Background
The Immune system’s
primary function is to protect the body from infection and cancerous
changes to normal cells. Support and enhancement of the immune system
is an essential step to an anti-aging program.
Immune weakness:
Recurrent or chronic infections occur when the immune system
is weakened. A cycle exists that must be interrupted: weakened immune
system leads to infection, infection damages or exhausts immune
system, which weakens resistance.
Hyper responsive
Immune System: The immune system can also be hyperalert.
This is seen in autoimmune diseases when the body starts attacking
itself.
Both the weakened immune
system and the hyperaleret immune system need immune system modulation.
This section of the web site will show you how you can use the latest
techniques for Immune System Modulation.
Components of the Immune
System
The immune system
is composed of the following tissues:
- Lymphatic vessels
(your lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, and tonsils)
- White blood cells
(lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils)
- Specialized cells
in the tissue (macrophages, mast cells)
- Specialized chemical
factors (interleukin II, interferon, complement fractions etc.)
- The Gut Associated
Lymphoid Tissue (GALT), a very important lymphatic tissue that
surrounds your gastrointestinal tract.
Key Nutrients For the
Immune System
and Detoxification
- Muramyl peptides,
- Beta- 1,3-glucan,
- Calcium D-glucarate
Muramyl peptide and
Beta- 1,3-glucan
There has been much research
in the last few years on the immune boosting effects of various
mushrooms. Reishi, Maitake, Shitake and Cordyceps mushrooms have
been used for thousands of years in China and India for their ability
to promote good health. It is clear from the research that certain
components of these mushrooms called polysaccharides have the ability
to increase and stimulate our body’s immune response to viruses,
bacteria and funguses. One of these molecules is Beta-1,3-glucan.
A similar response has
been shown to occur with potent polysaccharides extracted from the
cell walls of bacteria. This may be why probiotics, such as Lactobacillus
and Acidophilus, have positive health effects. One of these nontoxic
cell wall extracts is a molecule called Muramyl peptide. It is an
extract from a bacteria called Lactobacillus fermentum. The immune
system recognizes the Muramyl peptide, identifies it as being of
bacterial origin and increases the immune response accordingly.
The effect of Beta-1,3-glucan
and Muramyl peptide is to stimulate the immune system, raise the
alert to potential invading pathogens, and increase the secretion
of potent immune chemical messengers in the body called cytokines
and interleukins, which send messages to the white blood cells and
the immune system to become more active. Muramyl peptides and Beta-1,3-glucan
also increase the ability of certain white blood cells called macrophages
to seek out and destroy cells that have been infected by viruses,
which is very important for those who have been exposed to the flu
virus, or other viruses such as herpes, HIV, etc.
Calcium D-glucarate
Calcium d-glucarate is
a nontoxic, natural substance found in high concentrations in fruits
and vegetables. The benefits of d-glucarate were first discovered
by researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Many studies
have shown it to be highly protective against cancer due to properties
that increase the ability of the body to detoxify and eliminate
toxins and other harmful substances. Calcium d-glucarate is also
an effective product for removing excess hormones and foreign chemicals
that have negative hormonal activity in the body. This may be one
of the reasons that d-glucarate is important in protecting against
breast cancer and controlling postmenopausal symptoms. I feel that
d-glucarate’s role in improving your body’s immunity
lies in its ability to process and eliminate harmful toxins and
carcinogens that tax the immune system, and also in its ability
to bind to and remove toxic cellular waste. By increasing the levels
of d-glucarate your body will have to spend less energy eliminating
harmful substances. Energy that can be better used to fight incoming
infections. There is also increasing evidence that d-glucarate has
antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Too many toxic estrogens in the body fat can increase body fat and
water retention in both men and women, Calcium d-glucarate has the
ability to neutralize these toxic estrogens leading to a leaner
and healthy body. Click Here for more
details on Calcium d-glucarate and detoxification.
Summary
Taken together, Muramyl
peptides, beta-1,3-glucan, and calcium d-glucarate form a synergy
that enhances the functioning of the body. While calcium D-glucarate
detoxifies the system, it also prepares the way for Muramyl peptides
to support healthy immune function. Taking a regular dose of these
products during the flu season will prepare your body very well
for the Spring, which is a great time to begin to cleanse and detoxify.
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