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NUTRIHOM – NUTRITION HOMEOPATHY
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Immunity and Nutrition
It’s been a long time since I had not been sick with flu or any other disease except inflammation that I
have on and off, depending of season and weather. I’m trying to keep a balance in my lifestyle and enjoy
doing many things; I’m very active and trying to eat whole food having all nutrients, vitamins and
minerals. Only by the end of February, an almost a month after all in my family had gotten sick with flu, I
got sick too, with a viral bronchitis, that took me more then a month to heal and even after I was still
coughing. What triggered it was for sure the stress I went thru for almost 2 years, after my brother had
died and my sister would have terminal cancer. That made me believe that emotional stress would be
the biggest issue in weakening the immune system.
Therefore, people should be aware about their immune system and how just some disturbances in one’s
life do for the body and what the consequences are if we have a low or weakened immunity.
This article summarizes some information from Wikipedia and from other medical and nutritional facts
and theory.
We all should know that our emotions, food and not least the environment, have an important influence
on our body, especially the immune system. Based on what we think, talk and feel, what we eat and
how we move and behave in our environment, we have a strong or a weak immune system. And we also
know, that we share our existence with milliards of microorganisms, not all friendly to the human body;
bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The microorganisms that we call pathogens are the cause of many
diseases.
The immune system plays an important role in the ongoing struggle to keep us healthy. Part of its
structure, are the lymphocytes and they are the primary cells that contribute to our ability to resist
infection and disease, by responding to the presence of pathogens in our system. They attempt to
eliminate these threats through a combination of physical and chemical means. For this reason, the
lymphocytes are said to provide a “specific defense” known as the immune response. The efficiency of
lymphocytes in interaction with other cells and tissues of our other systems, determines our level of
immunity.
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Diseases associated with our immune system, its weakness and failure, are cancer and HIV, Crohn’s
disease, fibromyalgia, hemolytic anemia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo, etc.
Auto-immune deficiencies may be suspected in many other undiagnosed progressive deterioration of
health.
As mentioned at the beginning, causes of imbalance as heredity, allergies, poor nutrition, environmental
pollution and stress, are all factors influencing the state of our immune system.
The effects of imbalance can be seen in enlarged lymph nodes, weakness and fatigue, skin lesions or red
streaks on the skin, respiratory problems and allergies, recurrent or chronic infections and candida, are
all signs of a weakened immune system.
On the psycho-spiritual level, we know that the immune system responds to our thoughts and emotions,
either positive or negative. Sustained thoughts of anger, bitterness, hate or resentment tend to weaken
the immune system. It is important to cultivate harmonious thoughts, open up to love and see the
beauty around us, to support our immune system.
A healthy diet from infancy is the best preventive measure from immunity disorders. Poor quality food
does not give the body the nutrients it requires to repair itself. Daily exposure to a polluted
environment, radiation and free radicals are a sad part of our modern heritage. A poorly nourished body
has no resources to fight back, which is the reason we increasingly encounter auto-immune deficiency
syndromes and other serious diseases such as cancer and so many others.
As we get older, by the age of 50, our immune system is starting to weaken and some discomforts start
to show up, and they may transform in heavy and very painful diseases like low or too much stomach
acid, candida, food allergies, hypothyroidism. They must be recognized and treated to allow the body to
heal itself. Level of hormones, enzymes and proteins at the cell level are also lowering as for the
abortion intake, it is also very, very hard to balance and keep the body in harmony and healthy state.
Hormones can act as immunomodulators, altering the sensitivity of the immune system. For example,
female sex hormones are known immunostimulators of immune responses. Some autoimmune diseases
such as lupus erythematosus strike women preferentially, and their onset often coincides with puberty.
By contrast, male sex hormones such as testosterone seem to be immunosuppressive. Other hormones
appear to regulate the immune system as well, most notably prolactin, growth hormone and vitamin D.
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When a T-cell encounters a foreign pathogen, it extends a vitamin D receptor. This is essentially a
signaling device that allows the T-cell to bind to the active form of vitamin D, the steroid hormone
calcitriol. T-cells have a symbiotic relationship with vitamin D. It is conjectured that a progressive decline
in hormone levels with age is partially responsible for weakened immune responses in aging individuals.
