Top 10 Herbs That Boost Your Immune System

Carly Fraser | livelovefruit.com

Image: preventdisease.com

These 10 immune supportive plants will ensure that all those nasty colds and flus going around don’t end up in YOUR body! Help purify the blood of toxins and impurities and provide yourself with a new & improved immune system!

Chaga Mushroom
These mushrooms contain immune system supportive secondary metabolites (melanin, betulinic acid, phenolic compounds and lanostane-type triterpenoids) which contain high levels of antioxidants. Records from as early as the 16th century have shown that the chaga mushroom has helped those suffering from ulcers, cancer, tuberculosis and gastritis! The immune system is also balanced by certain polysaccharides found within this mushroom, helping to combat inflammation and to fight against infections and germs.

Astragalus
This herb helps to protect and support the immune system by preventing colds and upper respiratory tract infections, reducing blood pressure, treating diabetes and protecting the liver. Astragalus supplements have been found to improve immune function in individuals recovering from chemotherapy or radiation (who have compromised immune systems), and helps these individuals recover faster and live longer. Astragalus is an antioxidant, so it helps with individuals suffering from heart disease, chronic inflammation, high cholesterol levels and cancer.

Maitake Mushroom
This incredible mushroom has been shown to limit as well as reverse tumour cell growth, and boost the functioning of our immune system. These mushrooms contain a polysaccharide called beta glucan which stimulates the immune system and activates proteins and cells which target and attack cancer. These include macrophages, T-cells, natural killer cells, and interleukin-1 and -2. Researchers have also shown that maitake can regulate blood pressure, glucose, insulin as well as serum and liver lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids), and can help individuals wishing to lose weight.

Pau D’Arco
This bark-like substance which can be made into teas is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It stimulates the immune system and is well-known as a “natural antibiotic.” This bark contains naphtoquinones which inhibit free radicals and inflammatory leukotrienes as well as suppress tumour formation and reduce tumour viability. It fights against infections, colds, flus, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal issues, inflammatory conditions like arthritis and gout and acts as a mild diuretic.

Echinacea
Most people are aware of the amazing effects of echinacea and the immune system. Studies have suggested that this flower stimulates our white blood cells and spleen cells whose primary function is to fight off infections in the body. It may also stimulate the release of interferons which are some of the body’s most potent infection-fighting soldiers. Interferons interrupt the genetic code of germs which prevents them from replicating and reproducing. Echinacea also stimulates the body to produce more macrophages which phagocytose (eat) bacterial cells, keeping our body infection-free!

Ginger
This amazing root is a wonderful anti-viral and anti-bacterial! It has been found to inhibit viruses from attaching to and infecting different cells of the body via stimulation and secretion of anti-viral proteins called interferon-beta. Ginger also inhibits mucous formation and clears up congestion. Ginger and garlic combined make a particularly potent combo which offer antibacterial benefits against drug-resistant bacteria!

Goldenseal
This herb has been used for decades to help combat urinary tract infections, diarrhea, eye infections, canker sores and vaginitis. Goldenseal contains a compound called berberine which kills many different bacteria types and stimulates the production of white blood cells, making them more effective at fighting infections and strengthening the immune system. It is considered a natural antibiotic and can also help with individuals suffering from digestive issues.

Korean Red Ginseng
This “king of herbs” is one of the most well-known oriental medicinal herbs. It has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of disorders (e.g., cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, insulin resistance, and hypertension) due to it’s incredible immune supportive effects. Red ginseng has been reported to enhance the human body’s resistance to illness or microbial attacks by maintaining a homeostasis of the immune system. Ginseng stimulates the production of a variety of immune system cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, all of which help our body fight off disease and illness at a much faster rate.

Schizandra Berry
This potent adaptogenic herb has cortisone-like effects on the immune system, which makes it a powerful “natural antibiotic.” It is also a wonderful source of antioxidants which assist in improving mental clarity and increases your body’s level of the detoxifying antioxidant called glutathione. It not only helps power the immune system, but it combats issues related to stress such as adrenal fatigue, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, insomnia and profuse sweating.

