Boosting the Immune System
By: Dick McDaniel

Viruses, instead of hiding in a bedroom in a children's game of "Hide and Seek", hide within a cell to begin the process of multiplication. Unless our Healthy Immune System "knows" the virus is within a given cell, it is completely hidden and the Immune System can't do anything. However, a healthy body has certain substances on the cell surface which act like a "Tattle Tale" just as our little sister did in our game of "Hide and Seek."

COMMUNICATING WITH FOOD

Until about 10 years ago, science believed the communication system of the individual cells were proteins. However, it is now understood that carbohydrates form the communication system of the body at the cellular level. Furthermore, it has been discovered that these "Essential" carbo-hydrates are contained in FOOD - if we eat the right foods. Unfortunately, because of modern agriculture, food processing, distribution systems, economics and changing taste preferences, we no longer get the basic nutrition required to properly support this communication system.

Therefore, if we are to supply our body with the nutrients necessary to build our Immune Function, we must supplement our diet. Products which supply this need are referred to as "Glyconutrients." It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we are obtaining ALL Essential glyconutrients if we are to satisfy this need.

IMMUNE MODULATOR

In addition, it has been discovered that these same glyconutrients strengthen your Immune System's Natural Killer Cell activity--the body's first line of defense- which has been declining at an alarming rate in recent years. These carbohydrates also are the substances which enhance Enzyme activity which in turn enhance mineral utilization which enables the body to utilize it's vitamins. In fact, it has been discovered that when ALL of the essential carbohydrates are present at the same time, they serve as an Immune System Modulator-the first ever discovered!

This means that instead of having either a Weak Immune System or an Overactive Immune System, we actually have an Impaired Immune System! This is indicated by the fact that some-one may have a Common Cold, which is associated with a Weak Immune System, and at the same time have Asthma, which is considered an Auto-Immune Disorder. Auto-Immune Disorders are thought to be the result of an Overactive Immune System attacking healthy body tissue! An Immune System Modulator is capable of assisting the body to address both conditions at the same time. It's somewhat analogous to our car's Cruise Control System. If we're going downhill, the Cruise Control will reduce throttle as the Immune System should do for an Auto Immune Disorder. If we're going uphill, the Cruise Control will increase throttle as the Immune System should do to cope with a disease pathogen.

Our Immune System is not a single entity. It's made up of many elements. If our body is successful in winning the battle with any given disease, in most, if not all cases, each of the various elements of the Immune System will be raised or lowered. This is analogous to what a skilled pianist does when sitting down at the keyboard. As different keys on the piano are pressed and released in proper sequence at appropriate intervals, music is made. However, if the pianist takes the flat of his hand and strikes the keyboard, everyone is stimulated. We call that "noise." Immune System stimulants work entirely different than does an Immune Modulator. Stimulants increase the activity of all elements of the Immune System. Immune Modulators enable the body to increase or decrease the activity of each element of the Immune System as appropriate to the body's needs in any given situation.

ENERGY RELEASE

Like a good ship or aircraft, our body is designed with "Back-Up Systems" to protect itself. One of those Back- up Systems is the ability to manufacture those substances missing in our diet which are essential for communications at the cellular level. However, to do this, many enzymatic conversions are necessary which takes both time and energy. Some people's natural systems are such that the ability to make all of these enzymatic conversions is compromised. Therefore, they will experience those symptoms associated with a deficiency of whatever is lacking in their body.

Some people, because of long hours, stress or health problems, may have abnormally low energy levels. Their ability to make the necessary enzymatic conversions will then either be compromised or they'll have little energy to use for anything but just sustaining life. Therefore, when they supply their body with those nutrients which contain the Essential Carbohydrates, their body no longer has to use its energy to manufacture it's missing "parts." The energy which was previously being used for that process is now available for other purposes. These people often experience a heightened sense of energy and well being.

PHYTOCHEMICALS

Another class of nutrients with specific benefit to boost your Immune System, unknown to science until the early 1990's, are "phytochemicals," (also known as phytonutrients) Unlike the chemicals most people are concerned about because of their toxic effects upon life, phytochemicals are the "good guys."

Phytochemicals are not vitamins or minerals. They are naturally occurring plant substances which provide essential nutrition to the human body. There are literally thousands of them. Because the science is still "new", most of them don't have names and are not yet understood. However, those that have been researched have proven to possess powerful benefits to improve the Immune System that other substances do not supply. (There's a reason why we should eat our fruits and vegetables.)

The phytochemical content of fruits and vegetables peaks at maturity-that's when the seed is mature and the tree, vine or plant can reproduce itself. Fruits picked green and allowed to ripen on your kitchen counter, although they may appear "ripe" and taste "better" than the green fruit, have NO phytonutrient content! In other words, if you are eating your fruits and vegetables and they were not field ripened, you are getting very little real food value. Your body is starving.

Because our modern distribution system depends upon the "appearance" of fresh produce to sell, most fruits and vegetables are picked green-even though they may still have a little bit of vine attached-and the ripening process occurs either in transit or after you've purchased them. Therefore if you are to receive the benefit of the many phytonutrients for strengthening your immune system, you either have to find a source of vine or tree ripened fruits and vegetables or use phytochemical supplements (immune system supplement).

Unfortunately, all phytochemical supplements are not the same. Some products are produced by using only the pulp after the produce has been "juiced" (there is a good market for fruit and vegetable juices, the pulp is used for animal feed). Independent testing indicates that the phytochemical content still varies widely from one product to another as some producers will dilute or adulterate their supplements to enhance their profits. You should seek a product which was prepared from the entire fruit or vegetable by using both the juice and the pulp. To do this a producer will first purchase produce too ripe to sell into the normal markets, then have the produce shredded and flash-freeze dried. This is currently the best technology for preserving the nutritional content of the produce.

Your Immune System is vital to your good health so you'll want to maintain a healthy immune system. As you age Immune function declines. However it also has an "intelligence" in that it "remembers" what it did to overcome a previous problem so even though it may be weaker, it is now smarter. However if a disease pathogen is allowed to multiply without detection by the Immune System (due to a weak immune system), it may become so strong that nothing you can do to build your immune system up will be enough to overcome the disease. The results are usually fatal as Michael Landon found out. Therefore take care of it now and it will take care of you. Take your phytochemical and glyconutritional immune system supplement daily to help ensure optimal health and boost your immune system.