Immune Boosters

With infectious diseases spreading rapidly, it's now more important than ever to make sure that your immune system is capable of fighting off the viruses and bacteria that cause them. In Singapore we have learned how to manage epidemics effectively through our experience with SARS, a type of coronavirus similar to the one that has originated in Wuhan, China.

Not enough of these will hurt our immune system:

• healthy protein
• vitamins
• minerals
• adaptogens (health supplements such as ashwagandha)
• specific dietary oils
• "good bacteria" in the gut
• light (sunshine)
• fresh air
• clean water
• tranquility
• specific nutrients (zinc, etc.)
• love
• security

Too much of these will hurt our immune system:

• Specific foods (allergy)
• heavily processed foods
• steroid hormones
• toxins (such as PCB`s)
• heavy metals (such as lead & mercury)
• specific dietary oils (hydrogenated)
• stress
• alienation
• insecurity
• overexposure to antibiotics
• harmful gut bacteria
• certain drugs eg chemotherapy

We certainly know that nutritional deficiencies and excesses can lead to immune system problems. Poor digestion (and the resulting absorption of incompletely digested foods) as well as repetitious eating of the same food can cause immune system weakness. The balance of good and bad bacteria in our digestive tracts also has a direct bearing on the performance of our immune system.

Certain toxins. such as lead, mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenols), or an overload of bacteria and viruses and the drugs used to treat them, can simply overwhelm even a healthy and strong immune system. Last but not least is a relatively new branch of immunology, psycho-neuroimmunology, which deals with our mind-body connection. Our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, can actually have a strong effect on our body's immune system.