Your Immune System. Unable to be felt or seen. Doesn’t have a pulse or a temperature. Despite being behind the scenes, a healthy immune system function consists of a tremendous network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders. These invaders, called microbes, are tiny organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and fungi that can cause infections. Check out our Immune System Calculator below to see if your immune system may need some help.
“Factors that impair the immune system include nutrient deficiencies, contaminated air, water and food, unhealthy lifestyles and too much exposure to harmful microbes. Other factors that weaken the immune system are negative attitudes and emotions and the presence of toxic metals, toxic chemicals and biological toxins in the body. Others are sluggish metabolism, lack of rest and sleep, excessive stress or too much exercise. As these causative factors are removed or corrected, the immune system improves.” Dr. Lawrence Wilson
IMMUNE SYSTEM CALCULATOR
YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY NEED HELP IF YOU CHECK TWO OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
____1. THREE OR MORE EAR INFECTIONS IN ONE YEAR
____2. TWO OR MORE SINUS INFECTIONS IN ONE YEAR
____3. ORAL ANTIBIOTICS USE MORE THAN TWICE IN ONE YEAR
____4. TWO OR MORE EPISODES OF PNEUMONIA IN ONE YEAR
____5. FAILURE TO THRIVE (CHILDREN)
____6. RECURRING DEEP SKIN OR ORGAN ABSCESS
____7. ORAL OR CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS AFTER AGE ONE
____8. HISTORY OF MENINGITIS, OSTEOMYELITIS, CELLULITIS, SEPSIS, OR RECURRENT HERPES ZOSTER
____9. HISTORY OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, LYMPHADENOPATHY OR SPLENOMEGALY
____10. FAMILY HISTORY OF IMMUNE DEFICIENCY
____11. INCREASE OR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INFECTIONS
____12. CANCER
____13. SARS
____14. THRUSH
____15. DIARRHEA | HABITUAL CONSTIPATION
____16. HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS
____17. PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
____18. ADDISON’S DISEASE
____19. DIABETES
____20. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
____21. SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
____22. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
____23. MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
____24. REITER’S SYNDROME
____25. GRAVES DISEASE
____26. PSORIASIS
____27. ECZEMA
____28. CUSHING’S SYNDROME
____29. FIBROMYALGIA
____30. SCLERODERMA
____31. SJORGREN’S SYNDROME
____32. DERMATOMYOSITIS
____33. LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
____34. STRESS
____35. CRAVE SUGAR OR SWEETS
____36. NEED FOR INTRAVENOUS ANTIBIOTICS TO CLEAR INFECTIONS
____37. LACK OF ENERGY
____38. ILLNESS MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR
____39. DIFFICULTY DIGESTING CERTAIN FOODS
____40. FOOD ALLERGIES
____41. RECENT OR FREQUENT USE OF ANTIBIOTICS
____42. SORE OR PAINFUL JOINTS
____43. DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING IDEAL WEIGHT
____44. SLOW RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS
____45. EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION DAILY
____46. POOR RESISTANCE TO DISEASE
____47. BELCHING OR GAS AFTER MEALS
____48. FEELING OUT OF CONTROL
____49. FOOD/CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES
____50. RECURRENT YEAST/FUNGAL INFECTIONS
____51. CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
____52. ASTHMA
____53. DEPRESSION
____54. SINUSITIS
____55. ACNE
____56. MIGRAINES
____57. ANXIETY
____58. INSOMNIA
____59. HIVES
____60. BOWEL DYSFUNCTION – CROHN’S DISEASE
____61. HEPATITIS B & C
____62. HIV
____63. SHINGLES
____64. TB
____65. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
____66. LIVER DISEASE
____67. SILVER AMALGAMS
____68. HEAVY METAL TOXICITY
____69. PARASITIC INFECTIONS
____70. BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
____71. ARTHRITIS
____72. CHEMOTHERAPY
____73. CORTISONE OR PREDNISONE USE
____74. LYMPHOMAS
TOTAL CHECKED: ______
Why Your Immune System Function May Not Be Healthy
Our modern toxic world makes it difficult to maintain a healthy immune system function. Below are some of the forces that work against your immune system.
POOR NUTRITION
Empty calories’ is a term that aptly describes the Standard American Diet (SAD). Even a mild deficiency of iron and selenium can cause suppressed immunity, and Americans are often low in both.
HIGH-FAT DIETS
In a 1993 report published in Progressive Food and Nutrition, scientists found that excessive unhealthy fat intake impairs immunity.
GUT ISSUES
Gut issues are one of the most overlooked causes of disease. With 70% of your immune system located in the gut, it makes complete sense to ensure that your digestive system is operating correctly. Two of the best ways to balance your gut are to perform digestive tract cleansing using an oxygen-based cleanser such as Oxy-Powder® and a spore-bearing probiotic such as Latero-Flora, which contains Bacillus Laterosporus (B.O.D.™ strain).
FUNGAL ISSUES
According to researchers, many health conditions are not triggered by infection but are actually triggered by fungus. Of the 1.5 million fungus species that exist, we have classified only 75,000 of them. Of the 75,000, only 300 are “for sure” known to be pathogenic to man. In other words, thousands have never been tested. Some make two – some make 12 poisons. Some are toxic to man through the liver, the kidneys, the bones, and just about anywhere in the human body.
POLLUTION
A recent report published in Environmental Pollution and Neuroimmunology stated that the combined influence of various factors (chemical agents, radiation, stress) might lead to immunodeficiency in the form of respiratory and inflammatory disease. Hundreds of studies show that toxic chemicals impair immune system function.
STRESS
Stress releases biochemicals that suppress immune system function, putting us at higher risk for bacterial, viral, and fungal infections—our emotional landscape impacts immunity. One study reported in a 1997 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine stated that post-traumatic stress suffered after Hurricane Andrew had dramatically reduced killer cells in test subjects. Prolonged stress weakens or impairs the immune response, making us vulnerable to infections, auto-immune diseases, and even cancer. In a recent study published in a 2000 issue of Psychological Medicine, researchers reported that episodes of serious stress experienced early in life might predispose a woman to breast cancer.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Antibiotic Resistance and ‘SUPER BUGS’. Once considered miracle drugs, antibiotics are now abused to the point that they pose a major health threat worldwide. Bacteria are now outwitting potent antibiotics creating the risk of global infections that won’t respond to the best of the high-tech drugs. In a June 12, 2000 press release, the World Health Organization announced that almost all major infectious diseases are slowly becoming resistant to existing medicine.
LOW NATURAL KILLER CELL LEVELS
NK (natural killer cells) provide our first line of defense against invaders. A low NK count means a much higher risk of disease and tissue degeneration. Today we can measure the number of natural killer cells, and the news is not good. In addition, the constant barrage of free radicals, alcohol, tobacco, dieting, international travel, eating disorders, prescription drug side effects, daycare, food additives, aging, lack of sleep, poor digestion, and elimination continually weakens our natural immune system function.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace your doctor’s advice. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.
