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When we search for information about how to strengthen immune system, we must consider new challenges that threaten our good health and the protective cells and biological soldiers that are hard at work right now defending you against invaders.

For the most part, your immune system does a great job protecting you against illness and disease.  This is not an easy task.  There is a constant battle going on inside your body every day as germs, toxins, bacteria, viruses, and serious illness do their best to assault your body.  We do lose the battle at times, to common illnesses like the cold and the flu.  The flu affects 100 million people every year.  Collectively, we catch a billion colds per year.  Allergies and asthma rates are on the rise, with 38% of us suffering from allergies.  This is twice as much as experts originally thought.

What is the immune system’s plan of attack when there is an invader.  The first lines of defense are in the skin and mucous linings of our body.  They are like a pre-layer of defense in their attempt to keep foreign intruders out of the body.  If an invader does break through, there are cells and substances like chemicals and enzymes that are on attack against any kind of invader.  If the cell is infected by a virus, it secretes a substance called interferon which is a remarkable chemical that activates natural killer cells to help block viral replication of cells that are not infected.  Many potential illnesses are intercepted during this immune system response.

There are non-specific and specific immune defenses.  Non specific defenses are essential to our health because they are like the front line defense that keeps many viruses and infections from making us ill.  The intruders that do get by this first line of defense must confront specific immune defense weapons tailored just for them like antibodies and killer cells that help your body recognize and remember and efficiently eliminate all kinds of foreign invaders.  An immunization is an example of creating a specific response by recognizing a strain of virus.

Environmental toxins are constantly attacking our bodies.  There are new flu strains, like the recent swine flu.  Along with that are weakening immunizations that cause frustration to the medical community as well as people trying to protect themselves against serious illness.  All of these factors support the need to learn how to strengthen immune system, and to do all we can to build our immune system.

Did you know that some viruses and bacteria can live for between 20 minutes and 2 hours on certain surfaces like door knobs, desks, cafeteria and restaurant tables, and phones.  Every time that you shake hands, hold on to a grocery cart, eat at a restaurant, grab a phone, open the door, or take a bus, you are potentially making contact with pathogens that threaten to break through your immune system.  One of the most important things that you can do on a daily basis is to wash your hands often and don’t be afraid to tell others to do the same.

Some of the things that do not support a healthy immune system are our stressful lifestyles, poor dietary habits, lack of sleep and lack of exercise.  All of these are realities for most of us today, and challenges to our body’s defenses and our aging process.  So what are we to do?

Science and research have given us some answers about how to improve immune systems.  What can we do to meet our immune building needs?  A balanced diet is key because there are different nutrients that our bodies need in various foods.  Maintaining good nutrition is very important to having a healthy immune system.

We mentioned hand washing and the main reason why it’s worth mentioning again is that the biggest carrier of germs that can make us sick is our hands.  Other ways to keep from spreading illness is to sneeze into your elbow instead of out into the air where there are other people and surfaces, get enough sleep so that the body is in the best position to fight off threats to your good health.  Staying home from work when you are sick and away from other people when you are sick help to stop the spread of illness.  Finally, exercise helps the body fight whatever comes its way because exercise can be an effective immune builder itself.

How else can our bodies fight the flu, and especially a new strain?  We do have strategies like a healthy immune system that will fight off these threats, immunizations, and other anti-viral drugs.  However, in regard to the flu, every few years there are new viruses that are created by existing viruses spreading around the world and even combining with each other.  Our bodies do not recognize these new strains and it takes time to develop new vaccines that will be effective as we battle the viruses.

Babies and the elderly can be especially vulnerable to the flu.  There are outbreaks of diseases that many of us were vaccinated against as a child and can pose a unique challenge to our immune system.  The attempt to fight bacterial infections caused by salmonella or e-coli have confirmed the fact that the intestines are a very important part of a healthy immune system.  One way we know to build a healthier intestinal tract is to keep a good balance of good bacteria  or probiotics living in the gut.  Probiotics have various roles in the intestines including helping the body to fight illness and supporting good health by providing the body with the ability to be able to absorb nutrients. Scientists believe that without healthy intestines, our bodies can not absorb the nutrients that we need to be healthy.

Ongoing research about how to strengthen immune system will bring us new discoveries.  There is research  being done on respiratory viruses that affect adults as well as children.  Viral infection of the lung involves a combination of the immune system fighting infection, and the inflammation issue associated with respiratory that can lead to more serious illness.  For now, we have concrete ways to support a healthy immune system in our everyday lives, and we have natural supplements like probiotics, natural interferon, and other immune system vitamins and nutrients that have been proven to build good health including a strong immune system.

Can the buildup of ‘junk’ in our intestines cause us life-threatening illnesses? Scientists are constantly researching how and why we get sick, and what we can do to prevent getting sick.

It is believed that inflammation is at the root of many diseases that challenge us and are even life threatening. Intestinal stasis, or impairment of the normal passage of intestinal contents, that results in various digestive illnesses is also believed to be directly related to aging or degenerative diseases.

People search for laxatives as relief for uncomfortable symptoms of constipation. There are different kinds of laxatives that work in varying ways. Some produce unwelcome side effects of stomach cramps, gas, or even diarrhea.

