How To Keep Healthy Through the Winter Months

Note:  This information was obtained during a presentation given by Kathy Twardy from Harmony Foods in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on January, 23, 2013.  The presentation was given to a group entitled the Lake Superior Elders and was held at the Cisler Center at Lake Superior State University.  If you are at least 50 years of age and would like to learn about a lot of useful and interesting topics join the Lake Superior Elders.  You can do so by contacting Sandy Hope at 906-635-2802.

How to Keep Healthy Through the Winter Months

Boosting the Immune System

What is the Immune System? The immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease. To function properly, an immune system must detect a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and distinguish them from the organism’s own healthy tissue. Most of the cells involved within the immune system are white blood cells.

What is an Antioxidant?  An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. When a molecule is oxidized, it transfers the hydrogen or electron to an oxidizing agent making it more powerful. These are more powerful oxidizing agents which cause a reaction forming free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When the chain occurs in the cell, it can cause damage or death to the cell. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions.

Examples of Powerful Antioxidants:

·         Mushrooms

·         Onions

·         Garlic

·         Ginger

·         Kale, spinach, leafy greens, citrus fruit

Other Ways to Boost Immunity:

·         Vitamin D-3 5000 to 10,000 i.u. daily

·         Vitamin C 1000 to 2000 mg daily

·         Astragalus Root

·         Mushroom complexes like an Immune Renew

·         Exercise, fresh air, proper nutrition, sleep, and adequate fluid intake

For Colds and Illnesses:

·         Under the Weather

·         Echinacea and Goldenseal drops

·         Teas

Sugar Lowers Immunity.  In overdose of sugar. Eating or drinking 100 g or 8 tablespoons of sugar, the equivalent of up to and a half 12 cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40%. The immune suppressing effect of sugar starts less than 30 minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system.(Dr. Sears)

I had always learned that 14 g of sugar lowered immune system for up to four hours. The reason this happens is due to sugar being a toxin. Toxins must be handled by the immune system for detoxification. When the immune system is busy detoxifying the sugar, pathogens have an opportunity to invade and multiply.

The Flu Shot Lowers Overall Immunity:

·         There is absolutely no evidence that the flu shot protects against the flu. It simply may protect against one or two different strains, and there are simply 100 different strains.

·         All multidose fascinations contain mercury and aluminum as preservatives. Multidose vaccinations are usually given in flu clinic setting, as they are most cost-effective. The aluminum associated with the flu shot can be one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease.

·         Since the flu contains these and other harmful chemicals they are considered a toxin. This is one of the reasons that persons who get the flu shot can be at risk for more colds and infections.