HEALTH NEWS

by Lynne Gully

        September 2005

Boost Your Immune System – Part One

 This newsletter is the first in the current series of how to boost your immune system.

Throughout this newsletter I will be quoting from “Boost Your Immune System” by Jennifer Meek & Patrick Holford. In 1984 Patrick Holford founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, a non-profit making independent centre for the research and practice of nutrition. He is the author of several books including “The Optimum Nutrition Bible” and “100% Health”. I have read most of his books and he explains the concept of natural nutrition very clearly and simply, so you don’t need a degree in nutritional therapy in order to follow his advice.

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.

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.

You can boost your immune system with certain foods and nutritional supplements and I will provide you with lots of information in this series of newsletters. With a strong immune system, you are almost invincible and should be able to lead a long, healthy and active life.

Immunity in Crisis

Consider these facts from Patrick Holford’s book:

·         By the year 2017 your chance of getting cancer is predicted to be greater than 50%

·         Deaths from infectious diseases have doubled in a decade

·         Deaths from infectious diseases between the ages of 25 and 44 are up six-fold

·         A million people die each year from food poisoning

·         One in three people suffer from allergies – increased weakness in our immune systems

·         We suffer, on average, three colds or bouts of flu a year and around 3000 people die from flu

·         50,000 tons of antibiotics are used each year throughout the world on humans, animals or plants – not only are antibiotics intestinal irritants, wiping out healthy intestinal bacteria that can take over six months to be restored, but their widespread use is leading to the development of drug-resistant strains of life-threatening bacteria. The risk of a recurrent ear infection is five times higher in children treated with antibiotics.

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

Early Warning Signs of an Immune System in Trouble

·         Hair – fall, texture, dry or greasy, colour, 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

·         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

·         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

·         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.

Health is defined by the World Health Organisation as a state of complete physical, mental, emotional and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Based on this, most of us are in various states of “unhealthiness” for most of our lives. Although we will never reach perfection, we are all capable of striving for excellence and so avoiding a lot of illness.

By maintaining our immune system in peak condition, we can avoid symptoms of illness completely or at least make the illness less severe. 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.

Watermelon Protection

I am a big fan of juicing fruits and vegetables in order to boost the immune system. The flesh of watermelon is rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C. The seeds are a great source of essential fats, vitamin E, zinc and selenium. If you blend the seeds with the flesh, the husk of the seed sinks to the bottom and the seeds blend with the flesh to make an incredibly immune-boosting fruit drink. This is ideal during an infection as it provides enough glucose for energy, some protein from the seeds and plenty of immune-boosting nutrients.

Nature’s Sunshine Immune Stimulator

The company, Nature’s Sunshine, has many immune-boosting products and I will provide information on these in this and subsequent newsletters.

The product Immune Stimulator contains a powerful blend of natural substances known for their immune-stimulating and disease-fighting abilities. Working synergistically, the ingredients in Immune Stimulator help strengthen the body’s immune system, while providing specific antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor activity. The ingredients are Arabinogalactan, Beta glucan, Colostrum, Cordyceps, Maitake and Reishi mushrooms.

Arabinogalactan has been shown in studies to destroy cancerous tumour cells and stimulate killer T-cells. It has also been shown to increase the good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Beta glucans are notably effective for depressed immunity, cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, and elevated blood lipids, including cholesterol.

Colostrum may support immune action by stimulating the production of cytokines, which help fight infections.

Colostrum may also protect the intestinal lining against ulcerative conditions.

Cordyceps is a rare and highly prized edible fungus (mushroom) known for its ability to stimulate immune function. It is a potent antioxidant and protects the genes by repairing DNA. Cordyceps also suppresses tumour cells and this helps prevent cancer. It has the potential to protect against the deadly disease of systemic lupus, and improve the chances of survival of individuals already afflicted with the disease.

Cordyceps is particularly effective in protecting the kidneys and repairing injuries sustained in the kidneys, protects and regenerates liver cells and can benefit diabetics because of its hypoglycaemic effect. It also has the potential to control heart diseases by lowering blood lipids, especially cholesterol.

Maitake and reishi mushrooms have been used in traditional Asian medicine to stimulate the immune system and treat cancer and other chronic wasting diseases.

The immunostimulant activities of Maitake mushrooms have been shown to improve diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Human research in China showed that Maitake mushroom extract provided an “anticancer” effect in patients with liver, lung and stomach cancers.

Reishi Mushrooms have been used in China and Japan for 4000 years to treat arthritis, high blood pressure and liver problems. Reishi mushroom also possesses powerful anti-tumour and cholesterol-reducing properties and is officially listed as an adjunct herb for cancer by the Japanese government.

Nature’s Sunshine Products

Immune Stimulator – stock no 1839

To order Nature’s Sunshine Products – call the Order Hot Line on 08458 40 50 60 or the main telephone line on 01952 671600.