Glutathione - How Does it Boost My Immune System?

Did you know that glutathione has an effect on your immune system? This means that the amount of glutathione you have in your cells has a direct bearing on whether or not you catch a virus and get sick or not. How would you like to get sick less often than you do now? Who wouldn't, you say?

Our human immune system is very complex, and goes beyond the scope of this page. However, there is new research coming out that demonstrates for a fact that glutathione is one of the most powerful supplements to boost or optimize this powerful system. I am happy to share that research with you. It is important to understand the difference between our innate immune system, which we are born with, and our adaptive immune system, which in turn involves acquired immunity, which prepares your body to deal with future challenges.

In published medical studies, glutathione has been shown to boost the adaptive system by promoting the multiplication or monoclonal expansion of white blood cells, particularly T-cells, which are responsible for fighting infections as you are exposed to them. White blood cells absolutely depend on the availability of glutathione to replicate. So, it is very important to boost or raise your glutathione levels in order to stay healthy and ward off illness. Glutathione is an optimizer, so if your are immunodeficient, your immune system will get stronger. However, if you have an auto-immune disorder, glutathione will re-balance it. It "knows" what to do, and gets busy doing it.

The system that protects our immunity is very complex, and requires very precise interaction and raw materials to do its job well. We can do our part to keep ours strong by eating well, resting, exercising, and boosting our immunity through raised and sustained glutathione levels. Glutathione has properly been referred to as "food for your immune system".

There are a number of studies done using a special glutathione enhancer named Immunocal, which you will learn more about in the last article in this series. But for now, you can click on the link at the bottom of the article to view this information for yourself. There you can see some of the published studies that have been done using this supplement and its effect on the human immune system.

Note what some recognized medical professionals are now saying about glutathione and its effect on the immune system based on this published research:

Dr. James Balch:

• Graduated with honors from the University of Indiana School of Medicine.
• Spent over 30 years as a urologist in private practice before devoting his career to nutritional healing.
• Member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, and board certified by the American Board of Urology.
• Is recognized as a prominent authority on nutrient healing.
• Is author of several books including the best seller, Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

"It's my opinion that everyone should be taking Immunocal. Today, there's no better way to boost your immune system. "

Dr. Wulf Droge:

• A world renowned research scientist and Senior Vice-President, Research & Development, Immunotec Inc.
• Has over 250 publications and is internationally known in the field of redox physiology and aging research.
• Has over 40 years of active experience in basic and clinical research.
• For almost 30 years he served as professor of immunology and cell biology at the University of Heidelberg and head of the Department of Immunochemistry at the National Cancer Research Center of Germany.
• Was the first to describe the effect of glutathione on the immune response.

"Many studies of my laboratory at the German Cancer Research Center support the conclusion that Immunocal is effective in maintaining a strong immune system . . . Through its special structural properties, Immunocal overcomes a cellular deficiency that is most commonly seen in old age ... This deficiency affects most notably the cells of the immune system and is associated with an increased incidence of infections. Elderly people are therefore the first to feel the benefits if regularly consuming Immunocal . . . young people are well advised to also consume Immunocal regularly. It is good advice to be prepared at all times."

Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD, FACEP:

• Author of several best selling books on glutathione.
• Former professor at McGill University Medical school
• Original specialty was emergency medicine
• Currently practices family medicine and appears on numerous TV and radio shows discussing the role of glutathione in health and disease.

Note his comments taken from his latest bestseller,"Glutathione - Your Key to Health":

"The immune system uses various cells to fight off infection and other threats and the healthy growth and activity of these cells depends upon the availability of glutathione (GSH)...Glutathione is at the heart of all immune functions and low GSH levels are seen in many diseases, especially AIDS which is characterized by a severely compromised immune system. Raising and maintaining GSH levels can minimize the risk of these diseases...Without question, the best type of preventive medicine is an optimized immune system and a critical strategy to optimize it is by feeding it GSH."

These immune system research studies and resulting comments by medical professionals have formed the basis for Immunocal to make the claim that it is the only dietary supplement scientifically proven to consistently raise glutathione levels and thereby enhance the human immune system. Immunocal works by giving your body the building blocks you need to make it in your cells, which you will learn more about in Article 6 of this series. You can't just take a glutathione pill!

