Do you winterize your body the same as you do your home and automobile? Let’s think about it. In the fall we make preparations for winter. It is a tradition to check filters on furnaces, get them cleaned, check the fireplace, put on storm windows, and even prepare the garden. We take care of our cars with tune ups to make sure they will run well all winter, add antifreeze, flush the radiator, and possibly buy new tires.
Do we tune up our bodies for the winter months? There are quite a few holidays and social gatherings coming that we want to be healthy for, and be able to fight off the germs, viruses, and bacteria that we are exposed to every day. Our bodies need the right nutrients to build strong immune systems that keep us healthy. If we don’t get enough of those nutrients in our diet, it’s time to look at supplements. Vitamins, minerals, and immune builders are proven to build better health.
The stresses of every day can wear us down throughout the year. The winter can maximize these struggles. Many of us don’t sleep as well as we should, or eat as well as we should. Too many of us curl up on the couch with the television instead of keeping up our regular exercise habits in the cold winter months.
Strong immune systems are essential in preventing illness. The cells of the immune system go into action as soon as a foreign substances like germs, viruses, fungi, and bacteria enter the body. In the winter we are sealed inside behind closed doors, with recirculated air, so it is easy to pass germs from one person to another. Our bodies have to be ready for these attacks and the immune system is our body’s first line of defense.
In addition to making a good effort to sleep well, eat well, get exercise, and manage the stress in our lives, the immune system can benefit from an immune builder taken daily year round.
Nutriferon is quite remarkable in that there are four published human clinical studies that support the efficacy of NutriFeron. In addition, a new laboratory study confirms that NutriFeron ingredients are effective in impacting genetic pathways related to the activation, signaling, and proliferation of natural killer cells. NutriFeron’s exclusive and patented formula works hard to support the body’s built-in defenses to help keep you healthy, and is truly a revolutionary breakthrough in immune health.*
Also important to keep in mind: You should make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D. Intrigued by the recent studies suggesting vitamin D is a key immune system player, NIH researchers examined blood vitamin D levels in the US population to see if there was any relationship to frequency of colds. Sure enough, the higher the blood level of vitamin D, the lower the frequency of reported upper respiratory tract infections. Those with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 36% increased risk of catching a cold when compared to those with the highest levels. The link was even stronger in those with existing respiratory conditions. For example, asthmatics with the lowest vitamin D status were nearly six times as vulnerable to colds as those with the highest vitamin D blood levels.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Back to school shopping, anxiety over who your child’s teacher will be this year, sending your oldest (or youngest) child off to college—all very exciting activities, but not without a bit of stress for all involved. And to add to all of these very typical types of activities and concerns, we have some new and additional threats to staying healthy. So it has never been more important to focus on doing all you can to protect your family’s health—beginning with arming yourself with the latest information.
Your ability to stay well and not fall prey to circulating pathogens rests upon the vibrant functioning of your immune system, and an optimally healthy immune system occurs when you are doing a few simple things:
1) Eat a healthy diet, full of antioxidants and immune supporting nutrients. This means avoiding the fast food restaurants (generally empty calories) and committing to eating at least FIVE servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day—salads, stir-fry vegetables with chicken breast or salmon or hearty stews or soups made with plenty of colorful vegetables!
2) Be sure you are taking supplementation to support immune health. Your favorite version of Vitalizer along with Nutriferon provides a solid nutritional foundation for immune function. Sustained Release Vita C (or Chewable Vita C), Optiflora Probiotic, and Defend and Resist Complex can be added for additional support on an as needed basis. For children ages 12 and younger, choose Incredivites with immune supporting lactoferrin and more vitamin D, and for infants and toddlers age six months to four years, our terrific ShakleeBaby Multivitamin & Multimineral Powder with clinically tested prebiotics and more Vitamin D to help support immune function.*
3) Get plenty of rest. Your immune system can be very negatively impacted by inadequate sleep. Your school age children require at least nine hours of sleep each night so be sure that becomes a routine as the school year gets started. And Moms and Dads, you need seven and a half to eight hours yourself!
4) Talk to your doctor about immunization. We encourage everyone to speak with your doctor to determine if vaccination is right for you, especially if any member of your family falls into one of these target groups at higher risk identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children six months through four years of age, and children five through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions. Click this link to learn more: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm.
5) Wash your hands frequently. You don’t need antibacterial soaps; in fact, many experts are concerned that the widespread use of antibacterial products may contribute to the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria that antibiotics do not work against! So, use plain ordinary soap, warm water, and wash your arms and wrists and lather up for 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing off. When hand washing is not possible, hand sanitizers are sometimes recommended.
