The germ theory would have you believe that it is the pathogen (the germ) that causes your illness. This could not be further from the truth.but it is a good headline, a good scare tactic, and it sells a lot of flu vaccines. THE TRUTH IS -- IT IS A SUSCEPTIBLE HOST THAT FALLS PREY TO AN OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGEN! Have you ever wondered why the person next to you did not get sick even though you were exposed at the same time? To put it simply, if a virus lands on a healthy immune system it is not allowed to multiply and the body does not develop symptoms. That person may not even realize they were exposed to the virus. On the other hand, if a virus lands on a weakened immune system it throws a party and invites all of its friends and family. If you catch colds easily and/or you get more than one or two colds per year, you have a weakened immune system.

There are a few key facets to consider to boost a weakened immune system.¹

• Stress, the mind, and emotions have a critical impact on immune function
• Too much sugar and alcohol in the diet lowers white blood cell activity
• Obesity is associated with decreased immune function
• Nutrient deficiency is, by far, the most common cause of a weakened immune system

A term has been conceived that describes the holistic interconnection the immune system has with the rest of the body, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). There is a growing body of knowledge and clinical studies documenting the profound influence the mind has on health and disease. Stress increases the release of adrenal hormones, particularly epinephrine and cortisol, which have a negative effect on the immune system by inhibiting the formation and activity of white blood cells and thymus gland function. Furthermore, these hormones decrease the body's first line of immune defense, namely secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which resides mostly in the mucus membranes like the nasal passage, mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Neurologically, stress can affect the two main pathways of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Simply put, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is stimulated during times of stress giving activation to the fight-or-flight response. The immune system, however, works much better under the influence on the other pathway of the ANS, called the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS is activated during times of sleep, meditation, rest, and visualization.

The average American consumes over 125 grams of sucrose (table sugar) and another 50 grams of refined simple sugars each day. This is significant because it only takes 100 grams of a simple carbohydrate (in the form of glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey, or orange juice) to drastically reduce the activity of white blood cells (WBCs). White blood cells are the centerpiece to the body's defense mechanism and in just 30 minutes after consumption of 100 grams of simple carbohydrate there is a 50% reduction in the ability of the WBCs to destroy and engulf foreign particles and microorganisms.and this lasts for over 5 hours!^2-4

Alcohol consumption has been shown in human studies to considerably slow the mobilization rate of WBCs to the areas of infection.⁵ And like sugar, the more alcohol that is consumed, the greater the negative effect there is to the immune system. There is no wonder why many Americans have chronically depressed immune systems with subsequent recurring infections.

Individuals who are overweight have a decreased ability to destroy microorganisms.^6-7 There may be various reasons for this, but one likely explanation may be the extra stress that is put on the body with excess fat accumulation. As we observed in the section above on stress, imbalanced adrenal hormones can have a detrimental effect on the immune system. Also, people who are overweight tend to have increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides which can have an adverse effect on the ability of the WBCs to destroy infectious pathogens.

Unequivocally, nutrient insufficiency is the most common cause for the body to have a depressed immunity and become a susceptible host that falls prey to an opportunistic infectious agent. Much of the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is calorie rich (from sugar and fat) and nutrient poor. Traditionally, studies related to nutritional status were examined as very black or white, i.e. an individual either had severe malnutrition or was healthy. In reality, most people are in a various shade of gray. Research is now indicating that even marginal nutrient deficiencies can severely impair immunity, moreover, just a single subclinical nutrient deficiency can have a major impact on health. For example, populations of children with marginal vitamin A status have a greater mortality and morbidity compared to populations given vitamin A supplements.⁸ The pervasive problem of marginal nutrient deficiency in America (especially among the elderly population) that is leading to weakened immunity can be resolved with simple and relatively inexpensive nutritional supplementation.

There many great formulas out today that address the basic nutrients necessary to have an optimally functioning immune system. Cold Resistance™ provides a broad spectrum of well documented nutrients and herbs that help strengthen the body's defense system by supporting the interlocking components of the immune system -- mucous membranes, cell-mediated immunity, humoral immunity, antioxidant defense, stress response, and the respiratory system. Oregacillin is a well researched wild oregano and spice extract for boosting immunity and supporting respiratory health. Research shows that spice extracts kill germs, including bacteria, molds, yeasts, and fungi. MaitakeGold 404 helps maintain peak Natural Killer cell function, support enhanced cytokine production, and promote optimal T-Cell and macrophage activity.