Cat’s Claw
Cat’s claw has been used for hundreds of years to treat multiple health issues. The extracts of this herb contain powerful antioxidants which scavenge free radicals and help prevent inflammation, improve immune function, support DNA repair and promote normal cell division. When rats were fed an 8-week diet supplemented with cat’s claw, research found that white blood cell count dramatically increased, suggesting that this herb helps to improve the body’s ability to fight off infectious bacteria and viruses. Likewise, adult men who supplemented with cat’s claw for six months also experienced this increase in white blood cell count, and thus enhanced immune function.

Originally posted at livelovefruit.com

Sources:
http://iospress.metapress.com/content/x3uf7a180f21vf69/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X04013129

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X04013129

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10267-003-0099-y

http://partnecglobal.eurasiansupply.com/ds/rd/rdgf/3/maitake_mxtract.pdf

http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=wP_Aiwi9qN8C&oi=fnd&pg=PP9&dq=pau+d%27arco+immune&ots=UEwP1-2Tkk&sig=kJUIKbhH4duKh9wcteskve9OB6E#v=onepage&q=pau%20d’arco%20immune&f=false

http://ebm.sagepub.com/content/228/9/1051.short

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2006.257

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874105007397

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2008.0044

http://www.getcited.org/pub/100216074

http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0192415X02000661

http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0192415X02000661

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037887410800216X

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037887410800216X

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/PL00000268

How To Boost Your Lymphatic System For Great Health

Carly Fraser | Live Love Fruit

The lymphatic system has three functions: 1. Fluid Recovery; 2. Immunity, and; 3. Lipid absorption. It is the body’s internal drainage system which is designed to rid your blood of acidic and toxic waste (the lymph system filters these toxins into our body’s major detox organs, the liver and kidneys). The tonsils, adenoids, spleen, and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system, all connected by a web of lymphatic vessels which, in a sense, is like a second circulatory system of the body.

The lymphatic system does not have a “pump” like our circulatory system does (the heart creates a beat which helps push and pump the blood around our body). Instead, the lymph system requires daily movement by the body and proper breathing in order to move lymph through the lymphatic vessels and to pass it through the filters in our lymph nodes.

Thus, we can see why exercising, meditating combined with conscious breathing, eating right, and avoiding processed foods and harmful toxins is essential to prevent infection and disease. Here are three steps to get your lymphatic system back on track to reveal a more healthier, vibrant YOU!

1. Foods For A Healthy Lymphatic System

Eating a proper diet rich in fruit and vegetables and adequate water are essential to ensuring your lymphatic system is clean and flowing free. Green leafy vegetables and herbs are an excellent way to enrich your system with chlorophyll because this molecule helps to purify your blood which in turn cleanses your lymph.

Citrus fruits also have wonderful astringent properties which help increase lymph flow and remove any blockages. As well, melons help keep the body alkaline (and the lymphatic system drains best in more alkaline environments), while berries are packed with antioxidants which keep our immune system strong and don’t make the lymph system work as hard to fight off disease and illness.

Eating healthy fats like avocado, nuts and seeds is also important to ensure we get enough essential fatty acids which help protect and nourish our lymph system.

Drinking plenty of water is also dependent on how well your lymphatic system will flow. Because our lymph system requires a constant supply of fluid, drinking at least 3-4L of purified or filtered water daily will help to keep it functioning at its best!

2. Do These Activities

Massage
Massaging is a great way to encourage natural drainage of the lymph from the tissue spaces in your body. In fact, it can increase the volume of lymph flow by up to 20 times, making it easier for the body to remove toxins, bacteria and viruses.

Exercise
Exercising, or “playing” as I like to call it (doing things you love while you are in motion) is critical to keeping your lymph system open and flowing! When your muscles move, they also help move and pump the lymph within it’s vessels. Walking, yoga, running, swimming, stretching and strength training are wonderful ways to keep the lymph flowing. Dancing (with lots of up and down movement – check out NIA!) or rebounding is particularly helpful because the vertical motion of the exercise opens and closes the one-way valves that comprise the lymphatic system (and can increase lymph flow by up to 15-30 times!).