6) Wash down your countertops, bathroom wash areas, and other hard, non-porous surfaces that your hands contact with an effective germicidal product such as Shaklee Basic-G. Basic-G has been tested and shown to be effective in neutralizing influenza type A viruses as well as a host of other microorganisms and the EPA has issued a statement that it believes, based on available scientific information, that the currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the 2009 – H1N1 flu strain and other influenza A virus strains on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Doctors and nutritionists believe that the average American’s immune response is only functioning at about 70%. That means their immune system is about 70% effective. Is that good enough? For some, maybe. But if you’re getting sick too much, probably not. Your immune function may be well under that national average.
I was reading in the local newspaper about the recent Swine Flu scare and how the spread is uncertain at this point. I have two daughters in college and the first week after they went back they were hearing that kids had the flu, some the regular flu and at least two cases of the Swine Flu. It is very unsettling having children in college when there is a potential outbreak because viruses spread very quickly in dorms. They live such a ‘close’ lifestyle in small rooms and sometimes community bathrooms. Schools in general can be challenging because kids pass germs very quickly, and repeated sickness can hurt immune function.
Chilly weather is coming soon, and this is the favorite time of year for the flu and many other seasonal health challenges. There is fear that we are going to be a sick nation. I prefer to focus on prevention. I sent my daughters to school loaded with natural supplement that will help build their immune system. Still it is challenging. However, many times when your body is more prepared than it might otherwise have been, and even if you get some part of the ‘bug’, it is likely that the symptoms will be less and the recovery time will be quicker. That is what my goal is for myself and my family, and we have to be pro-active if we want to get good results.
The article in my newspaper stated that the Swine flu is brand new, and nobody really has immunity to it. I heard it discussed on the national news (television) that older adults may have some immunity, though younger people have none. What we are hoping is that the flu will wait until the vaccine is released, or at least the widespread part of it. We are just starting to hear about how many doses of the Swine Flu vaccine people will need, on top of the regular flu shot. Not everyone will get it because there may not be enough.
Whether you don’t get the flu because of supply and demand, or your own personal choice, and even if you do get the shot, there are preventive measures to take as well. Everyone talks about washing your hands, but don’t let that lessen your observance of it. Wash your hands. Often.
We know that nutrition can help us be well, and yet we don’t eat the best diets every day. And we eat fast foods. And we eat processed foods. And we are stressed. And many of us don’t exercise enough or sleep well. These things and more can put us in the less than national average immune system statistics. And it can make us sick more than we want to be.
I don’t know about you but I hate to be sick, even with the common cold. I am faithful to an array of supplements every single day of the year, and it pays off for me. When I am exposed to something, or maybe feeling tired (one of the first signs of getting sick), I take a special echinacea blend for a week to ten days. Almost always, I can beat it.
I may get the flu, one of them, this winter. Of course I hope that I don’t. All I know is that I am doing everything I can to prevent it, and that is all I can do. Besides supplementing with the nutrition that I know I don’t get enough of in the foods that I eat, I try to sleep enough hours every night (that can be challenging because I am not always tired and always find something to do.. plus night time is my favorite time to work!), exercise (taking the time can be tough, but it pays off), balance stress, and think positively. These may sound like things you’ve heard before, and brushed off, but bottom line is: they work.
Science tells us these things. They are proven. They are not even that hard.. it just takes desire. I answered a question on LinkedIn yesterday. Someone was asking why people don’t succeed at something when they have proven answers or ways to be successful. My answer is that it is all about desire.
We have to want things for ourselves. There has to be a ’strong why.’ It is what will drive us each day. It will keep us going. It will make sure we do what we need to do. And it will bring us results.
I started this article writing about the Immune Response, and went a little off-track (especially if you were looking for an all-technical article). What I wrote about is still associated with our immune response because the immunity results we get can be very closely related to the choices we make. We have to want wellness for ourselves.
An article caught my eye in our local newspaper here in Central PA, USA. It was about the fact that showerheads may harbor bad germs, and how that can be harmful for people who don’t have a healthy immune sytem.
So the showerheads can spary these tiny bacteria into your face when you shower. If you have a normal immune system, you should not worry. However, the people that should be concerned are those with illnesses like AIDS or cystic fibrosis, in cancer treatment, or who have had a recent organ transplant. These are significant numbers of the population.
