With the six inches of snow that fell yesterday, and the prevalence of colds and flu affecting so many in our area, I thought it a good idea to revisit how to protect our immune system.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, the immune system isn’t a single unit, but a joint alliance of many organs and tissues working together to maintain our overall health. Just as our military is made up of different branches to defend us on land, in the air, and at sea, our immune system is a conglomerate of all tissues working together for one goal, and that is to keep us alive.
Our skin maintains a water tight integrity that helps ward off bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Many bacterial species actually reside on our skin and assist it in protecting us. Excessive hand washing can actually be detrimental to the health of our skin.
Use of alcohol based hand sanitizers can break down and destroy the protective fatty barrier of your skin and invite damage to your internal organs. If you use these hand sanitizers, consider being conservative in their use.
The skin which lines your sinuses, lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines is a primary part of your immune system. These tissues act to prevent undigested components from entering your blood stream. This can be from ingested foods or airborne elements like pollens. If not nourished with healthy fats, minerals, and proteins, this integrity may fail. These membranes host multiple immunoglobulins which are your first lines of defense. Immunoglobulins can’t be produced without protein in your diet.
Since your body hosts ten times as many microorganisms as cells in your body, using antibiotics when facing infection, greatly limits your defense mechanisms. Antibiotics should be last resort when dealing with infection, not your first line of defense. If you fail to protect your tissues with healthy foods, you may be faced with having to take antibiotics.
When your immune system fails you, consider using nutrition to aid your thymus gland, which initiates white cell activity. Include real vitamin C (not ascorbic acid) and vitamin A. The addition of immune supporting botanicals like Andrographis and Echinacea facilitates your body’s response against these organisms.
Consider the benefit of medicinal mushrooms in fighting infections. One of the worlds foremost mycologists has lectured to our profession in the past on using medicinal mushrooms, and the ancient history which shows these mushrooms painted on cave walls, along with the implication of their use. The upcoming Star Trek will have a physician mycologist patterned after this amazing man, Paul Stamets. Google him and enjoy the information.
Besides the phenomenal immune support found in the Maitake mushroom, it’s also been been used in supporting healthy blood sugar balance. So, when facing immune challenges combined with blood sugar problems, this mushroom can be doubly beneficial. This is important as elevations in blood sugar lowers the effectiveness of white blood cells in their defense against foreign invaders. Always limit sugars when fighting infections and cancer.
Turkey tail is a mushroom that’s been actively studied and shown to be immunologically beneficial. In clinical studies it’s proven to be a powerful part of therapy in breast cancer. When stating this, I must emphasize that any one element is only part of a comprehensive treatment protocol. Using any one of these nutritional supports without all other supporting treatment may completely miss the mark. This is why I insist on supporting all aspects of immune function. Keep the Navy, Marines, Army, and Air Force working together.
Both Ganoderma and Shiitake mushrooms are polypores. These grow on dead wood. They are reputed for their enhancement in immune therapy and also as an adjunct to cancer treatments. They can be used for both major immune weaknesses as well as for acute or chronic infections including common colds and influenza.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, the immune system isn’t a single unit, but a joint alliance of many organs and tissues working together to maintain our overall health. Just as our military is made up of different branches to defend us on land, in the air, and at sea, our immune system is a conglomerate of all tissues working together for one goal, and that is to keep us alive.
Our skin maintains a water tight integrity that helps ward off bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Many bacterial species actually reside on our skin and assist it in protecting us. Excessive hand washing can actually be detrimental to the health of our skin.
Use of alcohol based hand sanitizers can break down and destroy the protective fatty barrier of your skin and invite damage to your internal organs. If you use these hand sanitizers, consider being conservative in their use.
The skin which lines your sinuses, lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines is a primary part of your immune system. These tissues act to prevent undigested components from entering your blood stream. This can be from ingested foods or airborne elements like pollens. If not nourished with healthy fats, minerals, and proteins, this integrity may fail. These membranes host multiple immunoglobulins which are your first lines of defense. Immunoglobulins can’t be produced without protein in your diet.
Since your body hosts ten times as many microorganisms as cells in your body, using antibiotics when facing infection, greatly limits your defense mechanisms. Antibiotics should be last resort when dealing with infection, not your first line of defense. If you fail to protect your tissues with healthy foods, you may be faced with having to take antibiotics.
When your immune system fails you, consider using nutrition to aid your thymus gland, which initiates white cell activity. Include real vitamin C (not ascorbic acid) and vitamin A. The addition of immune supporting botanicals like Andrographis and Echinacea facilitates your body’s response against these organisms.
Consider the benefit of medicinal mushrooms in fighting infections. One of the worlds foremost mycologists has lectured to our profession in the past on using medicinal mushrooms, and the ancient history which shows these mushrooms painted on cave walls, along with the implication of their use. The upcoming Star Trek will have a physician mycologist patterned after this amazing man, Paul Stamets. Google him and enjoy the information.
Besides the phenomenal immune support found in the Maitake mushroom, it’s also been been used in supporting healthy blood sugar balance. So, when facing immune challenges combined with blood sugar problems, this mushroom can be doubly beneficial. This is important as elevations in blood sugar lowers the effectiveness of white blood cells in their defense against foreign invaders. Always limit sugars when fighting infections and cancer.
Turkey tail is a mushroom that’s been actively studied and shown to be immunologically beneficial. In clinical studies it’s proven to be a powerful part of therapy in breast cancer. When stating this, I must emphasize that any one element is only part of a comprehensive treatment protocol. Using any one of these nutritional supports without all other supporting treatment may completely miss the mark. This is why I insist on supporting all aspects of immune function. Keep the Navy, Marines, Army, and Air Force working together.
Both Ganoderma and Shiitake mushrooms are polypores. These grow on dead wood. They are reputed for their enhancement in immune therapy and also as an adjunct to cancer treatments. They can be used for both major immune weaknesses as well as for acute or chronic infections including common colds and influenza.
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