Originally published July 21 2005
Ten tips for optimizing your immune system
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Bacteria is a part of everyday life, but the more harmful bacteria can be overcome by healthy living choices, and Third Age offers ten helpful hints on how to keep your immune system in prime fighting form.
Add to that the many health risks associated with being overweight, including heart disease, diabetes and sleep apnea.
To increase your omega-3 intake, eat fish like salmon or tuna two to three times a week, and cook with olive or canola oil whenever possible, says Dr. Simopoulos.
You'll avoid re-infecting yourself with the bacteria that caused your illness in the first place.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in plant foods (namely fruits and vegetables) can reduce your cancer risk by 20 percent, thanks to the cancer-fighting antioxidant vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals (plant chemicals) and fiber they offer.
Talk to your doctor about getting a flu shot at the start of flu season (September to mid-November), especially if you have a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes.
Seek out vitamin E. A decent daily dose of vitamin E can protect you from major chronic killers down the road like cancer, heart and Alzheimer's disease, says Andreas Papas, Ph.D., adjunct professor at the James Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University and author of The Vitamin E Factor (HarperPerennial, 1999).
Evidence suggests that unmanaged stress sets off a chain of hormonal events that can decrease the activity of natural killer cells, says Gailen Marshall, M.D., director of the division of allergy and immunology at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School.
Runaway stress can also make you more susceptible to colds and aggravate chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, cancer and heart disease.
Studies show that getting as much as 20 percent more than the recommendation for this mighty mineral (14 mg), either from food (good zinc sources include lean meat, fish, poultry and whole grains) or a zinc supplement, may enhance your immunity to cancer and heart disease.
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