Dry Brushing
Dry brushing helps increase circulation and helps improve your skin tone if you suffer from cellulite (mainly because the brushing helps to boost slower-than-average lymph systems). Starting on your arms, or legs, brush toward your heart with long strokes and do this for around 5 minutes all over your body before going into the shower.

Deep Breathing
Breathing deep is very important. Why? Proper movement of air through the lungs also helps move and pump fluid through the lymphatic system while providing it with fresh oxygen. Becoming conscious of your breathing throughout the day and getting out of the habit of shallow breathing is a great way to start.

3. Factors Contributing To A Sluggish Lymphatic System

Stress
About 80% of diseases are caused by stress. Learning to stress less, and taking time to meditate and think positive thoughts will help de-congest your lymph system.

Iodine Deficiency
Congestion of the lymphatic system is also commonly caused by an iodine deficiency. Iodine helps protect us from the toxic environment we live in (with radiation and other pollutants), and supports our lymphatic system at a cellular level.

Pesticides & Food Additives
Preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, and food additives like refined sugar, chemicals, and colourings all put strain on the lymphatic system. Consuming non-organic, highly-processed sugary and fatty foods simply creates an even larger workload for your lymph system and prevents it from properly filtering toxins and bacteria which will eventually lead to chronic disease.

Smoking & Second-Hand Smoke
This relates back to the toxin concept. Smoking increases your body’s receptivity to developing fungal or viral infections, parasites, ulcers, cancer, bronchitis, high blood pressure and many more issues. Why? Because smoking depresses the body’s immune response, and our immune system is essentially comprised of our lymphatic system, which houses our white blood cells (in the lymph nodes), and which scavenge any intruders.

Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are toxic to the body. They contain harmful chemicals and dyes and these compounds suppress the immune system. Instead, using food as our medicine and weaning ourselves off prescription drugs will help clear the lymphatic system.

Animal Products (Meat, Dairy & Eggs)
Animal products are incredibly acidic to the body, and our lymphatic system does not function as properly in an acidic environment. The flow of the lymph system is more smooth when it is presented with a more alkaline body. In addition, meat, dairy and eggs contain hormones which are either naturally occurring or not (via injection while the animal is still alive), and these hormones interrupt the processing of our own hormones (in which the lymphatic system is largely involved).

Source: livelovefruit.com

Top two foods that will boost your immune system

Image: remedytip.com

Pterostilbene, an antioxidant produced by plants has been shown to exhibit exceptional properties in fighting
infections, cancer, hypertriglycerides, as well as the ability to reverse cognitive decline. It is believed that the compound also has anti-diabetic properties. In an analysis of 446 compounds for their the ability to boost the innate immune system in humans, researchers in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University discovered just two that stood out from the crowd. Red grapes and blueberries both have an exceptional ability to significantly impact immune function. In fact, pterostilbene works as well as some commercial drugs.

Both of these compounds, which are called stilbenoids, worked in synergy with vitamin D and had a significant impact in raising the expression of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, or CAMP gene, that is involved in immune function.

The research was published [September 14th 2013] in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, in studies supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Almost a decade ago, researchers discovered that pterostilbene helps regulate blood sugar and might help fight type-2 diabetes. The finding adds to a growing list of reasons to eat colorful fruit, especially blueberries, which are rich in compounds known as antioxidants. These molecules battle cell and DNA damage involved in cancer, heart disease, diabetes and perhaps also brain degeneration.

Pterostilbene works as well as the commercial drug ciprofibrate to lower the levels of fats (lipids) and triglycerides — but they worked even more accurately. They are so specific that side-effects are non-existent.

“Out of a study of hundreds of compounds, just these two popped right out,” said Adrian Gombart, an LPI principal investigator and associate professor in the OSU College of Science. “Their synergy with vitamin D to increase CAMP gene expression was significant and intriguing. It’s a pretty interesting interaction.”

