How to Boost your Immune System - Part I

Not older age, but lack of nutrients which cause weak immune systems!

The chance of illness increases when the level of threat is increased at the same time as our defences are weakened. Then, when the immune system is finally overwhelmed by the attacking viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc., disease becomes evident.

For example, it's now known that cancers start to grow fairly frequently in our bodies, but most don't become a problem because the immune system realises that the cells are different, and sends its 'killer T cells' to destroy them.

Other immune cells, such as B cells and macrophages, destroy other unwanted invaders.

All these defence cells which protect us on a daily basis for 80 years or more, require an optimum supply of vitamins and minerals to function well. These include vitamins A, Bs, C and E, the minerals zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium and others.

However, it has been clearly shown by Professor Chandra at the John Hopkins University, Baltimore, that the cause of the weakened immune system is NOT old age. It is  because the elderly are depleted in almost all the key nutrients.

When he gave his elderly patients a nutritional supplement every day, he found that within one year their immune systems had rejuvenated. Plus, the number of days they were ill was reduced by an incredible 50 per cent.

This clearly showed that when levels of key nutrients are below their optimum levels, people can't repair as fast as they wear out, and immune systems are weakened.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way.

There is no one single nutrient which would redress the balance (such as vitamin C) - no, we need a combination of nutrients to do this.

Part II of this newsletter will investigate further the practical ways in which we can maintain or enhance our natural immunity. This will follow shortly.