Many people believe in detoxifying the body so that dead cells, chemicals that have accumulated, and other materials in the body that may be decaying, can be eliminated. There are all kinds of ways
to detoxify and some are more effective, and healthier, than others.

When you start a nutrition program, or even begin massage therapy, you may experience certain symptoms that are associated with your body’s response to releasing stored toxins and cells. This
can result in feeling tired, weak, getting a headache, or even nausea.

Herbal products are natural and gentle in your body. While colon cleansers that are synthetic may irritate the bowel, and make you dependent on them for elimination, natural herbs can nourish and strengthen the bowel.

Herbal products are not regulated by any governing body, and so not all brands are safe just because they are natural. It is important to know and trust the brand you use, the same as you do for vitamins and food supplements.

Cleansing your entire body in a safe and gentle way can get rid of toxins without harmful effects and putting more chemicals, that are found in laxatives, into your body. There are benefits to taking herbal laxatives every day that some people would not think of living without.

Getting rid of toxins before they can build up and do harm to the body, and getting rid of headaches
that can occur often and that alter one’s quality of life, are two things that folks like. Improved skin and breath, increased energy, and better clarity are also enjoyed from using herbal laxatives to
detoxify on a regular basis.

A gentle herbal laxative product can encourage a mild cleansing action that aids the body’s natural processes. It is believed by many that if we eliminate the waste from the intestines and bowel that can remain there without the stimulation of using the herbs, we can have better health.

High quality herbal laxative products are blends of ingredients that make them collectively work together better than they do on their own. Some of them include licorice root, alfalfa, fennel seed, and anise seed that can aid digestion. Licorice root can help the stomach by reducing acid which can be a relief for heartburn sufferers, and both licorice root and anise seed can relieve gas problems. Anise seed can help relieve stomach cramps.

Senna leaf has been used traditionally for thousands of years as a natural laxative. While ordinary laxatives can weaken the organs and cause dependencies on the laxatives, natural herbal laxatives are gentle and produce good side effects that are welcome to folks who have experienced the discomforts of intestinal pain. It is also helpful to have enough fiber in the diet on a daily basis and exercise regularly. The goal is to keep the body clean and healthy and avoid illness and disease.

Visit here to learn about a 50+ year old safe, gentle, and effective:  natural herbal laxative.

delicous, healthy protein shake

I was excited to get the following article link in my inbox today.  That’s mostly because it is yet another verification that the protein shake that I drink every morning for breakfast is ‘doing me good’!

WebMD Protein Shakes article.

It’s not that I need these confirmations because I know how my protein shakes benefit me and my body.  First, it is quick.  I was never much of a breakfast eater because I didn’t want to take the time to make it and then eat it.  Most of the time I do not feel hungry in the morning and used to just skip breakfast.  As I got older and understood more about the importance of breakfast, I decided a protein shake would be the best choice for me.

In addition to being very fast to make and drink a protein shake, I like the benefit of it balancing my blood sugar levels.  That seems to carry through the rest of the day, which is great for energy level and even moods.  When you drink a protein shake for breakfast, you don’t get hungry until lunch time.  There is no mid-morning slump, no drop in energy levels.

You can get creative with flavors and adding complimentary ingredients like fruit or peanut butter.  Mostly I mix soy protein with whey protein, and like the flavors the way they are.  The soy I use is actually a meal shake, meaning that it has all of the vitamins and minerals included in it to make it a complete meal.  I do like to add ice, and mix it in a blender, to make my protein shake nice and cold.  It takes less than a minute to blend, and another couple of minutes to clean the blender and drink the shake.  You can’t get much easier than that.  It’s not like I drink protein shakes only for a healthy meal, I like the way I FEEL when I start my day this way.

Another important factor that I learned about was the preparation of the soy.  Water washed is preferred over alcohol washed because the alcohol removes isoflavones that are so beneficial from the soy.  Also, alcohol can create cross-contamination with the processing chemicals.  Choosing soy that is non-GMO insures it will be free from genetically modified soybeans.

Whey protein shakes are a great choice for those who are soy-sensitive.  Like soy, whey is a complete protein that supplies all nine of the essential amino acids in concentrated form.  Animal protein does not contain all of the essential amino acids in any one serving, and is higher in saturated fat and cholesterol.  Plus, when protein is heated to 110 degrees or higher, important enzymes for digestion and absorption are destroyed.  This can affect how protein is used by the body, and not a factor with a protein shake.

Gluten-free protein shakes are desirable for folks with a intolerance to gluten.  Low-glycemcic protein shakes help people feel energized for hours because of the effect they have on blood sugar.  Low-glycemic protein sources do not raise the blood sugar levels and then cause them to plummet like sugary foods, or white flour and white sugar filled foods, will; instead the body’s natural metabolic balance remains steady.

There are even more health benefits associated with having a high quality soy protein shake every day.  These include helping to rebuild the immune system, muscle tissue, bone tissue, nerve fiber, collagen, connective tissue, and playing a tremendous role in maintaining overall health in the body.  Soy can be a good source of calcium and iron as well.

For me, it is quick, easy and very healthy to have a protein shake every morning.  I like the results that I get, and the way that I feel.

Water-washed, gluten-free, high quality soy protein

Protein ‘Meal’ Shake – a complete meal (also gluten-free)

Whey ‘Meal’ Shake

Whey Sports Nutrition Shake