Resveratrol has been the subject of dozens of studies for a range of possible benefits for muscle strength, anti-inflammatories, metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. This research is the first to show a clear synergy with vitamin D that increased CAMP expression by several times, scientists said.

Image: preventdisease.com

The CAMP gene itself is also the subject of much study, as it has been shown to play a key role in the “innate” immune system, or the body’s first line of defense and ability to combat bacterial infection. The innate immune response is especially important as many antibiotics increasingly lose their effectiveness.

Grapes don’t have to be fermented to contain this antioxidant. It’s actually found in the skin of red grapes along with other nutrients, such as minerals manganese and potassium and vitamins K, C and B1.

A strong link has been established between adequate vitamin D levels and the function of the CAMP gene, and the new research suggests that certain other compounds may play a role as well.

Subsequent work indicates that this regulation is biologically important for the response of the innate immune system to wounds and infection and that deficiency may lead to suboptimal responses toward bacterial and viral infections. The regulation of the CAMP gene is a human/primate-specific adaptation and is not conserved in other mammals. The capacity of the vitamin D receptor to act as a high-affinity receptor for vitamin D and a low-affinity receptor for secondary bile acids and potentially other novel nutritional compounds suggests that the evolutionary selection to place the cathelicidin gene under control of the vitamin D receptor allows for its regulation.

Stilbenoids are compounds produced by plants to fight infections, and in human biology appear to affect some of the signaling pathways that allow vitamin D to do its job, researchers said. It appears that combining these compounds with vitamin D has considerably more biological impact than any of them would separately.

Continued research could lead to a better understanding of how diet and nutrition affect immune function, and possibly lead to the development of therapeutically useful natural compounds that could boost the innate immune response, the researchers said in their report.

Despite the interest in compounds such as resveratrol and pterostilbene, their bioavailability remains a question, the researchers said. Some applications that may evolve could be with topical use to improve barrier defense in wounds or infections, they said.

The regulation of the CAMP gene by vitamin D was discovered by Gombart, and researchers are still learning more about how it and other compounds affect immune function. The unique biological pathways involved are found in only two groups of animals — humans and non-human primates.

Considering that most people have insufficient levels of vitamin D and that nearly 1 billion people worldwide are deficient, properly designed supplementation studies in humans will be important for determining the benefits from the interaction of the CAMP gene and serum levels of vitamin D on immune system function.

Dr. Marianna Pochelli is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine specializing in the treatment of disease through superfoods and herbal strategies. She actively promotes detoxification, colon cleansing, and a vegetarian lifestyle using living foods as a platform to health.
Source: Prevent Disease

Sources: RealFarmacy.com & preventdisease.com

How to Naturally Prevent the Flu

The Number One Way to Conquer a Cold or Flu: Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an amazingly effective antimicrobial agent, producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Image: naturalhealthyconcepts.com

In the United States, the late winter average vitamin D level is only about 15-18 ng/ml, which is considered a very serious deficiency state. It’s estimated that over 95 percent of U.S. senior citizens may be deficient, along with 85 percent of the American public.

In 2009, a team of researcher’s from Children’s Hospital Boston analyzed blood samples taken from 5,000 children under age 12 and found that nearly one out of five children in the U.S. have low blood levels of less than 50 nanomoles per liter, the level recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also found that two out of three children have a level below 75 nmol/L--which is still insufficient, based on most of the research coming out today.

No wonder colds and flu run rampant each year.

The best source for vitamin D is direct sun exposure. But for many of us, this just isn’t practical during the winter. The next best thing to sunlight is the use of a safe indoor tanning device. If neither natural nor artificial sunlight is an option, then using oral supplements is your best bet.

Remarkably, researchers have found that 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day abolished seasonal influenza. This is somewhat surprising, as it is half the dose of what most adults need to achieve ideal levels of vitamin D

Please note that this is far greater than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) advised by public health agencies like the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recently doubled the RDA of vitamin D for children to 400 IU. This new guidance still falls absurdly short of what’s needed to keep kids healthy, especially during flu season.