Watch for my next article that will answer the question "How does glutathione detoxify poisons from my body?"
Copyright 2009 Immune Health Solutions: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

Laura McCallum is a teacher, community volunteer, and owner of Immune Health Solutions, a wellness health consulting company. She regularly consults with medical professionals, and enjoys publishing the latest information about your immune system and glutathione. She believes in giving her readers the information they need to optimize their immune system and wellbeing. For more information, please visit immune system research for free online access to published medical studies about glutathione and your immune system!

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Massage Therapy and Boosting Your Immune System

You probably know that massage therapy can help to relax your muscles, improve your sleep, and even reduce your stress levels, but did you know that it can also help to boost your immune system? It's true! In fact, stress and the effect it has on your immune system is a big reason why massage therapy can be so beneficial for helping you fight off colds and the flu. But that's not the only way massage helps boost your immunity; massage will certainly help lower stress-causing hormones like cortisol and increase 'feel good' hormones like serotonin, but it does even more than that.

Have you ever wondered why some people get sick more often than others? And then there are those people out there who never get sick! What's going on with them? Well, it could be that they handle stress better than others, and that may be because genetically their bodies naturally produce more 'good' immune system fighters, and have a better ability to decrease the 'bad' guys who can cause all that pain and discomfort. Alas, we're not all built that way: some of us need a little extra help.

Clinical studies have shown that massage therapy on a regular basis can actually affect your levels of naturally occurring antibodies, increasing their levels to help fight off bacteria and viruses (that's right, get a massage and you can skip your blueberry-banana-wheat-grass-protein-smoothie for once!). Not only that, but regular massage will help reduce your body's production of cytokines, which encourage inflammation and pain throughout your body.

Furthermore, massage therapy helps to improve your blood's circulation and lymph drainage, two systems that help to flush out those nasty little invaders that can hamper your immunity. Note, however, that it's not good to get a massage once the bad guys have gained control and you're feeling sick! Once their numbers are high enough, increased circulation can help them get around your body faster and wreak more havoc. If you've already come down with something, wait at least 3 to 5 days until your symptoms have dissipated before resuming your massage therapy sessions.

If you work really hard you deserve to relax. Even better, taking the time to get regular massage therapy from a registered massage therapist can help keep you from having to take sick days off and miss all that hard work you love to do! It's hard to lead a stressful life when a weakened immune system gets in the way. So get proactive and get a massage today!

For more info, visit us at: http://yellowgazeboclinic.com/services/registered-massage-therapy/.

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Your Immune System Is the Best Defense Against Dis-Ease

The immune system is built to protect you against dis-order and dis-ease. Yet, we put so much pressure on it to work properly that we do not think about what are we doing to support it or not support it? We often work against the immune system by the foods we eat and the unhealthy habits we have learned. Yet, what would you do if your immune system no longer worked?

Your body cannot heal from anything if you shut down your immune system. If you do not allow your body to heal itself from the cycle of dis-ease that can attack, you leave the immune system weak and it cannot defend you against the onslaught of toxicity. Toxins build up in the body when we eat and indulge in unhealthy habits. the body cannot throw off the toxins quick enough and as a result dis-ease and dis-order sets into the body.

One of the best ways to boost your immunity is to eat and drink fresh organic fruits and vegetables. The vital minerals and vitamins we get from these foods actually aid the biochemical processes that take place in the body so the body can function properly. Without certain nutrients, these same processes will malfunction causing disruption in other body systems. This system is no different and is not an exception to this process. Vitamins and minerals aid the immune system in its defense against certain bacteria and viruses. When your immunity is strong, you can fight off many dis-eases and disorders such as Aids, Heart Disease and even Cancer.

It has been scientifically proven through clinical studies that when we consume fresh organic plant based whole foods versus processed foods, our cells in the immune system that fight viruses and bacteria are able to do their job effectively. Our immune system will kill these invaders as they are supposed to no matter what system they try to invade. As a matter of fact, our immunity kills bacteria in the body faster and more completely than antibiotics! Our defenses also, seeks out and destroys viruses and keeps them from replicating when the immunity is strong. The body is perfect and can heal itself. When we give the body natural herbal remedies and whole food nutrition healing is remarkable. We must remember that, we are not just flesh and bones, just like the earth is not just a rock in space.

To find out more about immunity and how to strengthen this most vital body system visit our blog http://trinitynaturalherbalremedies.blogspot.com/. Also, Ask The Herbalist on Fiverr http://fiverr.com/olarayf5r/help-you-lose-weight-and-improve-your-health and I will be more than happy to assist you toward your good health!

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