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| How Do You Boost Your Immunity? |
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| By Ann Stewart |
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Some people, it seems, are endowed with a healthy immune system. They
never seem to get sick and, if they do get the odd cold, they continue
their daily routine and snap out of it in no time flat. Then you see
others who barely have to hear the word 'flu or see someone blowing
their nose and bam, they've got it!
Is it all in the head? Are you born with a strong immune system to
fight off disease? Can you do something about it, if you're not?
Anyway, what does it mean to have immunity? Well, a very simple
explanation is that there are basically two types: active and passive
immunity.
The definition of 'immune' is that your body is so strong and resistant to any disease that you will not succumb to it.
Active immunity is considered to be long-lasting and tends to be
life-long. If you're in this category then, whenever you're exposed to
a disease organism, your immune system will instantly start to produce
antibodies to that disease. Furthermore, if you should come into
contact with that disease in the future, your immune system will
identify it and immediately fight it off with the stored antibodies.
Passive immunity is not inherent in your system. It is when you
cannot produce enough antibodies to fight off disease, and get an
external boost by injection, medication or nutritional supplements.
Healthy people with an active, innate immunity are usually referred
to as being resistant to disease in general. The term immunity is
usually applied to general protection against a specific organism. Even
if you are generally healthy, you may from time to time need a boost in
order to help fight off a virulent strain of a specific infection or
virus. The more severe the disease producing organism, the more the
passive immunity is applied.
The medical profession recommends boosting your inherent immunity
with specific antibodies to fight off a potentially dangerous infection
or virus.
A good digestion and healthy appetite are indicators of a strong
immunity. "Getting better quickly is a better indicator of immune
health,'' says Dr Dennis Alexander, head of molecular immunology at the
Babraham institute in Cambridge.
Immune globulin can be administered to provide immediate protection
from specific health threats to those who have a severely impaired or
suppressed immune system. For instance, some who may normally have
fairly good resistance to disease suddenly realize that their system
cannot handle the sudden onslaught of germs in the hospital.
Likewise, the body under stress, i.e. disease or sudden accident,
is often not capable to fight off multiple vaccines in one shot.
Judging by the large numbers of people coping with disease, the human
system is inherently fragile and cannot handle multiple onslaughts,
like the ones discussed above.
Many believe that if you are generally healthy and look after your
health, you will only have a mild version of what's going around. "In
truth, there's no such thing as a normal immune system,'' says Angus
Dalgleish, professor of oncology at St George's Hospital, London, who
researches cancer vaccines. He says the system is naturally very
variable.
The rise of allergies, auto-immune diseases (where the body attacks
itself) and inflammatory bowel disease are all indicators of immune
resistance performing under par.
Both types of acquired immunity respond to peptide sequences called
antigens. Antigens help the acquired immune system recognize invading
bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms (pathogens).
Leftovers, non-organic foods, and foods laced with preservatives can
severely tax the digestive system. This can, in turn, clog your
circulation, and create a sluggish, compromised immune system.
Going to be late, working at night, irregular eating habits, sleeping
during the day, and exposing the body to stress and fatigue can all
affect the digestion and body rhythms and thus compromise your
resistance.
Therefore, be good to yourself. Eating nutritiously and keeping an
active, happy lifestyle will go a long way to boosting your immune
system. Don't worry; be happy because "a merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Prov. 17: 22)
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About The Author
Ann Stewart, author, inspirational writer
and wellness coach, shares tips on how to fight off disease and feel
your best in her weekly newsletter, Youth Makeover: http://youthmakeover.com
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