Friday

Swine Flu Good Reason to Build Immune Systems Now


The body has its own defense system called the immune system. You can boost your immune system, your first line of defense for everything from the common cold to serious disease like cancer, to fight invaders and disease. Having a healthy immune system helps us stay healthy. Finding healthy immune boosters will ensure the immune system stays healthy.

The components of our body’s immune system are bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen and the lymph nodes. There are cells that are part of the immune system as well. Cells such as T-cells, natural killer cells, B Cells, Granulocytes, Macrophages and Dendritic are key components. These all work together to form a complex response when the body requires one against disease, bacteria and germs.

When the immune system is activated they work to eradicate the invaders, no matter what they are. The immune system is a vital part of our good health. We need it in optimum condition to stay healthy and happy. There are measurable things we can do to build our immune system, and they are tracked in the form of good health and not getting sick. Do you hear people say that they have not been sick in a very long time? Chances are that these folks are making good choices in regard to nutrition and other factors that are keeping them healthy.

Our first course of action is to keep our overall health in the best shape we can. This means we eat a healthy well-rounded diet filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Ensure there is enough protein in the diet as well. Lean meat, poultry and fish are excellent sources of protein. Low fat dairy and cheese also provide the body with essential nutrients. If it is hard to get these items integrated in your daily diet, a high quality soy protein shake is an excellent choice for optimal nutrition from protein.

It is also essential we keep our bodies in the best shape. The healthier we are the better our immune system will function. You should have heard the following recommendations from many sources. They are not just words, they have truth for good health. Get plenty of sleep. Exercise regularly and drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Avoid things that are bad for your body. Excess alcohol, drugs and tobacco can negatively impact the body’s health and the immune system. These are things that will aid in building a healthy immune system.

Two very important minerals that affect the immune system are zinc and magnesium. Both are needed for a healthy immune system. Unfortunately these are two minerals we often lack in our daily diet. Zinc can be found in foods such as lean beef and pumpkin seeds. Magnesium can be found in dark green vegetables, nuts and grains. There are recommended daily allowances for all vitamins and minerals although even many doctors now feel that they are too low because they are seeing more deficiencies when patients have blood work performed.

There are herbs that will also act as immune boosters. Millions of dollars are spent every year fighting the flu and the common cold. One herb you can take to strengthen your immune system and fight off these two culprits is Echinacea. It is commonly called the coneflower. It grows wild and is cultivated in North America. Studies at the University of Connecticut show taking Echinacea can cut the chance of getting a cold nearly in half. It will also shorten the duration of suffering a cold or the flu. It is thought to be an Immunostimulant, a fancy title for an immune system booster.

Interferon treatments are used to manage many diseases. Interferon therapy is used in tandem with radiation and chemotherapy for cancer patients. It is also used in Multiple Sclerosis and Hepatitis C treatments. Russia and Eastern Europe use interferon in low doses to treat common ailments of cold and the flu. There are very effective natural interferon supplements that are used safely to boost immune systems, help with allergies, asthma and other immune related challenges. Natural interferon does not have the side effects associated with more potent interferon.

On a daily basis our immune system is at work. We come in contact with germs, bacteria and viruses continuously. Our big fears are disease, such as cancer and hepatitis. The healthier our immune system is, the better it is able to fight off the common and the more feared diseases. The more you do to boost your immune system the healthier you can be.

For more information on magnesium, zinc, and echinacea, visit immune booster options here.

Can Resveratrol Help Us Live Healthier and Longer?



Guest post by Vicki Zerbee

Why do our bodies age? How does a natural substance like resveratrol help keep us younger? First, it is our cells that age, not specifically our bodies. Hold that thought and we will look at that in a minute. We grow older because of a combination of factors, including 1) genetics, 2) lifestyle, 3) environment, 4) stress, 5) hormones, and 6) immune system, and 7) inflammation.

To break that down, genetics is only one influence of aging. Currently, lifestyle choices including what we eat, how much stress is in our lives, if we smoke, drink excessively, get too much sun, and our exposure to toxins, chemicals viruses and bacteria, influence aging at a greater rate. These factors in turn affect hormones, immune systems and inflammation in our bodies.

Hormones can create havoc and cause one person to age faster than another. Are you tired all of the time? Do you feel lousy or just out of balance? Do you get sick too much? Are you having problems with your heart, cholesterol, or your bones? Is your skin sagging or looking too old for your age? Are you forgetting things? Do you have weight issues that you can’t control? Hormones have been related to all of the above, and they in turn to our cells’ aging. The good news is that we can balance our hormones and that can help keep us younger.

The immune system is very powerful when it is strong because it is constantly fighting invaders to our cells, and we aren’t sick as often as someone who has a weak immune system. Unfortunately, mental stress, poor diet choices, and other lifestyle factors can weaken our immune systems so that they can’t fight off the diseases of aging. The good news is that we can enhance our immune systems so they can fight the diseases of aging.

Inflammation can be equally destructive to our cells and our bodies. Inflammation is a good thing when it protects us from infection. For example, if we get cut with an object that might produce an infection, the inflammation that responds, in combination with our immune system fighting off the infection, is good. However, we can also have inflammation when there is no invader, and at those times it is our own bodies that are hurt. Inflammation is connected to and can predict many of the diseases of aging like heart attacks, heart failure, diabetes, Alzheimers, and even cancer. Scientists have known for a long time that inflammation increases with age. The good news is that research has found ways to control inflammation in the cells which can help us live longer and healthier.

All of these causes of aging are happening at the cellular level, so it is the cells within our bodies that age and make us not only get old but get sick. If we can find a way to help our cells repair themselves, survive longer and even prevent cell death, we will live longer. We will also live healthier which makes a lot more sense that simply growing older.

Scientists have been studying aging and natural ingredients that can trigger the aging process in our bodies for many years. Resveratrol, a natural substance found in grape skins and red wine, is a revolutionary discovery that can work directly on our cells, triggering the aging gene in each one of us. Finding a way to make a natural resveratrol supplement in a formula that can impact aging, and be safe and affordable for all, has been a challenge that has recently been solved. Pharmaceutical grade resveratrol supplements are a choice that we have to help keep our cells healthy and give us quality of life in terms of feeling younger, having more strength and endurance, and fighting disease.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Can Give Amazing Results


Healthy Skin Care -