. Stock
no 1654.
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Bowel
Build. If
you have problems with constipation or IBS then these conditions
will deplete your immune system. Bowel
Build is designed as an intestinal cleansing and maintenance
formula, and also provides bulking agents and nutrients that
stimulate peristaltic action in the colon. In addition, Bowel
Build helps loosen and cleanse old fecal matter on the
intestinal walls, and then absorbs these toxins to be
eliminated. Stock no 2857.
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Caprylic
Acid Combination. A
special anti-fungal agent primarily used for eliminating the
Candida Albicans organism responsible for thrush. Stock no 1808.
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Food
Enzymes. As
we age, the body’s production of hydrochloric acid and
pancreatic enzymes begins to decline, causing problems with food
digestion. Food Enzymes is a digestive enzyme supplement, which
aids digestion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and eases
digestive problems. Food Enzymes can also improve the absorption
of vitamins and minerals, help maintain normal pH levels,
detoxify the colon, and stimulate the growth of healthy
intestinal bacteria.
Stock
no 1836.
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Chinese
Mineral Chi Tonic. A
unique blend of liquid colloidal minerals and several important
Chinese tonic herbs, which enable the body to respond more
efficiently to stress and to resist negative biological,
chemical and physical stressors. High in potassium to help
nourish the adrenal glands. Stock no 1818.
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Colloidal
Silver:
Silver has been used in medicine for centuries against
infectious diseases. Colloidal
silver is a powerful, virtually non-toxic, natural disinfecting
antibiotic known
to destroy over 650 disease-causing organisms. It is tasteless
and odourless and can be used internally or externally to kill
bacteria. Very effective against
food poisoning, stomach upsets, acne, ear/nose/throat
infections, eczema, eye infections, herpes, prostate infections,
shingles, tonsillitis, virus warts, wounds and more. Stock No: 4074.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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