Immune System | A Metabolic Plan

Nov

12

This year more than ever, talk of the flu season is in the news. What with both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 or swine flu, what’s a person to do?

Let put some of this in perspective. While there is a huge push for people to get both flu shots, statistics say that the seasonal flu shot is not terribly effective. Instead, build up your immune system so if you do get the flu, it will be minor.

Here are some of the suggestions I have read by doctors.

Wash your hands regularly – carry some Purcell or disinfectant wipes and use them regularly.
Vitamin C 1000mg – 2-3 times/day.
Vitamin D 1000 IU 2 times daily for children and up to 4000 IU for adults. Research has shown that it reduces serious bouts of flu.
At the first signs of flu-like symptoms, there is a natural flu medicine Oscilloccinum that is effective – You can read about it here http://www.oscillo.com/ (there’s even a coupon) and can be purchased at health food stores as well as WalMart.
There are excellent immune enhancing products. Look for ones containing Wellmune WG beta glucan.
Get plenty of rest.

With these tips, you will have a good chance of staying healthy through this coming flu season. Oh and don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

No Comments

Oct

12

7-Keto DHEA vs DHEA

Filed under: DHEA, Immune System; Tagged as: 7 Keto, 7-Keto DHEA, Adrenal Glands, Bone Mass, DHEA, fat loss, Hormone Levels, Immune System Functions, Libido Dhea, Liver Enzymes, Memory Loss, Metabolic Rate, Sex Hormone, White Blood Cells

If you’ve been doing research on DHEA, you’ve probably also heard of 7-Keto DHEA. But what is the difference and which one is the right one for you?

7-Keto DHEA is a biologically active metabolite of DHEA that promotes better health and energy without the potential side effects of increased amounts of hormones. 7-Keto DHEA boosts the immune system by increasing the production of certain types of white blood cells; it increases energy and metabolism by activating enzymes in the liver that boost the rate of thermogensis (the process by which fat is burned).

7-Keto has all the non-hormonal effects of DHEA, and may even be more potent in this regard. However 7-Keto will not have some of the effects that DHEA has such as improved libido.

DHEA is the most plentiful hormone in the human body, but its production declines with age. As the levels of DHEA decrease, so does this important metabolite, 7-KETO. The levels of DHEA and its numerous derivatives, manufactured in the adrenal glands, begin to decline after the age of 30 with about a 50% decline by the age of 40 and about 85% decline by the age of 70. As these hormone levels decline during the aging process, there are some detrimental physiological and anatomical effects which occur as a result. These include a reduction in protein biosynthesis which lead to a loss in muscle mass, and reduction in bone tissue regeneration which causes a loss of bone mass (a risk factor for osteoporosis). Other effects include the decline in the metabolic rate which causes an increase in fat accumulation, a decline in various immune system functions, and an increased rate of memory loss.

One of the effects n of 7-KETO in a double blind, placebo controlled human, clinical trial was the stimulation of liver enzymes, which increase heat production using fat as the primary source of energy. Naturally, this resulted in the reduction of adipose fat tissue when combined with exercise. Other clinical studies in humans indicated 7-KETO improved immunity and also memory-related functions. In all cases, 7-KETO was demonstrated to be substantially more effective than DHEA without the sex hormone related, side effects.

The safety evaluation of 7-KETO has been done through observations from an extensive number of pre-clinical and clinical safety studies in both humans and animal subjects. In all cases, 7-KETO was consistently found to be safe for human consumption as a dietary supplement.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

2 Comments

Jun

27

This is the second in a series of posts about what blood tests you need on a yearly basis and what they tell you.

2. Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen levels increase with tissue inflammation. Increased fibrinogen levels can help predict the risk of heart disease and stroke as well as other inflammatory diseases. Obviously with knowledge of increased fibrinogen levels, lifestyle changes become important—such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and becoming more physically active—as well as adding nutritionals such as fish oil, niacin, folic acid and vitamins A and C, which may lower fibrinogen levels.

3. DHEA

DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. In your twenties, levels of DHEA peak and then decline with age, decreasing to 20-30% of peak levels between the ages of 70 and 80. DHEA is frequently referred to as an “anti-aging” hormone. However DHEA is extremely important as we age as healthy levels may support immune function, bone mineral density, mood, libido, reduces abdominal fat, protects the brain following nerve injury, and helps prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Research also suggests that DHEA may help with depression and clinical trials are evaluating DHEA’s role in memory and Alzheimer’s.

4.Estradiol

In non-pregnant women, estradiol is the most commonly measured type of estrogen. Estradiol levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and drop after menopause to a consistent but lower level . Women with increased levels of estradiol may be at a higher risk for breast or endometrial cancer. Very low levels may indicate a higher risk for bone fractures. In fact, in men with osteoporosis, research has shown a correlation with a low estradiol levels. Men do produce smaller amounts of estradiol than women but it is not only an indicator of increased incidence of osteoporosis but is tied to pituitary functions. Also men with low estradiol levels and low levels of testosterone may experience low sex drive and difficulty with urination.

Significant positive correlations were found between estradiol levels and levels of total cholesterol.