The discovery came from researchers at the University of Colorado who did a study where they tested showers in five states. There is risk here but primarily for those who don’t have healthy immune systems. One suggestion is to get an all-metal showerhead because the microbes have a harder time clinging to them. It is important to clean showerheads as well although that can be hard to do with the hard to reach surfaces and crevices, and also the microbes come back even after the surfaces are treated with bleach.
Want to know what the bugs in question are? Mycobacterium avium is the name, and they have been linked to lung disease in some people. If you have a filtered showerhead, changing it weekly is advised. Also, baths don’t spread the microbes into the air the same as showerheads.
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, multi-vitamins, extra vitamin c, and other immune system vitamins and nutrients that have been proven to build good health including a strong immune system.
The body has its own defense system called the immune system. You can boost your immune system, your first line of defense for everything from the common cold to serious disease like cancer, to fight invaders and disease. Having a healthy immune system helps us stay healthy. Finding healthy immune boosters will ensure the immune system stays healthy.
Our immune system is at work each and every day. We come in contact with germs, bacteria, toxins, and viruses continuously. Our big fears are disease, such as life threatening cancer, hepatitis, and even the flu. We have challenging common illnesses like infections and allergies, asthma, and viruses.
The components of our body’s immune system are bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen and the lymph nodes. There are cells that are part of the immune system as well. Cells such as T-cells, natural killer cells, B Cells, Granulocytes, Macrophages and Dendritic are key components. These all work together to form a complex response when the body requires one against disease, bacteria, and germs.
The immune system itself fights infection, illness, and disease through what is called the immune response, which is really a collection of responses. Interferon is a protein in the body that optimizes the immune response without overstimulating. There are three different types of interferon in the body, each with its own distinctive immune building job.
A natural interferon supplement can increase the body’s production of all three types naturally so that your body is better able to respond to threats. It helps balance the immune response in your body and prepares your immune system to better handle common invaders and more dangerous invaders that cause serious diseases.
When the immune system is activated it works to eradicate the invaders, no matter what they are. The immune system is a vital part of our good health. We need it in optimum condition to stay healthy and happy. There are measurable things we can do to build our immune system, and they are tracked in the form of good health and not getting sick. Do you hear people say that they have not been sick in a very long time? Chances are that these folks are making good choices in regard to nutrition and other factors that are keeping them healthy.
Our first course of action is to keep our overall health in the best shape we can. This means we eat a healthy well-rounded diet filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Ensure there is enough protein in the diet as well. Lean meat, poultry and fish are excellent sources of protein. Low fat dairy and cheese also provide the body with essential nutrients. If it is hard to get these items integrated in your daily diet, a high quality soy protein shake is an excellent choice for optimal nutrition from protein.
It is also essential we keep our bodies in the best shape. The healthier we are the better our immune system will function. You should have heard the following recommendations from many sources. They are not just words, they have truth for good health. Get plenty of sleep. Exercise regularly and drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Avoid things that are bad for your body. Excess alcohol, drugs and tobacco can negatively impact the body’s health and the immune system. These are things that will aid in building a healthy immune system.
Two very important minerals that affect the immune system are zinc and magnesium. Both are needed for a healthy immune system. Unfortunately these are two minerals we often lack in our daily diet. Zinc can be found in foods such as lean beef and pumpkin seeds. Magnesium can be found in dark green vegetables, nuts and grains. There are recommended daily allowances for all vitamins and minerals although even many doctors now feel that they are too low because they are seeing more deficiencies when patients have blood work performed.
There are herbs that will also act as immune boosters. Millions of dollars are spent every year fighting the flu and the common cold. One herb you can take to strengthen your immune system and fight off these two culprits is Echinacea. It is commonly called the coneflower. It grows wild and is cultivated in North America. Studies at the University of Connecticut show taking Echinacea can cut the chance of getting a cold nearly in half. It will also shorten the duration of suffering a cold or the flu. It is thought to be an Immunostimulant, a fancy title for an immune system booster. Echinacea is not taken regulary. When you are exposed to illness, or feel like you are getting sick, you take it for about seven days to give an immediate boost to your immune response.
Natural interferon supplements can be taken year round to effectively build a healthy immune system. They work similar to interferon treatments that are used to manage many diseases. Interferon therapy is used in tandem with radiation and chemotherapy for cancer patients. It is also used in Multiple Sclerosis and Hepatitis C treatments. Russia and Eastern Europe use interferon in low doses to treat common ailments of cold and the flu. There are very effective natural interferon supplements that are used safely to boost immune systems, help with allergies, asthma and other immune related challenges. Natural interferon does not have the side effects associated with more potent interferon.
On a daily basis our immune system is at work. The healthier our immune system is, the better it is able to fight off the common and the more feared diseases. The more you do to boost your immune system the healthier you can be.
