osa
M a ^ I Help You ?
The immune system: Part tw o
housekeeping
c & tra o rd in a re
G ood immune habits are simple because there is considerable
overlap between what is good fo r one area o f the
immune system and another.
by a p p o in tm e n t
77 S S O Z I
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Just Out. 2 1 June. 1987
ju s t h ealth
STEVEN
BAILEY,
N. D.
n the May issue of Just Out, I wrote
about the human immune system and
the “ germ theory.” Part two will con
centrate on how we can build and maintain
a healthy immune system.
A healthy immune system involves a
number of factors. High on this list are: a
common-sense lifestyle, good nutrition
and stress management. Less controllable
factors include heredity and trauma (in
cluding congenital) which destroys or
damages component(s) of the immune
system. Certain cancers and diseases can
also damage immune processes.
Before I discuss what we can do to assist
our immune system, I would like to briefly
mention the major components of
immunity.
1) White blood cells, Lymphatic
system.
2) Skin and tissue barriers.
3) The liver.
4) Adrenal and kidney function.
All four areas can be assisted by our
own actions. While the immune interac
tions of the above-mentioned areas are
quite complex, the programs to assist them
are generally simple and often aid all four
areas simultaneously.
I
1) White blood cells and the
lymphatic system:
We continue to learn more and more
about the white blood cells and how to aid
their production, action and survivability.
Two specific nutrients are needed for all
cell reproduction. These are Vitamin A (I
prefer the water-soluble form called beta-
carotene) and the mineral Zinc. These two
nutrients are important for nearly all bod
ily functions and their use in helping main
tain good skin and tissue integrity cannot
be underemphasized. Functional support
includes the mineral magnesium and the
vitamins C, B-complex, especially B-6,
and bioflavinoids.
To help white blood cells survive longer,
Vitamins C and E are helpful. Good fluid
intake is essential for lymphatic drainage.
Fluids to consume would be vegetable
juices, water, herb teas and diluted fruit
juices. Broths such as miso and chicken
are also helpful. Fluids such as milk, cof
fee, pop and alcohol are counter-produc
tive to good elimination.
Herbs that can aid in immune support
include echinacea (shown to increase the
number of WBCs), garlic, onions and
cayenne. These are all herbs that have min
imal toxicity and can be safely taken by the
general public.
2) Skin and tissues:
Again, Vitamin A and/or beta carotene
with zinc are very important for healthy
skin and tissues. Sulphur and Vitamin C
are also helpful.
3) The liver:
Breakdown of waste products is an es
sential aspect of immune function. Exer
cise, avoidance of coffee and excessive
alcohol and the B-complex vitamins are
helpful for good liver function. Thyroid
levels may be important in some individu
als. The thyroid releases a hormone which
helps regulate metabolism or the speed and
strength of most bodily functions, i.e.,
low thyroid equals slow chemical break
down, low energy, etc.
4) Adrenal and kidney function:
The adrenal gland has immune function
as well as stress-related functions. The re
lease of stress is critical to a good immune
system and exercise, B-6 and Vitamin C
are helpful in this area. The kidney as a
filter system that dumps waste products
into the urine is primarily dependent upon
good fluid levels. The less you drink, the
less you can eliminate in the urine.
As you can see there is considerable
overlap between what is good for one area
of the immune system and another. This is
why good immune habits are so simple.
Primary concerns for the immune
system include the specific nutrients listed
above which can be aided by a diet high in
fresh green vegetables and grains and good
fluid intake (4-6 glasses per day). Avoid
ing immune weakening foods which in
clude high sugar, coffee, and high fat is as
important as eating the right foods. Milk
and dairy will worsen most mucous con
cerns (congestion). If you suffer from
chronic congestion, consider eliminating
dairy products.
Allergies go hand in hand with a
weakened immune system. If your WBCs
are working to fight off an allergic pro
duct, they have a weakened capacity to
fight off infections. Allergies can be de
termined in a variety of ways. One low-
cost alternative is to pay careful attention
to your diet in a diary. Note symptoms
(congestion, stiff joints, diarrhea, etc.)
and absence of symptoms on a day by day
basis. Often the foods you crave most are
the ones you are the most sensitive to.
Stress is an important factor in immune
health. High stress has been shown to de
crease WBC production as well as to in
terfere with normal blood flow and repair
processes. Again, exercise, high Vitamin
C, proper stress management (communi
cation, relaxation, avoidance of stimu
lants) and the B Complex will aid in the ill
effects of stress.
Cleansing programs: One of my favo
rite and most trusted aids is the vegetable
juice fast. This type of program provides
high nutrition (especially B-carotene),
elimination of allergies and an optimum
environment for “ catching up” with
elimination. For specific information on
the Cascade Rejuvenation Program, an 11 -
day program including 5 days of live
juices, write to the Northwest Naturopathic
Clinic, 2606 NW Vaughan, Portland, OR
97210 or call 224-8083 for a free brochure.
It is never too late to begin strengthen
ing your immune system, nor is it too late
to improve your life style. Safe-sex, good
nutrition, a sane lifestyle, and a good at
titude will go a long way towards improv
ing the quality of your life.
•