A Healthy Immune System

Your immune system is a very delicately balanced, fine-tuned process.  If you do not have a strong immune system, you are more likely to be someone that will be prone to chronic disease.  Whether that means things like chronic flu, colds and bronchitis or more serious ailments like cancer depends on how weak and compromised your immune system is.  If you are chronically ill, you need to take a step back and determine what is causing the weakness in your immune system and correct it.

There are foods and lifestyles that boost your immune system and those that break down your immune system.  Let's look at the negatives first.

Alcohol - anything in excess is bad for the body.  A cup of wine every now and then is good for the body since it has many good enzymes in it.  However, the high carbs and high sugars (in certain alcohols) are damaging to the body.  They overload the liver and make it difficult for the white blood cells to kill germs in the body.
Sugar - we just had a discussion about good sugars and bad sugars.  White refined sugar taxes the body in general.  8T or the equivalent of 2 sodas suppress the immune system and cause the liver to go into over drive.  In addition, it reduces the ability of the white blood cells to do their job by as much as 40%.  Do you want 40% of the germs in your body to thrive? 
Food Allergens - most of us don't realize that we have food allergies until they slap us in the face.  If you have issues with indigestion, bloating, cramping, constipation, or diarrhea - you have a food allergy.  Food allergies or sensitivities cause problems with your immune system because your white blood cells begin destroying good things.  Your body is thrown into chaos and begins destroying itself.
Fat - again we are back to excess.  Eating excessive amounts of fried foods, fatty foods, and the wrong type of fats reduces the ability of the white blood cells to do their job.  Again, reducing their ability to destroy germs.
Prescription Drugs - again... excess.  If you are chronically ill, you probably have filled your body with antibiotics that actually weaken your natural immune system.  An example - when you get stung by a bee or mosquito, your body immediately sends histamine to the site.  It doesn't send histamine to your entire body - JUST to the part of your body that was stung.  When you take a drug for an illness, it doesn't just go to fight the germs in the part of your body that is ill - it spreads throughout your body and not only kills germs, but kills the white blood cells that are naturally fighting the illness as well.

So, basically our "standard bad foods" are the ones you need to reduce or remove from your diet.  Now, onto the good foods and healthy lifestyles.

Vitamins C, B, & E all help strengthen your immune system.  They each have a separate function but together they build strong cell walls, increase the reproduction of white blood cells, and enhance their germ fighting capabilities. 
Cartenoids are found in orange fruits and vegetables as well as some green vegetables including spinach and kale.  They are very important in the germ fighting capabilities of your white blood cells.  They also promote cell communication necessary for fighting proper germs.
Bioflavenoids protect the cell structure from environmental toxins, hence increasing the strength of the cellular wall. 
Garlic enhances the multiplicity of germ fighting cells and increases the efficiency of the same cells.
Selenium boosts cancer fighting capabilities of the body.
Omegas - The Omegas are the essential oils necessary for your body to function properly.  They enhance the white blood cells capability to destroy germs.

As for the lifestyle, you need to remain active.  Even when you are not feeling well, it is vital for you to get at least 30 minutes of sunshine and at least 30 minutes of activity daily.  Both of these build up your tolerance and a stronger physical body promotes a stronger immune system.

Here's to a healthier stronger you!  Blessings... E

High Cholesterol

One of the most frequent questions I get is about High Cholesterol.  One of my best friends works out (he is a blackbelt in both Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do), is tall and slender, eats all the right foods, and still has to work to control his High Cholesterol.  Sometimes your genes / heredity really make you work to stay healthy. 

So, until my friend had High Cholesterol, I didn't know the basics of it... good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, good oils, bad oils... it is all quite confusing... they have done a pretty good job though to educate the general population about the basics of Cholesterol.  So that we are all on the same page - a brief overview.  Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made in the liver.  When you get your Cholesterol tested you should be given three numbers - your total count, your HDL (good), and your LDL (bad) cholesterol.  Your total number should be below 200mg/Dl.  60mg/Dl is considered good for your HDL.  129mg/Dl is considered good for your LDL.  The higher the HDL and the lower the LDL the better.  And your triglycerides should be under 150mg/Dl. 

As I alluded to above, exercise and diet both play a big part in healthy cholesterol numbers.  Exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce cholesterol numbers.  One of the ways it helps is that he helps to move the LDL to the liver to be broken down.  The more vigorous the exercise the better - you should be doing a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio daily.  Not only does it help break down the bad cholesterol but it also increases the number of your HDL.  So you get double benefits with exercise.  Maintaining optimal weight is also a factor with cholesterol as carrying excess weight increases the LDL that the liver must process.

Certain foods help keep your body alkaline and help maintain good cholesterol numbers - you might be surprised at several of them... almonds, walnuts, oatmeal, blueberries, salmon / tuna, red wine, soy, extra vergin olive oil, cayenne, green tea, apples, shitake mushrooms, artichoke, garlic, avocado, and dark green leafy vegetables.  And again, if there is a list of what you should eat... there is also a list of what to stay away from: fast food, fried food, processed foods, junk food, dairy, tropical oils, and sweets / baked treats.  You also have herbs that help - fenugreek, cayenne, garlic, hawthorne berries, flax seed, ginger,

Since LDL is broken down in the liver, good liver health is necessary... which means lowering alcohol and caffeine intake and increasing the intake of foods high in B complex vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and iron.  Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, organic fruit juices, nuts, seeds, legumes, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and brussles sprouts.

Exercise and Eat your way healthy. :)