In order to prevent the flu, children and adults need 35 IU of vitamin D per pound of body weight. So, for example, a child weighing 57 pounds would need 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D.

Adults typically need an average of 5,000 IU per day—but some adults have to take 20,000 to 30,000 IU daily to get their vitamin D level up to optimal levels. Exactly how adults absorb and process vitamin D so differently is still somewhat of a mystery, so the only way to know if your vitamin D level is therapeutic and nontoxic is by having your blood tested.

Not all vitamin D testing is accurate, so make sure your health care provider is ordering the correct test.

Lifestyle Options: Choose Wisely

As you know, I’m not an extremist. I advocate balancing healthful choices with enjoying life, which includes celebrating from time to time.

That said, if you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, this is NOT the time to be eating sugar, artificial sweeteners or processed foods. Sugar is particularly damaging to your immune system--which needs to be ramped up, not suppressed, in order to combat an emerging infection.

You must address nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress issues the moment you first feel yourself getting a bug. This is when immune-enhancing strategies will be most effective.

When people come down with a cold or flu, it’s because some combination of factors has weakened their defenses. You might be able to get away with one or two transgressions, but a bucketful of poor choices will cause your immune system to crash. And then suddenly…you’re sick.

When you’re coming down with a cold, it’s time to address ALL of the contributing factors immediately. This would be a good time to tweak your diet in favor of foods that will strengthen your immune response.

Good choices include:

Raw, grass-fed organic milk, and/or high-quality whey protein 

Fermented foods such as kefir, kimchee, miso, pickles, sauerkraut, etc. 

Raw, organic eggs from free-ranging chickens 

Grass-fed beef 

Coconuts and coconut oil 

Locally grown fruits and vegetables, appropriate for your nutritional type 

Mushrooms, especially Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake, which contain beta glucans (which have immune-enhancing properties) 

Garlic, a potent antimicrobial that kills bacteria, viruses AND fungi 

Herbs and spices with high ORAC scores: Turmeric, oregano, cinnamon, cloves (for more on ORAC, visit www.oracvalues.com)

Make sure you are drinking plenty of fresh, pure water. Water is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body.

Pay attention to how you are sleeping. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or enough restorative sleep, you’ll be at increased risk for a hostile viral takeover.

And don’t underestimate the importance of regular exercise for increasing your resistance to illness. There is evidence that regular, moderate exercise can reduce your risk for respiratory illness by boosting your immune system.

But at the same time, don’t overdo it. Over-exercising can actually place more stress on the body, which can suppress the immune system--and you don’t want that either. You might just go for a walk if you are coming down with something. Any rise in body temperature will be an unwelcome climate for a viral invader.

Emotional stressors can also predispose you to an infection. Finding ways to manage daily stress as well as your reactions to circumstances beyond your control will contribute to a strong and resilient immune system.

Most of the people incorporating a significant number of these wise lifestyle choices into their daily lives simply don’t get sick. And when they do, it’s mild and short-lived.

Supplements That Send Pathogens Packin’

Supplements can be beneficial, but they should be used only as an adjunct to the lifestyle measures already discussed.

Some of the more helpful ones for cold and flu are:

Vitamin C: A very potent antioxidant; use a natural form such as acerola, which contains associated micronutrients. (By the way, intravenous vitamin C was recently used by a physician in New Zealand to cure a man with “terminal” swine flu.) 

Oregano Oil: The higher the carvacrol concentration, the more effective it is. Carvacrol is the most active antimicrobial agent in oregano oil. 

Propolis: A bee resin and one of the most broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds in the world; propolis is also the richest source of caffeic acid and apigenin, two very important compounds that aid in immune response and even fight cancer. 

A tea made from a combination of elderflower, yarrow, boneset, linden, peppermint and ginger; drink it hot and often for combating a cold or flu. It causes you to sweat, which is helpful for eradicating a virus from your system. 

