Defend Against Future Major Health Threats

The health challenges of the first decade of the 21st Century will center on the immune system. Infection with antibiotic-resistant superbugs, food and chemical allergies, autoimmune diseases like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and cancer will all be in the headlines and increasing in incidence. What can you do to defend yourself?

Implement the following diet and lifestyle changes in any order:

Breastfeeding

A breastfed baby receives antibodies through mother’s milk, as well as all the nutrients needed for the first six months of their life. Much of the benefit of breastfeeding is derived from colostrum, the mammary fluid secreted the first few days after delivery. It provides newborns with protection against bacteria and viruses through its content of immune factors (antibodies and natural antibiotics) as well as essential nutrients including various growth factors, vitamins, minerals, and hormones. These can help prevent a variety of problems, including ear infections and diarrhea.

Improve your lifestyle

For optimal health one should not smoke, and should limit alcohol and drug consumption as much as possible. It is also important to get regular exercise, daily sunshine, rest, and sleep since all these affect immunity. Stress reduction is also important since stress will cause an adverse effect on the adrenal glands, which manufacture hormones that augment immunity.

Follow an immune-enhancing diet

1. Eat more organic vegetables. These are free of dangerous pesticides and contain two to five times more nutrients than non-organic vegetables. They also taste much better.

2. Drink more water and fresh vegetable juices. Water is the beverage of choice, preferably bottled spring water, although reverse osmosis filtered water is acceptable. Avoid drinking tap water that contains harmful chemicals like chlorine and, in some cities, fluoride. Avoid softened or distilled water as it contains no minerals and has the wrong ionization, pH, polarization, and oxidation potentials. It also tends to drain the body of minerals.

3. Eat more healthy fats that provide the omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids. One tablespoon of hempseed oil daily will provide the necessary essential fat most adults need. A combination of fish oils and flax seed oil is a good alternative. Avoid peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut oil at all costs because they contain mold and aflatoxin, a known immune suppressor.

4. Avoid sugar. Sugar impairs immunity and promotes yeast and fungal overgrowth. Sugar in any form suppresses immunity and must be eliminated as much as possible from the diet. Avoid hidden sources of refined sugar in things like soda pop and packaged cereals. Limit natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses, fruit juice, maple syrup, cane sugar, Succanat, and lactose. Stevia is a better alternative. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame should be avoided because of their many adverse health effects.

5. Avoid commercial milk and dairy products because they contain traces of hormones, antibiotics, and other immune-suppressing chemicals.

6. Avoid fruit juices, including organic, unsweetened varieties, because they are high in sugar and usually contaminated with mold. Sugar and mold suppress the immune system.

7. Avoid pork and most commercial meats because these are frequently contaminated with parasites and mold. Pork is used in labs to culture cancer cells, as it increases their growth. Organic buffalo, venison, chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb are better options since they contain no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides. Avoid processed, cured, smoked, or dried meats, especially bacon, sausage, salami, ham, hot dogs, and luncheon meats. Ground meat products may be contaminated with bacteria and should also be avoided.

8. Eat local fruits and limit intake of bananas, oranges, papayas, mangoes, melons, and other tropical fruits. They are generally much higher in sugar and are not as easily metabolized by people who live in cold climates. The higher the fruit sugar content, the higher the level of mold infestation, hence immune suppression.

9. Avoid shellfish. Lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and other shellfish are scavengers, frequently contaminated with parasites and viruses that can suppress immunity. Cold-water fish like cod, halibut, salmon, trout, and mackerel are better choices.

10. Eat adequate amounts of protein from organic eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, buffalo, venison, beef, legumes, pumpkin seeds, and nuts other than peanuts. Soy products should be fermented or soaked for several days and cooked until soft like regular beans.

Take immune-enhancing food supplements regularly

Vitamin A—Vitamin A deficiency increases susceptibility to any infection. For most children, the best source is cod liver oil (one tablespoon or three capsules daily). Adults can take twice this amount, especially if they are prone to infections or exposed often to individuals with flus, colds, or other infections. Cod liver oil has the added benefit of the essential fatty acid omega-3, known for its anti-inflammatory benefits.

Vitamin D—Proven in numerous immune system studies to be more effective against the flu than the annual flu shot. Vitamin D has been documented to reduce cancer incidence by 60% as well as reverse some autoimmune diseases, notably multiple sclerosis. Dosages for effective prevention during times when sunlight is not easily available is 4000 IU daily.

Bovine colostrum—Proven protection against autoimmune disease, cancer, and other incurable diseases. Adults can take 1,000 to 2,000 mg twice daily and children can take about half of this dose.

Probiotics (friendly bacterial cultures like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum)—Provide another unique type of protection against most common infections, allergies, and cancers. Probiotics (3 capsules daily) prevent the overgrowth of undesirable intestinal bacteria and micro-organisms that produce putrefactive and carcinogenic toxins. Probiotics make essential vitamins (B12, K) and enzymes that would not be produced otherwise. Without these friendly microbes, the level of harmful substances rises, leading to cancer, liver, and kidney disease, as well as hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

Larch arabinogalactan—Has very potent immune-enhancing properties and will lower the generation and subsequent absorption of ammonia, a potent neurotoxin. It also protects colon cells against cancer-promoting agents. The usual adult dose is one to three tablespoons daily. Children under age four can easily take one-half teaspoon daily.

Interferon boosters—Interferon is produced naturally by the body’s white cells to fight and prevent viral and other infections, as well as cancer, allergies, and toxic poisoning of the body. A fever stimulates the body to make more interferon, one of the reasons why naturopaths recommend against the use of drugs to suppress fevers. Interferon can stimulate the immune system to produce more of the disease-fighting T-cells. Here are some of the best known and documented ones (in alphabetical order):
• Astragalus
• Boneset
• Echinacea
• Germanium
• Licorice
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Pau d’arco
• Vitamin C and bioflavonoids
• Pycnogenol
• Wheat grass

Use natural antibiotics when possible

Antibiotics weaken immunity and encourage resistant strains of bacteria. Natural antibiotic alternatives with excellent supportive documentation are:

Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare)—This oil is well known in the Mediterranean world for its ability to slow down food spoilage through its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antioxidant activity. Oregano oil boosts the immune system. It also acts as a free radical scavenger, protecting against toxins and preventing further tissue damage while encouraging healing. The usual effective dose is two or three drops under the tongue with some olive oil (to improve palatability) several times daily.

Colloidal silver—Both an immune system stimulant and a natural antimicrobial agent with broad-spectrum germicidal activity. Colloidal silver works by disabling the enzyme that all one-celled pathogens (micro-organisms in their reproductive stage) use for their oxygen metabolism, thus causing the micro-organisms to suffocate in six minutes or less upon contact.

Dr. Zoltan Rona