Conversely, some hormones are regulated by the immune system, notably thyroid hormone activity. The
age-related decline in immune function is also related to dropping vitamin D levels in the elderly. As
people age, two things happen that negatively affect their vitamin D levels. First, they stay indoors more
due to decreased activity levels. This means that they get less sun and therefore produce less
cholecalciferol via UVB radiation. Second, as a person ages the skin becomes less adapt at producing
vitamin D.
The immune system is affected by sleep and rest, and sleep deprivation is detrimental to immune
function. Thus the immune response to infection may result in changes to the sleep cycle.
Another important role of the immune system is to identify and eliminate tumors. The transformed cells
of tumors express antigens that are not found on normal cells. To the immune system, these antigens
appear foreign, and their presence causes immune cells to attack the transformed tumor cells. The
antigens expressed by tumors have several sources some are derived from oncogenic viruses like human
papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer while others are the organism's own proteins that occur at
low levels in normal cells but reach high levels in tumor cells. One example is an enzyme called
tyrosinase that, when expressed at high levels, transforms certain skin cells (e.g. melanocytes) into
tumors called melanomas. A third possible source of tumor antigens are proteins normally important for
regulating cell growth and survival, that commonly mutate into cancer inducing molecules called
oncogenes
Allergies are a common immune system disorder that is body’s inappropriate and excessive response to
an allergen. Food allergies are an immunological response to a substance, usually a protein in the food.
Allergies often indicate suppressed emotions or situation that we are trying to ignore. These emotions
force themselves out as allergies. They may indicate a profound level of intolerance, an unconscious
refusal to accept a part of ourselves. Opening up to the heart chakra, accepting our fears as part of life’s
lesson and trusting our creativity will progressively provide a relief of allergies.
Aanother cause of weak immunity would be the Immunodeficiency that occurs when one or more of
the components of the immune system are inactive. The ability of the immune system to respond to
pathogens is diminished in both the young and the elderly, with immune responses beginning to decline
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at around 50 years of age due to Immunodeficiency. In developed countries, obesity, alcoholism, and
drugs use are common causes of poor immune function. However, malnutrition is the most common
cause of immunodeficiency in developing countries. Diets lacking sufficient protein are associated with
impaired cell-mediated immunity, complement activity, phagocyte function, antibody concentrations,
and cytokine production. Additionally, the loss of the thymus at an early age through genetic mutation
or surgical removal results in severe immunodeficiency and a high susceptibility to infection
There are top foods that have a tremendous action and influence on the body and immunity. There are
also antioxidants, vitamins and minerals found in food or under food supplements form, as well as
different practices as Yoga, meditation, dancing or swimming that raise our immunity and well being.
Antioxidants, co-enzyme Q10, EFAs, vitamin E and Zn, are necessary to support the immune system.
Essential Fatty Acids are an important recommended supplement as well as antioxidants (A, C, E,
Selenium) that support the immune system, but the most important might be the vit.D, which action is
the most important in keeping away tumors to form.
Here are some advice on how and what people should eat to build and maintain a healthy immune
system.
CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP – contain lean protein and many vitamins and antioxidants from vegetables and
noodles prepared together. The soup inhibits the movement of neutrophils, the most common type of
white blood cell that defends against infection. Dr. Reynard theorizes that by inhibiting the migration of
these infection-fighting cells in the body, chicken soup essentially helps reduce upper respiratory cold
symptoms and is probably the combination between vegies and chicken that makes it so effective.
ANMTIOXIDANTS - Beta-carotene and other carotenoids: Apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli,
cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches,
pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon.
VITAMIN C: Berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale,
kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, orange, papaya, red, green or yellow peppers, snow peas, sweet potato,
strawberries, and tomatoes.
VITAMIN E: Broccoli, carrots, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red
peppers, spinach, and sunflower seeds
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Other super foods that are rich in antioxidants include: prunes, apples, raisins, all berries, plums, red
grapes, alfalfa sprouts, onions, eggplant, beans.
Vitamins aren’t the only antioxidants in food. Other antioxidants that may help boost immunity include:
ZINC: Found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains, fortified cereals, and dairy
products
SELENIUM: Found in Brazil nuts, tuna, beef, poultry and fortified breads, and other grain products
EFA – fish, mussels, almonds,
PROBIOTICS – Yogurt and other diaries.
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