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from Natural Life Magazine,
January/February 2010 Having a healthy immune system can make all the difference to your health and the number of illnesses you succumb to. Viruses are all around all the time, yet only some of us catch them. Why? Because if your immune system is strong, it will fight them off before you get them; whereas, those whose systems are not as strong will get sick more frequently. Conventional medicine tries to kill everything to prevent you from getting sick but does little to help the overall immune system. Natural medicine, on the other hand, tries to strengthen the overall system so that you can fight illnesses off, no matter what kind they are. It’s like a pond that is infested with malaria mosquitoes. You can spray the pond and kill the insects, but the pond is still stagnant and the mosquitoes will come back. But if you drain the pond and clean the water, then it won’t matter if the mosquitoes come back because the pond is no longer a good place for them to live and breed. That works for your immune system too. Strengthen it and it won’t matter what
you come into contact with: You’ll have a better chance of fighting it off. Some Simple and Effective Ways to Avoid Getting Sick What you eat or don’t eat can make all the difference to a weakened immune system. To prevent illness, drink plenty of fluids – dehydrated mucous surfaces are a better breeding ground for viruses – but avoid sugar and sugary fruit juices. Sugar depresses immune functions. This depression happens because glucose and vitamin C compete for transport sites into the white blood cells (one of your body’s main defenses against illnesses). Increased levels of sugar decrease vitamin C levels and may result in a reduction in white blood cell function. Even fruit juice, like sugary orange juice, can depress immune function: Studies show that sugar of all kinds impairs the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria and that it weakens the immune system and competes with vitamin C. As well as avoiding sugar, it is equally important to avoid dairy and other mucous forming foods like gluten, especially if you’re susceptible to illnesses like colds and sinusitis. These foods create a mucousy surface and allow bacteria and viruses to thrive. In addition to watching what you eat, pay attention to other bodily needs, such
as rest. Go to bed early and stay there if you are not feeling well. During deep
sleep, strong immune enhancing compounds are released and many immune functions
are greatly increased. Herbs can also help to support your immune system. Here are some of the most effective. . . To read the rest of this article and thousands of others in Natural Life, subscribe to Natural Life Magazine's digital edition. Linda Woolven is a master herbalist, certified acupuncturist and solution focused counselor with a private practice in Toronto, that also focuses on vitamins and nutrition. She has published three books: “The Vegetarian Passport Cookbook,” “Healthy Herbs,” and “Smart Woman’s Guide to PMS and Pain-free Periods,” with three more on the way. Contact her by email at Woolven@sympatico.ca. |
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