Foods That Boost the Immune system

Boost your immune system – immunity is the process by which the body resists disease. Essentially a protection system, immunity is really two systems. These systems can be enhanced by vitamins.

The non-specific system, the body’s first line of defense, protects us from viruses, bacteria, various parasites and fungi.

The specific immune system uses molecules and cells generated by the body’s lymphoid organs to attack certain fungal and viral infections. The lymphoid organs include the thymus , spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow.

Breakdowns Lead to Infections

Together the nonspecific and the specific immune system make up the army that protects the body from disease (virus immunity). But this defensive army can break down or weaken when under attack. The result of a weakening or breakdown in the immune system is an infection, which is an invasion of the body by a disease producing organism, usually through the skin or mucous membrane. The “invaders” may be fungi, parasites, bacteria, viruses (such as COVID 19), or rickettsiae (microorganisms that are bigger than viruses but smaller than bacteria).

Among the common infectious diseases are:

Infections of the upper-respiratory tract, such as colds, influenza, sore throats, and laryngitis
Ear infections
Sinusitis
Infections of the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, stomatitis, molar abscesses and cold sores
Bronchial infections
Lung infections, such as pneumonia
Cardiovascular infections such as infective endocarditis, myocarditis and periocarditis
Infections of the nervous system, such as meningitis and encephalitis
Infections of the skin and soft tissue, such as impetigo and toxic shock syndrome
Gastrointestinal infections such as diarrhea and food poisoning
Infections of the joints such as urethra, prostate gland, bladder and kidney infections
Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, vaginitis, genital herpes, syphilis, and AIDS

Fighting Infection Through Good Nutrition

Poor nutrition weakens the immune system and makes you susceptible to infection. Your first step toward developing a solid nutrition program is to avoid all products that contain white flour, white rice, white or brown sugar, and refined products in general. White sugar may diminish the body’s immune response. You want to boost your immune system.

Some general dietary conditions that undermine the immune system are:

Malnutrition
Obesity
A deficiency in EFAs
Overconsumption of polyunsaturates
High blood cholesterol levels

The Value of a macrobiotic or a Vegan Diet

A macrobiotic diet is very effective for healing systemic infection: eat plenty of miso soup, umoboshi plums, and fresh ginger.

Supplements that Help

Deficiencies of these nutrients are known to interfere with or undermine the immune response; vitamins A, E, C and the B vitamins (especially vitamin B6, pantothenic acid and folic acid), copper, iodine and selenium.

Note the positive properties of the following supplements in improving immune system response.

Acidophilus inhibits the growth of toxin-producing microrganisms and produces natural antibiotics.

DMG (dimethylglycine) increases antibody production and generates lymphocytes, which are highly beneficial for anyone with a low-activity immune system response.

Vitamin A – fights viral infections and increases resistance to. In one disease study, vitamin A supplementation was shown to (1) reduce the number of respiratory infections in children and (2) lessen the severity of the few infections the children did have. Vitamin A is essential for the division of T cells and B cells, both of which are necessary for proper immune response. But note that excessive amounts of vitamin A can suppress immune response!

Vitamin B6 is required for proper functioning of the epithelial cells of the thymus gland, which is an essential part of the immune system. Vitamin B6 deficiencies have been directly linked with immune -system disorders

Vitamin C is very important for increasing immune response. It stimulates the production of interferon, a protein that fights viral infection. It can increase the production of lymphocytes, and strengthens white blood cells, which seek out and destroy microorganisms

Selenium boosts the immune system by increasing various components of the body’s defense system