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Posted on : June 21, 2008
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`Immunity and the Immune System`, `Since the 1930``s the western diet
has dramatically changed.
This change is due to the change in farming
from the natural farming process which has developed over 1000``s
of
years to a modern scientific farming which has changed farming into an
industry.
This food industry is not interested in producing good quality
nutritional food for the nation but food that is
easy to store and cheap
to produce which in tern will maximise profit. This has changed the
western diet to
concise of high sugar, fat and protein which is low in
vital nutrients.</p><p>Not only since the 1930``s has the
western diet
changed but also people``s lifestyles have changed. The over use of
antibiotics, stress at work,
lack of exercise, excessive consumption of
alcohol, smoking, use of recreational drugs, increases in obesity
and
low nutritional status of food all affect the immune system and are
contributing to the increase in
degenerative diseases in western
societies.</p><p>Since the 1930``s over 3500 man made chemicals have
found their way into modern day food, this does not include hormones,
pesticides and antibiotics which are in
foods such as meat and grains.
These chemicals are not only unnatural but stop nutrients being absorbed
and
used which hampers the body``s action to heal itself.</p><p>In the
UK today, 50,000 chemicals are released
into the environment by industry
and 400 million litres of herbicides and pesticides are used. We in the
UK
consume 83 billion cigarettes, 80 million painkillers, 26 billion
alcoholic drinks and a quarter of a million tons
of food chemicals. All
of this adds up to a nation whose immune systems are seriously
compromised.
The immune system is affected for better or for worst by
the food that is consumed. Foods such as meat,
sugar, salt, saturated
fats, alcohol, dairy products and processed foods all have a negative
affect on the
immune system.</p><p>People who consume large amounts of
meat are more likely suffer from cancer in
later life than those who
don``t. Meat is high in saturated fats, hormones, antibiotics,
pesticides and
herbicides. These all compromise the immune
system.</p><p>White sugar has around 90% of its minerals
and vitamins
removed which when consumed makes the metabolism become inefficient,
contributing to
weight problems, poor energy control and unbalanced
blood sugar levels.</p><p>Alcohol abuse severely
compromises the immune
system. Alcoholics suffer from malnutrition due to the reduction of
food,
impaired metabolism leading to weight loss and suffer from
toxicity of the intestines. Alcohol is linked to
cancer, hypertension,
cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Regular heavy
drinking can
lose up to 10 years of your life expectancy by aging the
liver, kidneys, heart and brain. Too much alcohol
depletes the body of
the minerals zinc, calcium, magnesium and also the B
vitamins.?</p><p>Salt
causes high blood pressure, irritates the stomach
and retains fluid.</p><p>Dairy produces especially
milk causes allergies
and intolerances both in adults and children.
Milk is also a risk factor
for diabetes.</p><p>Foods that are good for the immune system are foods
that
are high in antioxidants such as fresh fruit and vegetables
especially broccoli, watercress, carrots and peas.
Eating plenty of
fresh fruit, vegetables and oily fish will boost your immune system.
Research has shown that people who consume large amounts of fruit and
vegetables have less
genetic damage which is one of the precursors to
cancer.</p><p>Consuming fruit and vegetables
such as apples, prunes,
citrus fruits, cabbage and lettuce which are high in flavonoids will
also
boost your immune system. Flavonoids are substances found in plants
that can protect your
body from disease.</p><p>Soy beans are high in
isoflavones which are one of the most potent
anti carcinogens of all.
Soy products are also good at preventing heart disease.</p><p>Oily fish
contains Omega 3 oils which keep arteries healthy, reduces the risk of
blood clots and lowers
cholesterol. Fish high in Omega 3 are salmon,
tuna, mackerel and herring.?</p><p>Including
pre biotic food such as
leeks, Chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, oats and bananas in
your diet will strengthen your gut defence system.</p><p>Your lifestyle
has a huge bearing on
your immune system. Pollution, smoking, work
stress, lack of sleep, being overweight, lack of
exercise and excessive
sunbathing all has a negative effect on your immune
system.</p><p>Pollutants
such as pollen, free radicals, household and
industrial chemicals, lead, CFCs, carbon monoxide,
cigarette smoke,
bacteria, pesticides, chlorine, colourants and aluminium are a fact of
every day life.
These pollutants and toxins have a negative affect on
our bodies. The liver, kidneys, skin and bowel
are responsible for
removing these pollutants and toxins from our bodies. If these organs
are working
below par due to a suppressed immune system then toxins will
remain in our bodies. This will cause
allergies and sensitivities and
weakening the immune system further.</p><p>Stress, repressed anger,
depression and chronic worries depress our immune system by reducing the
ability of immune cells to
form antibodies. It is a well known fact that
when we are stressed we are more likely to get ill. Stress
increases
blood sugar and lipids which contributes to heart disease, infections
and cancer.</p><p>
Being overweight due to lack of exercise and excessive
eating can increase the risk of hypertension
and diabetes by 10%. Sun
bathing uses up anti oxidants and can age the skin up to 10 years.
Too
much exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. Smoking cigarettes uses
up large amounts of
vitamin C and other anti oxidants, this can leave
smokers vulnerable to cancer and heart disease.
Smoking ages the lungs,
skin, circulation, heart and can lead to early menopause and
osteoporosis.?
</p><p>Since the 1930``s both diet and lifestyle has
changed. Although there is an abundance of food,
it tends to be
substandard in nutritional value. The lack of nutrition in our food with
the addition of
stresses of modern day lifestyles is suppressing our
immune systems at a time when we need it most.
This combination has lead
to a rise |
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