The Terrible Trio That Assault the Immune System

1. Poor Nutrition
 

FACT: All forms of sugar (including honey) interfere with the ability of white blood cells to destroy bacteria. A report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that within thirty minutes of consuming four ounces of glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey or fruit juice, a 50% reduction in the ability of white blood cells to destroy foreign invaders occurs and can last for over five hours.

The average American ingests 150 grams of white sugar daily.

FACT: Suppressed immunity can come from even a minor deficiency of iron and selenium, two minerals that significant numbers of Americans are lacking. In addition, vitamin A deficiencies are common in children and can cripple immune functions.

FACT: Excessive fat intake impairs immunity. Elevated cholesterol levels can inhibit a number of immune functions including the ability of white blood cells to attack infectious organisms.

FACT: Obesity has been linked to weakened immune function. Overweight people have debilitated white blood cells.
 
 

2. Pollution
 

FACT: Hundreds of studies using accepted scientific methods have shown that many pesticides alter the immune system in experimental animals and make them more susceptible to disease.

FACT: Pesticides reduce the numbers of white blood cells and disease-fighting lymphocytes, and impair lymphocytes’ ability to respond to and kill bacteria and viruses.

FACT: A recent report published in Environmental Pollution and Neuroimmunology states that the combined influence of various factors such as chemical agents, radiation, and stress on the immune system may lead to immunodeficiency in the form of respiratory and inflammatory diseases.
 
 

3. Stress

FACT: Stress releases biochemicals that suppress immune function, putting us at higher risk for all types of infections.

FACT: How and what we think impacts immunity. New data reports that brain cells make immune chemicals.

FACT: Post-traumatic stress suffered after Hurricane Andrew lowered immune-killer cell counts in test subjects. Any life-changing event brings with it a form of post-traumatic stress, which can make us more susceptible to disease.