The Importance of Your Immune System Part 1

Energy is the currency of life, and your first major purchase must be to support your immune system. Your quality of life depends on your ability to fight disease. The human immune system is a highly evolved, complex, continually changing entity that is constantly challenged by microbes, toxins, and other environmental factors. Since most infectious agents enter the body though the skin or when you inhale or swallow them, your first lines of defense are the non-specific immune system components: your skin, stomach (the inferno at the entrance of your GI tract), and lungs. Once a pathogen is inside your body, the innate immune system goes to work. This system works on a rough pattern recognition system - somewhat like recognizing the uniform color of an invading army. Inflammation and some white blood cells are part of the innate immune system. The adaptive immune system has a more advanced recognition (somewhat like recognizing the specific individuals in the invading army) and allows for a stronger immune response, as well as immunological memory, where each pathogen is "remembered" sometimes for the rest of your life. The cells of the adaptive immune system are special types of white blood cells and include B cells and T cells. Follow these simple steps.

Get enough sleep: Yes, I know there are never enough hours in the day however many of your body's repair tasks are done while you are sleeping. You need to sleep 7-9 hours per night.
Eat Right: An adequate diet helps maintain immunity. The immune system needs such nutrients as protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. If you get busy and can't get a proper meal, drink Essentials, or my favorite - a mix of MetaFuel, Essentials, and your Ageless in a delicious shake that is great to sip on throughout the day for a steady supply of nutrition and energy.
Exercise: Regular moderate exercise - not the "no pain, no gain" marathon kind- will help your immune defenses. Regular aerobic exercise is good for the heart. Weight-bearing exercise builds bone and muscle. Don't forget stretches and yoga.
Control stress: The immune and nervous systems communicate. For example, it is not uncommon to get an upset stomach when you are upset. Stress hormones, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, are important for mood but receptors are also found on lymph nodes and spleen. To help control stress, in addition to your daily AgelessXtra, you need a method for relieving stress. Walking, massage, meditation, a warm bath, steam room, yoga - whatever works for you. Having a "zest for life" is essential for a healthy immune system. Cancer patients with a "fighting spirit" seem to live longer than those who are overwhelmed with stress and depression.
Never, never smoke: Your immune system is challenged by the toxins in cigarette smoke moreover it has to clean up the soot and tar inhaled into the lungs. Is it any wonder that there is little immune function left to fight disease and cancer? Smoking is toxic to life.
If you get a sick: I recommend Univera's Super Immune three times daily along with a multivitamin. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, remember that antibiotics only target bacteria and can damage the bacteria in your colon that you need to stay healthy (similar to being killed by friendly fire - in an attempt to kill the "bad" bacteria, many "good" bacteria are killed.) Antibiotics also do not help fight viruses; they are not helpful in treating colds or flu.

All Univera products come with a 90 day risk free trial period so that you can try them over an extended period of time - as good heath is also progressive. Be encouraged to take control of your health and begin transforming your body today! Healthy Living is sponsored by Univera - go to http://www.livestronger.myunivera.com or email cfernandes@knology.net