As with any
disease, there are risk factors associated with autoimmunity, as well as
triggers of the development of an autoimmune disease.
The risk factors
for autoimmunity
Women are more
susceptible to autoimmunity than men are. Autoimmune disease strikes women more
than it strikes men, particularly women of working age and during their
child-bearing years.
The genes of
parents who have developed an autoimmune disease may increase the risk factor for
autoimmunity.
Viruses, due to a
weakened or compromised immune system, may also contribute to the development
of an autoimmune disease.
The autoimmunity
triggers
The No.1
autoimmunity trigger is stress. Emotional stress, mental stress, and physical
stress may trigger autoimmunity, in particular when the immune system is weak.
Other autoimmunity
triggers may include behavior and wayward lifestyle, such as alcohol addiction
and nicotine consumption.
How to enhance the immune system?
Scientists have
discovered that the healthy functioning of the immune system is dependent on
your own behavior. In other words, the efficiency of your immune system depends
on how well you live. More specifically, foods, herbs, and lifestyle factors
all play a pivotal part in the health of your immune system. Therefore, only
YOU can enhance immune system because only YOU are responsible for your own
health.
We are living in a
culture that relies on external means for healing, such as the use of pills,
potions, and surgeries. What is missing in the Western medical system is the
philosophy that the body is capable of protecting itself against any illness,
as well as healing itself of the illness, and that the role of the physician is
to promote the self-healing process of the patient to re-establish health and
wellness. Without this missing link, the immune system becomes compromised and
vulnerable.
The criteria for a
strong immune system
A strong immune
system must have the following:
Effective communication between the immune cells (they
fight against foreign invaders)
Increased production of immune cells
Reduced production of free radicals
(damaging oxidation produced in the natural process of growth and rejuvenation
of human cells)
Optimum environment for blood and
tissues where immune cells work
The immune system
diet
In addition to
taking immune system vitamins to boost immune system, you need to use diet,
such as a natural thyroid diet, to protect your immune system.
Eat fresh, organic
fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts daily.
Eat natural foods.
Cooking, food processing, and freezing destroy some of the health-promoting
nutrients in your foods.
Eat phytonutrients,
which are plant nutrients. They include carotenoids, flavonoids, and
phytosterols, among others.
Carotenoids
Dark green, yellow,
red, and orange vegetables and fruits are rich in carotenoids. They are potent
antioxidants against free radicals, and they include the following: bilberries,
blueberries, broccoli, carrots, citrus fruits, ginkgo biloba, grapes, green
tea, onions, peppers, and tangerines.
Pytosterols
Phytosterols are
plant fats (just like animal fats). Plant fats inhibit the secretion of
inflammatory cytokines (pain-causing agents), and are therefore effective in
controlling rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most debilitating and
difficult-to-treat diseases today.
Foods rich in
phytosterols include the following: almonds, cashews, sesame seeds, sunflower
seeds, barley, peas, and soybeans.
Vitamin A to prevent thymus shrinkage
(5,000 IU daily dosage)
Vitamin B6 to maintain hormone levels
and to prevent thymus shrinkage (50 mg daily dosage)
Vitamin C to regulate T-cell (white
blood thymus cells) function (at least 1,000 mg daily dosage or up to bowel
tolerance)
Vitamin E to increase infection
resistance (400 0800 IU daily dosage)
Selenium to increase T-cell activity
and antibody production for detoxification (100 mcg daily dosage)
Zinc to boost your thymus for maturing
T-cells to fight invaders (15 mg daily dosage)
Coenzyme Q10 to increase energy
production for cells’ activities
L-glutathione to regenerate immune
cells in the immune system (200 mg daily dosage)
Magnesium to increase enzymatic
reactions (100 mg daily dosage)
DHEA to control cortisol, the stress
hormone (5 mg daily dosage)
The immune system
herbs
Your body is a
self-cleaning mechanism, which uses your liver, kidneys, urine, feces, breath,
and sweat to detoxify your body of toxins. Herbs can provide you with safe,
natural, time-tested methods to improve the natural functions of your body to
support and boost the immune system.
Some of the most
immune system herbs include: black walnut, cascara sagrada, cayenne, dandelion,
echinacea, fennel seed, Indian rhubarb root, licorice root, milk thistle,
psyllium husk, red clover, slipper elm inner bark, and yarrow.
Use some of these
herbs to boost immune system, and they are obtainable on the Internet.
Relaxation
Stress is not only
one of the most contributing factors to but also a major trigger of an
autoimmune disease in a compromised and weakened immune system. Therefore,
relaxation is an important immune system booster because it de-stresses you.
But living a life of relaxation is not easy. Relaxation has to do with having a
holistic, practical, and honest approach to life, involving the physical body,
the mind, and the soul. Relaxation is not about taking a holiday, going
fishing, watching a movie, or reading a book; relaxation is about living -- how
to live your life without stress. Relaxation is an integral part of life,
without which there is no stress relief. Relaxation is about learning how to
deal with life natural flow, and how to go along with it -- that is, going
around life problems, instead of avoiding them or confronting them head on.
Relaxation is about spontaneity of living.
Learn how to use Tao wisdom, the ancient human wisdom from China, to relax your mind, thereby instrumental in relaxing your body as well.
Learn how to use
meditation healing to cope with everyday stress to relax both the body and the
mind.
Conquering stress
helps you get back your life by overcoming stress, depression, and anxiety,
without the use of drugs and medications. These ailments and disorders are
commonly associated with aging and autoimmune diseases.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
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