Watch this video to learn more about boosting your immune system with a patented, pharmaceutical grade natural interferon.
For more information on magnesium, zinc, and echinacea, visit pharmaceutical grade immune booster options here.
Let’s face it, it’s a tough world out there, especially for the body’s immune system.On a daily basis we are exposed to viruses and bacteria that cause diseases, and even death.We live in an environment where we travel, or our neighbor travels, all over the world.Even when there is not a major scare like the present Swine Flu that can be spread from people carrying a virus back with them, our lives are fast paced which can lead to stress that weakens our immune system.Most of us have a hard time eating a healthy diet due to lack of time or the appeal of the drive through convenience.Even more of us struggle with getting enough rest or exercise that are both associated with better health.Our immune system is facing an uphill battle on a daily if not hourly basis.
While all of this is stacked against us there is good news. Our immune system is a highly complex system.It runs without much from us.One of the most complex components of the immune system is the interferon cell.The interferon cells are part of the non-specific immune system. This means they are present at the very first and earliest stages of disease and infections.
These cells are what some many call the first line of defense.Interferon cells detect threats to our health.They know when there are viruses, bacteria and tumors in our system and go to work.They set up a shield to protect us against these invaders.They call out other helper cells such as the white blood cells and killer cells to aid in defenses.They are key components to our good health.
Many diseases are treated with interferon treatments and respond.Interferon therapy is used in tandem with radiation and chemotherapy for cancer patients.It is also used in Multiple Sclerosis and Hepatitis C treatments.Russia and Eastern Europe use interferon in low doses to treat common ailments of cold and the flu.
Studies have been done to isolate the components in certain herbs that help provide immune support.To name a few there is pumpkin seed, plantago seeds and safflower flower.These ingredients have all been shown to increase the activity of immune cells.They help activate defenses, alert immune cells and target bad cells.Immune support will enable the immune system to work at peak performance.
It stands to reason if we can ensure we have a healthy immune system the body’s natural interferon cells will work properly.We can take precautions and boost the natural interferon cell’s ability by taking supplements specifically for this.Boosting the immune system is a wise thing to do in such a fast paced, stressful, international environment that we live in today.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
To learn more about a natural interferon supplement, an exclusive blend of extracts from pumpkin seeds, plantago seeds, safflower seeds and Japanese honeysuckle flower buds, and the only supplement to be developed by the scientist who discovered interferon, please visit natural interferon revealed.
Many folks get sick more often than they should. The reason is because they have poorly responding immune systems. A combination of environmental toxins, stressful lifestyles, lack of nutrition, sleep and exercise all contribute to weakening our immune system. How do we make it stronger so we can fight off infectious disease that is rising at an alarming pace?
Scientists have discovered that we can improve and strengthen our immune systems by boosting the natural interferon in our bodies. All of the factors above may weaken our body’s ability to make natural interferon, but now we can counter that with a natural interferon supplement.
A natural interferon immune builder supplement can enhance the natural interferon production in the body, making sure that the cells are filled with this substance that fights disease attacks. Unlike an echinacea supplement that can boost the immune system for a short time, daily use of natural interferon can consistently power the immune system.
This brand’s natural interferon supplement is safe and effective in greatly increasing the body’s natural interferon production. It is a blend of four powerful plant extracts: pumpkin seeds, safflower flower, Japanese Honeysuckle flower and Asian Plantain seed. Like many of the brand’s herbal products, the combination of ingredients and how they work together is what sets this interferon supplement apart. The scientist who developed this product recognized how powerful the synergistic effect (of all four together) is and patented it. There really is no comparable product on the market.
There are two audios below that discuss the immune system and this brand’s particular natural interferon supplement.
Don’t hesitate to contact me and discuss this powerful immune builder. There are many testimonies to share about how well natural interferon benefits the immune system, including a study involving patients with hepatitis C, benefits allergies and other symptoms of environmental irritants and pollutants in the air.
Thanks for visiting!
Welcome! Living healthy so that you live longer and have the best quality of life your whole life long starts at birth and continues throughout your life.
We hope that you find information here that is useful to you and can make a difference in your life. Contact us anytime.. we would love to talk with you!
SHAKLEE INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR AND BUSINESS LEADER
Meet Us Online
If you see an 'Online' button here, we are in the web conference room. Come on in! Just click the ONLINE button and enter your name (no password required).
Here's your chance to ask a question about a health challenge you have OR how a natural nutrition supplement can help you get the results you want.
vicki@yourhealthwebsite.net
