Your Immune System – How it helps you and what you can do to help it!

Is the immune system important to your health? Or do we just take a pill when we get sick? Some people have one cold after another and others are never sick. Two people are exposed to the same sickness and one comes down with it and the other doesn't. Is it genes? Something inherited from your family? We shouldn't just accept that we will be sick several times a year. Today, we can measure our risk of getting various diseases that may run in our families and take practical steps to avoid them or lessen their effect. Some ways are as simple as avoiding certain foods and environmental toxins, and periodically scheduling screening tests.

We are all born with an extraordinary system of immunity that is a natural defense against bacteria, viruses, and other invaders. Scientists say that your immume strength depends on your choices: eating well, exercising, reducing stress, and even taking a moment to say a prayer or simply think about the goods things in life.

Did you know that your bones are very important to your immune system? We are all well aware these days of needing to help our body maintain a strong immune system to fight off illnesses and flu. Your bones make all of the blood cells of your body, which are: Red blood cells, the life of your body, and white blood cells, the immune system cells that protect you.

Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to have healthy bones. Your body contains approximately 25 trillion red blood cells. For every 1000 red blood cells there needs to be 1 white blood cell.

One drop of your blood contains 5 million red blood cells and 5,000 to 10,000 white blood cells. In the last 5 minutes more than 30 million new white blood cells have been made in your body and over 3 million new antibody molecules have been produced by the cells of the immune system. This is not the kind of system to try to run on junk food or to skimp on because of a busy schedule.

Your immune system has three levels of defense:

First: Your body is surrounded by a sanitary “moat”. Your skin makes bacteria that actually produces natural antibiotic which sanitizes and protects against invaders. The “acid mantle” of your skin (natural body oils) serves to protect your skin. Your eyes will tear, and your tears contain chemicals that kill invaders and also wash dirt and dust out of your eye. Nostrils are covered with a lining of cells with hair-like projections called cilia. The cilia move in a wave-like motion. There is a mucous secreted here in order to catch foreign invaders. The cilia direct the invader upward toward the throat where coughing dislodges it.

Second: Your body is defended by a protective “wall”. The mucus membranes of your body are called epithelium. If you have a healthy epithelium you reduce your risk of invasion. 90% of lethal cancer is in the epithelial tissue of the body. “Good” bacteria, or microflora, line the intestines and kill harmful intruders that enter by mouth. You need to maintain about 3 to 5 pounds of good microflora at all times. In your mouth, saliva harbors strong enzymes capable of resisting infections. In your stomach, some invaders are killed by hydrochloric acid which acts as a sterilizing agent.

Third: Your body is protected by a well-trained infantry – the white blood cells. If any foreign invader gets past the above two levels of defense, it will arrive in the blood stream where the white blood cells are ready to attack and destroy it, if your immune system is healthy.

The immune system protects you in 3 different ways:

It creates a barrier that prevents bacteria and viruses from entering your body.

If a bacteria or virus does get into your body, the immune system tries to detect and eliminate it before it can make itself at home and reproduce.

If the virus or bacteria is able to reproduce and start causing problems, your immune system is in charge of surrounding, isolation, and eliminating it.

Knowing this, it is quite obvious why you need to build and maintain a strong immune system. The stronger it is, the more likely your body will be prepared to defend itself when a deadly bacteria or virus comes knocking.

Here are some challenges from modern life that affect the immune system:

Not enough rest or exercise

Too much exercise (like running a marathon) will depress the immune function temporarily

Inadequate nutrition

High stress

Environmental pollutants & airborne irritants

Aging

How to counteract these challenges:

Get better sleep

Exercise regularly

Eat a balanced diet

Reduce stress

Support your immune system with supplements

To learn about a supplement that is clinically proven to boost and protect your immune system, click here.

Sugar suppresses the immune system. The sugar from one can of soda pop can suppress your immune system for up to 6 hours. Processed sugar is the worst. Within minutes of eating sugar your blood sugar levels rise. The body is trying to maintain homeostasis, which is a state of balance. The body is trying to reduce the level of sugar. Type 2 Diabetes is at epidemic proportions in countries where sugar and starches are eaten regularly.

I can’t go anywhere without being offered something sweet to eat or passing donuts, cookies, etc. in a store. Sugar just tastes so good! It makes us happy and reminds us of birthday parties and home baking. Okay, maybe even if it doesn’t remind us of anything, it’s just good! It’s addictive. I know it is because with just one taste, I want more and more. Then I have to get myself under control and stop eating it. Because I know how bad it is for me.

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease that happens when the cells of the body can’t use insulin the right way or when the pancreas can’t make enough insulin. Insulin lets blood sugar–also called glucose-enter the body’s cells to be used for energy. When insulin is not able to do its job, the cells can’t get the sugar they need, and too much sugar builds up in the blood. Over time, this extra sugar in the blood can damage the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.

Two of the best sugars are maple syrup (contains glyconutrients not found anywhere else), and honey, which is the only alkalizing sugar.

That’s why I believe that boosting your immune system is the most important thing you can do for your health.

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