Olive leaf extract: Ancient Egyptians and Mediterranean cultures used it for a variety of health-promoting uses and it is widely known as a natural, non-toxic immune system builder. 

Another treatment that is surprisingly effective against upper respiratory infections is hydrogen peroxide.

My patients have had remarkable results in curing the colds and flu within 12 to 14 hours when administering a few drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into each ear. You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly slight stinging.

Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear. A bottle of hydrogen peroxide in 3 percent solution is available at any drug store for a couple of dollars. It is simply amazing how many people respond to this simple, inexpensive treatment.

By incorporating these strategies, you’ll be able to nip that nasty little virus in the bud--before it can say, “Big Pharma.”

Full article: Mercola.com

Here's how sugar suppresses your immune system

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Sugar suppresses the immune system. When you eat a big dose of sugar, like a bottle of Coke or a candy bar, you temporarily tamp down your immune system’s ability to respond to challenges. The effect lasts for several hours, so if you eat sweets several times a day, your immune system may be perpetually operating at a distinct disadvantage.

Sugar promotes inflammation. Inflammation, which is part of the immune response, is not always a bad thing. But eating sugar foods can fuel excessive, inappropriate inflammation that serves no useful purpose and actually promotes aging and disease.

Sugar suppresses the release of human growth hormone. You know those ads in in-flight magazines that show a super-buff guy, who, thanks to a radical anti-aging program, looks about 50 even though he’s approaching 70? He’s most likely injecting himself with human growth hormone. Of course, he’s also watching his diet, spending a couple of hours a day in the gym, and using lots of self-tanner, but there’s no doubt that the hormone shots have a lot to do with his physique. Although the effects can be dramatic, hormone treatments are expensive and risky, so I don’t personally recommend this course of action. But if you want to slow down the aging process, you definitely want to do what you can to naturally enhance your body’s production of human growth hormone. Avoiding foods that are high in sugar is a good way to do that. Exercising, healthy eating, and avoiding undue stress also help.

Sugar promotes glycation. Sugar molecules treat your body like a singles bar. Once they get into your bloodstream, they start looking around for things to hook up with, like attractive protein and fat molecules. The hook-up is known as “glycation” and like most hook-ups, the results aren’t pretty. These glycated molecules act like drunken sailors, careening around your body, breaking things and peeing where they shouldn’t. They produce toxic compounds called advanced glycation end products, or, AGEs. That is perhaps the most poetically-just acronym in biology, because AGEs essentially throw the aging process into fast-forward. And much of the damage done by AGEs is irreversible. If that doesn’t motivate you to walk away from the M&Ms, I don’t know what would.

Sugar raises insulin levels. An influx of sugar into your body will have a fairly predictable result: Your blood sugar levels will zoom up. Shortly after, your pancreas will release a bunch of insulin to help clear sugar from your blood into your cells. As blood sugar levels go down, insulin levels return to normal. But when you eat a lot of sugar, you’re constantly calling for insulin, and that can backfire in a couple of ways. Over time, it takes more and more insulin to get the job done. Eventually, your pancreas may just stop responding to the call. Congratulations, you’re now an insulin-dependent diabetic. And along the way, exposing your cells and organs to chronically high insulin levels accelerates the aging process.

Sources: POSITIVEMED.COM

rawforbeauty.com

Raw Honey Garlic Lemon Shots

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Here Is A Simple Recipe To Supercharge Your Immune System:

by Natasha Longo from Prevent Disease

One criticism often received by recipes involving cooked onions, garlic and other alliums is that the heating process destroys much of the allicin that leads to its protective effects. While this is partially true, knowing how to optimize garlic before eating it raw or cooked will maximize garlic enzymes and give them the best chance to survive meal preparation. I’ll share a very simple recipe to use regularly during the cold and flu season that will supercharge your immune system.

