A couple Months ago, we discussed the power of the fever to help your body combat infection. In fact, if you take medicine to stop the fever you can be putting yourself at risk for further illness and interrupting one of the most therapeutic aspects of your immune system. We continue our theme of support for the immune system with some important tips on what you can do to protect and even boost your immune system during the flu season.

Why isn't the flu spread out more evenly throughout the year? The answers to these questions are not fully understood, but here are some possibilities:

• People spend more time indoors during the winter months and are in closer contact with each other increasing the possibility of passing on the virus to one another
  
• Cold air is dry and could dehydrate the mucus membranes that line the nasal and respiratory tracts which make it more difficult to expel the viruses
• Holiday season is concurrent with flu season and it can be a stressful time (travelling, visiting with difficult family members, financial strains, cold weather, unhealthy food), causing the stress hormones to go up which can cause the immune system to go down making the body a susceptible host to opportunistic viruses (and bacteria)
• In colder temperatures, viruses may linger longer on exposed surfaces because as was reported recently (published in the Journal Nature Chemical Biology) the influenza viruses coat themselves in fatty material that hardens and protects them in colder temperatures

If a virus lands on a healthy immune system it is killed before it has a chance to multiply and the body might not even develop any symptoms. This includes Novel H1N1 Virus ("Swine Flu"). On the other hand, if a virus lands on a weakened immune system it throws a party and invites all of its friends by injecting its genetic material into the cell, turning it into a virus factory. If you catch colds easily or you get more than one or two colds per year, you have a weakened immune system.

Here are a few key aspects to consider for directly boosting the immune system:

• 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
• Nutrient deficiency is, by far, the most common cause of a weakened immune system (especially in the elderly population)

I somewhat agree with statements in the mainstream media that this is going to be an especially long flu season, but my reason for that is different than conventional thinking. We are coming out the Great Recession, we are involved in at least two wars, and there is a significant amount of global tension. These things coupled with our routine daily stresses and this creates a pretty good formula for chronic stress. And unfortunately, chronic stress leads to immune suppression. With our immune systems weakened we become susceptible hosts to opportunistic bugs like viruses and they are allowed to linger longer in our bodies giving them a chance to replicate so we can share them with our friends and loved ones. So, the more stressed we are the longer the flu season is going to be. Ironically, all the fear and hype about the H1N1 "swine" flu has added to our global stress, possibly having a deleterious effect on our immune systems. 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.

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 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 engulf and destroy foreign particles and microorganisms … and this lasts for over 5 hours!

Nutrient Deficiency

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 particular 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. 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.

The bottom line is that we need consistent support for the immune system during the flu season. In addition to making sure you are doing your part like thoroughly washing your hands (in warm-hot water), making healthy food choices, exercising, resting, and minimizing your stress, check out the following information for nutrient support and maintaining a healthy immune system all season long.

What I Recommend To My Family & Patients

Cold Resistance™ - Cold Resistance is a truly global product. This combination of ingredients stands on the shoulders of time as some of the ingredients in this product have been used traditionally for thousands of years. Furthermore, the efficacy of these ingredients has been proven many times in controlled clinical trials.

Learn More Here About Cold Resistance

MaitakeGold 404® - Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of human use, helping to promote wellness, alertness and vitality. They contain constituents that support immune system function, cardiovascular system function, and metabolism. MaitakeGold 404, for example, has been chosen to be evaluated as a botanical immunomodulator in conjunction with a 5 year study funded by the National Institute for Health (NIH).

Learn More Here About Maitake

NewGreens™ - New Greens is a superfood blend that combines greens, veggies, berries, antioxidants, detox nutrients, healing enzymes, fiber and probiotics all in a single serving. The phytonutrients in this product supply the body with some of nature’s most powerful weapons.

Learn More Here About Green Drinks

SR-Stamina™ - If you are experiencing stress this season, consider taking this product to support the adverse effects of stress on the body. Borrowing from long traditional uses and strong clinical science, SR-Stamina is a blend of herbal adaptogens and other traditional herbs known to decrease symptoms of fatigue, stress, anxiety, neuralgia, depression, and sore muscles. SR-Stamina also contains ingredients known to increase stamina and enhance physical performance.

Learn More Here About SR-Stamina

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References:
1. Ivan V Polozov, Ludmila Bezrukov, Klaus Gawrisch & Joshua Zimmerberg, "Progressive ordering with decreasing temperature of the phospholipids of influenza virus."Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 02 March 2008.doi:10.1038/nchembio.77 2. Murray M, Pizzorno J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, 2nd Ed. Prima Publishing. 3. Renker K, Wegner S. Vitamin C-Prophylaxe in der Volkswertf Stralsund. Deutsche Gesundheitswesen 1954;9:702–6. 4. Klenner FR. The treatment of poliomyelitis and other virus diseases with vitamin C. South Med Surg 1949;111:210–4. 5. Pauling L. Vitamin C, the Common Cold and the Flu. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Company, 1976 [review]. 6. Braunig B, Dorn M, Limburg E, et al. Echinacea purpurea radix for strengthening the immune response in flu-like infections. Z Phytother 1992;13:7–13 [in German]. 7. Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med 1995;1:361–9. 8. Sanchez A, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. Am J Clin Nutr 26 (1973):1180-4. 9. Ringsdorf W, et al. Sucrose, neutrophil phagocytosis, and resistance to disease. Dect Surv 52 (1976):46-8. 10. Bernstein J, et al. Depression of lymphocyte transformation following oral glucose ingestion. Am J Clin Nutr 30 (1977):613. 11. Brayton R. Effect of alcohol and various diseases on leukocyte mobilization, phagocytosis, and intracellular bacterial killing. NEJM 282 (1970):123-8. 12. Nieman DC, et al. Influence of Obesity on Immune Function. J Am Diet Assoc, March, 1999;99(3):294-299. 13. Hannigan, Bernadette M. Diet and Immune Function. British Journal of Biomedical Sciences, 1994;51:252-259.