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Avoid drugs, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. These lower immune resistance.
Limit the intake of sweet foods and eliminate the use of refined white
sugar altogether. Sugar impairs both lymphatic activity and the body's
ability to engulf and destroy bacteria.
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Drink plenty of water. Liquids keep the lymphatic fluid thin and
circulating easily.
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Eat fresh green and yellow vegetables, some raw, fresh raw fruits,
whole grains, nuts and seeds or nut and seed oils daily. These foods
provide essential enzymes, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin
E, selenium, the essential fatty acids and zinc. These nutrients keep
the thymus gland, the lymphatic system and the white blood cells functioning
effectively to eliminate invading harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi.
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As far as possible, eat organically grown produce.
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Eat Barley grass and wheatgrass. These foods are rich in chlorophyll,
which aids in the healing of many disorders, including cancer. Leafy
greens should be a staple in the daily diet.
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Switch to an immune boosting diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
and fruits. Avoid saturated fat.
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Snack on raw, unroasted pumpkin seeds. These are a good source of
zinc. Zinc is an important mineral for the immune system that is often
deficient in the diet.
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Use nutritional yeast regularly in soups, sauces, salads and sprinkled
on cereal. This will give a boost to the immune system. It is also
a good source of B vitamin.
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Include in the diet chlorella, garlic, and pearl barley. These foods
contain germanium, a trace element beneficial for the immune system.
Also add kelp to the diet. Kelp contains iodine, calcium, iron, carotene,
protein, riboflavin, and vitamin C, which are necessary for the immune
system's functional integrity.
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Take two small containers of yogurt (with live culture) daily.
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Avoid overeating. Obesity encourages immune system suppression.
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Supply your immune system with adequate amounts of nutrients that
promote proper immune function. Key nutrients include:
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Vitamin A is the anti-infection vitamin. It is very important in
the body's defense system.
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Vitamin C may be the single most important vitamin for the immune
system. It is essential for the formation of adrenal hormones and
the production of lymphocytes. It also has a direct effect on bacteria
and viruses. Vitamin C should be taken with bioflavonoids. Vitamin
E interacts with vitamins A and C and the mineral selenium, acting
as a primary antioxidant and scavenger of toxic free radicals.
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Vitamin E activity is an integral part of the body's defense system.
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Zinc boosts the immune response and promotes the healing of wounds
when used in appropriate doses. It also helps to protect the liver.
Excessive doses (over 100 milligrams per day) may actually depress
immune function.
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Drink antioxidant ginger tea. Or drink "green drinks" daily.
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Take a well balanced vitamin, mineral enzyme supplement to boost
your immune system. See the recommendations. During the first twenty-four
to forty-eight hours of an acute infectious illness, go for a short-term
fasting. This can help improve immune function by lowering the blood
sugar levels and help in a significant increase in the ability of
white blood cells to destroy microorganisms. The fast should not be
continued for an excessive period, as eventually the leukocytes' energy
sources will become depleted.
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Use spirulina, especially while fasting. Spirulina is a naturally
digestible food that aids in protecting the immune system. It supplies
many nutrients needed for cleansing and healing.
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Reduce weight if you are overweight.
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Obesity is associated with decreased immune status. People who are
overweight suffer from more infections than do people of normal weight.
The white blood cells of overweight individuals were less able to
destroy bacteria.
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Avoid Alcohol, Animal studies have shown that alcohol increases susceptibility
to infections. Alcoholics are known to be more susceptible to pneumonia,
tuberculosis, and other infections. Alcohol reduces the activity of
white blood cells and the body's antibody responses. Low or moderate
alcohol consumption seems to stimulate immune functions in a positive
way. However, excessive consumption depresses immunity. The more alcohol
consumed, the greater the impairment of white blood cell mobility.
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Avoid Recreational, Drugs Drug abuse causes immune dysfunction. Heroin,
morphine, and cocaine cause a variety of immune-system abnormalities.
Some of the chemical components of marijuana, including tetrahydrocannabinol
and cannibinoids, exert a powerful immunosuppressive effect, reducing
the body's production of T cells, natural-killer cells, and interferon.
The use of alcohol and drugs also increases the susceptibility to
AIDS and, likely, other infections.
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Avoid Smoking; Stay Away From Second-Hand Smoke Tobacco smoke contains
many free radicals, which lead to mutations, and the body generates
more free radicals in trying to detoxify it.
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Minimize/Prevent/Manage Stress Excessive physical and emotional stress,
including depression, can rob our body of immunity. In one study,
physicians used a questionnaire to assess the stress levels of 394
healthy volunteers, then infected them with respiratory viruses. The
rates of respiratory infections and symptomatic colds were related
directly to the level of psychological stress of the subjects. Other
studies have shown that reducing stress levels, increased socializing,
and positive thinking can increase the activity of T cells and natural-
killer cells and dramatically extend the life of cancer patients.
Learn to relax by following the recommendations in our stress management
infocenter.
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Laughter Laughter, significantly increases the activity of T cells
and other markers of healthy immune function.
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Clear your mind of negative thoughts-think positively about yourself
and life in general.
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Enjoy life. Surround yourself with happy people.
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Avoid Exercising Too Much Moderate exercise stimulates and enhances
all cellular activity. However, more is definitely not better. Overexercise
stresses the immune system and can increase the risk of upper respiratory
infections. Such strenuous exercises depress the activities of T cells
and natural-killer cells.
