Immune Support

 

 Germs Here, Germs There, Germs Everywhere!

Your immune system exists to protect against and respond to infection (such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi) with a systemic method of chemical defense and attack. Your immune system is always on alert and functions as an organized coordination between almost all body systems to keep you alive and in harmony with your living environment's exterior and interior terrain. Some of the integrated parts of your immune system include your blood, the lymphatic system, the spleen, the thymus gland, the skin, the mucous membranes, and the digestive system. These organ systems each have their own nutritional needs and requirements to maintain a balanced, strong, and healthy immune response.

Three years into the pandemic, there has not been one mainstream media message about how to stay healthy except to wear a mask, avoid others and get a vaccine. This message does not promote health – it is about avoidance of getting sick which is fear-based.

The media makes it seem like we are helpless to do nothing except lay in wait, hoping that we are not stricken down by RSV, Influenza, COVID, or other illness and succumb to the horrors of getting sick if we do. This message is not accurate, and the germ theory of disease, as I interpret it, says that.

The germ theory is the currently accepted scientific theory for illness. It states that illness is caused by pathogens or "germs," and that organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.) invade the host, and that their growth within the host causes disease. More importantly, the germ theory also says that even when a pathogen is the principal cause of a disease, environmental and hereditary factors often influence the severity of the disease and whether a potential host individual becomes infected when exposed to the pathogen.

If that's the accepted belief about infectious disease, then how and what can be done to improve your internal and external environment? What can you do to strengthen your susceptible hereditary factors? What is modifiable, and why isn't public health messaging more vocal on how to be healthy?

I would prefer that public messaging include sound advice on having a strong immune system and a healthy body. Anyone can get sick regardless of their health or lifestyle. The goal is to allow the body to have a healthy immune response and be as resilient as possible – to make the fastest recovery possible. If you do get sick, the illness is not severe, the inflammation of the illness is controlled, and the duration of the illness is brief.

Public health and safety measures do save lives and prevent the spread of disease. Still, there needs to be more advice and education about ways to stay healthy, including herbs, vitamins, minerals, supplements, and lifestyle. Unfortunately, disease-driven messaging has made us afraid of ourselves, not trusting the innate intelligence of our immune systems, not trusting others because they could be getting us sick, and created a paradigm that we are being victimized by viruses that will kill or maim us forever.

Your body is not that fragile, and if you are unsure what to do, I have provided some core basics to support the immune system. I also include passive therapies to support your immune system in combination with nutritional advice.

Disclaimer: Individuals have specific needs. These recommendations are basic guidelines and are not to be used to avoid seeking professional advice.

So How Can You Strengthen or Optimize Your Immune System?

Let's start with controlling inflammation. Inflammation is a normal reaction to infection that plays a crucial role in immune defense. However, inflammation can become a severe problem if it is exaggerated and remains for too long in the affected areas, such as the lungs or blood vessels.

Recommendations

1) Reduce inflammation and allow the body to have a controlled inflammatory response

• Omega 3 oil (1000 EPA daily)
• Tumeric (500mg)
• Therapy: Infrared Sauna and Cryosauna

2) Stress Detox and Adrenal Support: 

Adrenal support: these two glands that sit on top of the kidneys are responsible for our daily stress response. When the adrenal glands are overburdened from emotional stress, as well as lifestyle stress, your immune system fatigues.

Basic support:

• Men - Panax Ginseng
• Women – American Ginseng
• Whole Food Vitamin C, B-Complex

Stress Detox: More sleep, less sugar, alcohol, and caffeine, less intense exercise or mild exercise for those who do not, meditation, positive thinking, and affirmations.

• Recommended Therapy: Floatation Therapy, Cryosauna, Halotherapy with PEMF, and Infrared Sauna

Bowel health – The microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract or gut flora is vital for a healthy immune system. Overuse of antibiotics, poor diet lacking in fiber and prebiotic foods, and alcohol consumption will compromise the integrity of the good flora in the gut, weaken your entire immune system, and make you susceptible to numerous diseases:

• Probiotics and prebiotics (individual needs can significantly vary).

• Therapy – Infrared Sauna

Mucous membranes – The mucous membranes are areas of the body that are open to the exterior environment that is not covered by the skin – mouth, colon, respiratory tract, etc.) The basic needs for healthy mucous membranes that act as a first line of immune defense are:

Vitamin A, C, D, and E, Zinc, bioflavonoids, B vitamins, and Omega 3 oil.

• Therapy – Halotherapy/PEMF

WBCs, RBCs, and Lymphatic system – the blood and lymph can be considered a liquid organ system. Adequate and clean water is a first line of defense. Dehydration is a major stress down to the cellular level and will affect the cell's ability to respond. The WBCs tag target and destroy pathogens physically and chemically (one method is by secreting hydrogen peroxide). It is an energy-expensive process to fight off infection.

The basic nutritional needs are similar to the mucous membranes with the addition of selenium, glutathione, quercetin, and Coq10.

• I recommend Biotics Bioprotect as a preventative and Biotics Bioimmunozyme Forte during active infection.
• Therapy – Infrared Sauna, Cryosauna, Floatation, PEMF

In summary, my message is that the body's ability to fight off infection can be enhanced by supporting the organs, glands, cells, and tissues with nutrition. While there are distinct individual needs, the basics apply to everyone. For specific prescribed care, a more comprehensive approach is required. Diagnostic tests such as blood, stool, and saliva can be used to identify body systems that need support to have strong immunity. Both prevention and recovery from infection have a very similar approaches.

I hope this newsletter provides you with confidence that you can be proactive in your desire to stay healthy, and if you do get sick, your immune system will respond in a normal, healthy, and predictable way.

About the Author

Dr. Joshua Kantor is a leading NYC Applied Kinesiologist and owners of Chill Space NYC, a premier Manhattan health and wellness spa. Learn more by visiting https://www.chillcpacenyc.com