Immune Support
Frequently Asked Questions…
What is the Immune System?
The immune system protects the body by helping it to ward-off and recover from various attacks. While stress reduction and regular exercise are known to assist in strengthening the immune system, the types of food consumed make the largest contribution to a healthy immune system. Eating a well-balanced diet including a variety of healthful foods will profoundly boost this system’s effectiveness.*
The chief destructive force that the immune system has to contend with is free radicals. Free radicals damage healthy cells by causing cell alterations (mutations) that can lead to serious illnesses. However, certain substances present in food can destroy free radicals – substances known as antioxidants.*
Immune Defense
One of the strongest antioxidants is Vitamin C, which helps boost and strengthen the immune system. Good sources of Vitamin C are citrus fruits, green peppers, cantaloupes and broccoli. Another important antioxidant is Vitamin E, which helps to slow down the symptoms of aging and strengthen the body’s infection-fighting cells. Good food sources are whole grain foods and vegetable oils.*
Carotenoids are antioxidants that help to strengthen the immune system by producing lymphocytes – the infection-fighting cells. The best sources for carotenoids are in leafy green foods and the red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, cantaloupes, pumpkin. The four important carotenoids are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.*
Strength from Minerals
The immune system also gains strength from minerals to help synthesize the proteins that make up the body’s cells. Important minerals include:
- Zinc – Helps increase the number of infection-fighting lymphocytes. Dietary sources of zinc are whole grains and cooked oysters.*
- Iron – Helps strengthen overall immunity. Meats, dried beans and tofu are good sources of iron.*
- Selenium – Helps increase the number of antibodies and encourages growth of immune cells. Food sources are fish, grains and nuts.*
Additionally, a diet low in fat is also very important for a strong immune system because excess fat hampers the body’s ability to fight off bacteria and free radicals – so whenever possible, seeking out low fat and low calorie meal substitutions is advisable in supporting optimum immune health and function.*
When Diet Isn’t Enough
Let’s face it… few of us eat the perfect diet to support optimum immune health – so when diet isn’t enough, a quality nutritional supplement containing potent herbs and botanicals can provide a powerful foundation for optimum immune support.*