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189 Hammersmith Court
Burlington, ON, L7L 4N4

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905-825-3528

Your Immune System

Your Immune System

The immune system is one of the greatest adaptations we as a species have developed throughout our life time. Without it, we would very easily succumb to the billions of diseases that lay right outside our doorstep. That is why it is important to be aware of how we should keep ourselves healthy by studying the immune system and its weaknesses.

There are several ways in which an immune system can become weakened:

  1. Stress – It weakens your adrenal (stress) glands and delays proper immune system response.  It also shuts/slows down digestion causing improper digestion (maldigestion) and malnutrition.
  2. Improper nutrition – Without proper nutrition, energy and substances required to create new immune cells are not on hand, resulting in a poor immune system.
  3. Malabsorption and maldigestion – if the digestive tract is too permeable and/or your ‘transit’ time is slow due to digestive imbalances (parasites, candida, allergies, leaky gut, IBS, etc.), abnormal molecules from improper digestion may be absorbed and begin circulating within the body.  The immune system will try to destroy these molecules thus weakening it as the cycle continues.
  4. Improper liver function – Improper liver detoxification, increases toxin rates within the body; inevitably overloading/weakening the immune system.
  5. Chronic diseases – caused by excess stress on adrenal glands. See cause number one.
  6. Drugs (antibiotics/steroids) – some affect the system’s digestive functions while others depress elements of the immune system.
  7. Toxins, pollutants, infections – ‘foreign molecules’ become integrated into the human body that the immune system is forced to exterminate.

Some symptoms of an impaired immune system are: fatigue, constant infection, allergies, food/environmental sensitivities, autoimmune diseases, and slow healing of wounds.

Here are several ways you can support your immune system:

  • If you’re a smoker, improve your smoking habits!
  • Decreasing alcohol consumption results in improved white blood cell mobilization to areas where they are needed
  • Decreasing your sugar intake results in an increase of absorption power of white blood cells; 1 teaspoon of sugar will shut off your immune system for up to 6 hours!!
  • Improve the quality and form of your ‘fat’ intake as it will help prevent white blood cells from being impeded in movement towards areas where they are needed; they’re also anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy!
  • Get enough rest – sleep is when your body recoups and detoxifies
  • A consistent, healthy diet consisting of 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruit
  • Maintain a healthy body weight
  • Exercise at least 3 times a week
  • Increase your water intake – half your body weight in ounces daily!
  • Consume adequate and high quality protein – increased protein intake results in stimulated white blood cell activity, creation of more antibodies, better immune response, and a decrease in parasitic infections.  Protein should be consumed at every meal in amounts no larger than a hockey puck.  Don’t go overboard here – Atkins and Bernstein are not the way to go here!
  • Consume food rich in these vitamins as they help improve immune system protection.  For example:
    • Vit. A, C, E – antioxidants; Vit. C helps with stress too!
    • Vit. B6 – helps break down toxins in the liver
    • Vit. B12­ and Folic Acid – white blood cell production
  • Minerals such as Zinc, Iron, Copper and Selenium are also important

A couple of other immune system boosters include garlic for better liver detoxification, antioxidants which help protect the immune system by oxidizing the body’s toxins, as well as Ligusticum and Reishi which are mushrooms that help boost compromised immune systems.

In truth the immune system is all but a gateway that can either better our health or inevitably worsen it.  It is up to us to decide whether or not we should treat our bodies with the respect it fittingly deserves.

How we can help:

If your immune system is having a little trouble, why not come in for our 1 hour complimentary consultation.  We also have many natural products which may help support your immune system.

Send a referral our way and we’ll give you a $10 Energy Boost!  Contact us to find out more!

 

Upcoming Events

– Children’s Festival, Spencer Smith Park, Burlington – August 21, 2011
– Wholistic Family Fair, Mississauga, Square One Novotel – September 25, 2011
– Wholistic Family Fair, Oakville Conference Center – October 30, 2011