Supplements such as DHEA, pregnenolone, soy, black cohosh, and pomegranate as well as bioidentical estrogens may be helpful in maintaining healthy estradiol levels.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

No Comments

Jun

10

Aloe Vera is known primarily for its topical benefits on a scrape or burn. However, it is actually enormously beneficial when ingested. It’s like moisturizing your body from the inside out. Used on a daily basis, Aloe can help reduce the damage which occurs in the gastrointestinal system much like it helps heal a skin lesion.

How many people do you know who complain of heartburn, gas, acid indigestion, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea, to name a few? All of these ailments are related to the GI tract. Many things such as medication (antibiotics for example), affect the health of the GI tract and its ability to function properly by fighting off harmful bacteria and eliminating waste. When the gastrointestinal tract is damaged or stressed it effects the entire body.

For years people who consumed Aloe have testified to the its healing qualities and now there is more and more scientific research that supports those claims. Aloe has been added to hand and body lotion to help add moisture and heal the skin which is “epithelial tissue”. The GI tract is also lined with epithelial tissue and therefore aloe also heals and keeps it supple. Just like the skin, when the GI tract is dry and “cracked” it’s susceptible to infection.

Aloe is reported to aid in

digestion
blood-sugar regulation and cleansing
detoxification
healing by stimulating cell replication
reducing inflammation in joint and muscle tissue associated with arthritis
strengthening the immune system

Even consuming aloe daily may require several weeks to notice significant improvement and any continuing gastrointestinal issue should be addressed by a doctor.

There are many Aloe products on the market. Before selecting one, check to be sure it’s bioactive and that it has a good ratio of aloe to water. Univera’s Aloe Gold®* has 200 parts aloe to 1 part water. For added defense, active botanical compounds – Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and green tea extract are added to help support the growth of beneficial intestinal flora. Most aloe on the market has been heat processed thereby destroying the polysaccharides and therefore many of the benefits. Also much of the value of aloe is lost in about 6 hours after it is harvested. This aloe is processed near the fields in order to capture those active elements.

*Aloe Gold® with ACTIValoe® from the Aloe inner gel fillet is the only Aloe Vera product with guaranteed purity, potency, and biological activity.

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

No Comments

Apr

29

The big buzz for this week is the swine flu. It’s of concern and it should be. We’re living in a global society and germs are easily transmitted around the world in a very short time. I’ve heard scientists say that while the leading causes of death today are heart attack, cancer, etc., the leading cause in the coming years will be epidemics.
So what can we do about this? Well, just as there are things we can do to lower our risk of heart attacks and cancer, so there are things we can do to improve our immune system to better fight off the germs that can spread so rapidly and cause so much sickness.
Many of the things are the same – like eating right, getting adequate sleep and exercise. But what else can you do? I truly believe that our diet is at the core of our health but I also know that the nutritional value we receive from our foods is not what it used to be for various reasons. So we turn to natural supplements to boost our immune system in times of stress, when it is compromised and needs extra help.

The Vitamin C Booster

Vitamin C has also long been viewed as an immune system booster. For example, vitamin C has been shown to boost antimicrobial and natural killer cell activities and to increase the production of white blood cells. Vitamin C protects cells during the inflammatory response our body has from the attack of foreign invaders.

In fact, Vitamin C is essential for proper immune function. Because the human body cannot manufacture Vitamin C, we are dependent on dietary intake to provide adequate amounts of this essential nutrient. Vitamin C concentrations decline rapidly in blood plasma and white blood cells during infections, suggesting that illness increases one’s need for this nutrient.

Immune-Boosting Power of Beta-Glucan
There many studies showing that Beta-Glucan, a polysaccharide (which is a relatively complex carbohydrate), can be a biological response modifier (BRM) because of its ability to activate the immune system. Beta-glucans improve the body’s immune system defense against foreign invaders by enhancing the ability of our natural killer cells to respond to and fight a wide range of challenges such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The studies have included issues such as wound healing, infection prevention, arthritis, radiation exposure and even cancer treatment. Studies in Japan have been very encouraging with regard to cancer patients and radiation exposure.

There is a company, who has developed a product (Wellmune WGP®) which includes beta-glucans. They gave it to fire-fighters in Montana a couple of years ago. Obviously, these people are subjected to extreme amounts of toxins from the heavy smoke and fire. What they found is that those who were taking the product with the Beta-Glucans had fewer respiratory issues and illnesses than those without the added boost to their immune system.

Univera has developed a new product to enhance their line of immune products called ImmunoBurst™. It not only contains Wellmune ® but several other ingredients which enhance the immune system – check it out at www.metabolicplan.com.

These supplements are a great addition for people but they don’t replace a healthy lifestyle. What are you doing to improve your health?

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

No Comments

7 Ways to Build Your Body’s Defenses Against the Flu

7-Keto DHEA vs DHEA

Confused About What Your Blood Chemistry is Telling You? part 2

4.Estradiol

Nourish Your Body with Aloe

Is Your Immune System Up to Snuff?

Links

FREE ENERGY REPORT!

Recent Posts