With their unique combination of flavonoids and sulfur-containing nutrients, allium vegetables–such as garlic–belong in your diet on a regular basis. There’s research evidence for including at least one serving of an allium vegetable–such as garlic–in your meal plan every day. If you’re choosing garlic as your allium family vegetable, try to include at least 1/2 clove in your individual food portion. If you’re preparing a recipe, you should use at least 1-2 cloves.

Washington State University showed that garlic is 100 times more effective than antibiotics at fighting disease causing bacteria commonly responsible for foodborne illness. Its anti-viral potency is perhaps even more effective.

Allicin, one of garlic’s most highly valued sulfur compounds–stays intact for only 2-16 hours at room temperature when it is present in purified (extracted) form. But when it’s still inside of crushed garlic, allicin will stay viable for 2-1/2 days.

If you give your chopped/crushed garlic time to sit before changing its temperature (through cooking) or its pH (through the addition of acidic food like lemon juice), it will give the alliinase enzymes in garlic an opportunity to work on behalf of your health. For example, in the absence of chopping or crushing, research has shown that just 60 seconds of immediate microwaving will cause garlic to lose some of its cancer-protective properties.

Before cooking or adding chopped garlic to lemon juice, let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes to maximize its potency. The following recipe has minimal preparation time and maximum benefits to your health, especially during cold and flu season. I call them shots because they’re a cocktail of beneficial immune boosting constituents inside a lemon half that you can eat in just a few bites. My recommendation is to have one or two of these per day during peak flu activity when viral transmission is at its highest (usually Jan-Mar).

Raw Honey Garlic Lemon Shots

1 lemon (preferably organic)
1-2 cloves of garlic (depends on size of cloves)
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon of honey (preferably Manuka but at least Raw)

Step 1 – Cut a lemon in half

Step 2 – Squeeze all the lemon juice out of one half and place in a small bowl. Keep the half you extracted the juice from for Step 6 (store the other half for later use).

Step 3 – Chop the garlic and it let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Then add it to the lemon juice with the cayenne pepper.

Step 4 – Add the honey to the mix and stir all ingredients well.

Step 5 – Pour the entire mixture back into the lemon half (which you extracted the juice from in Step 2)

Consume the finished product in its entirety including all the lemon pulp. Hold it in your hand and cup it as if you’re holding a fruit. Repeat recipe in 4 hours with the other lemon half.

Viruses hate this information, so spread the word.

146 Ways That Sugar is Destroying Your Health

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Image: sodahead.com

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.

2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.

3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.

4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.

5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).

6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.

7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.

8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.

9 Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.

10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.

11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.

12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.

13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.

14. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.

16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.

17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.

18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.

19. Sugar can cause premature aging.

20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.

21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.

22. Sugar contributes to obesity

23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.

25. Sugar can cause arthritis.

26. Sugar can cause asthma.

27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).

28. Sugar can cause gallstones.

29. Sugar can cause heart disease.

30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.

31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.

32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.

33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.

34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.

35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.

36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.

37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.

38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.

39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood.

40. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.

41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.

42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.

43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.

44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)

45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.

46. Sugar causes food allergies.

47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.

48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.

49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.

50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.

51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA

52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.

53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.

54. Sugar can cause cataracts.

55. Sugar can cause emphysema.

56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.

57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).

58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.

59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.

60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.

61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.

62. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.

63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.

64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.

65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.

66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.

67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.

68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).

69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.

70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.

71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.

72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.

73. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders..

74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.

75. Sugar can cause depression.

76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.

77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).

78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.

79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.

80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.

81 High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.

82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.

83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.

85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others become overactive.

86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

87. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.

88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.

89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.

90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.

91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.

92. Sugar feeds cancer.

93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.

94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.

95. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.

96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.

97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.

98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.

99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.

100. Sugar is an addictive substance.

101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.

102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.

103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.

104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.

105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.

106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.

107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.

109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.

110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.

111.. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.

112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.

113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.

114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.

115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.

116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.

117. Sugar may induce cell death.

118. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.

119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.

120. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.

121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.

122. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.

123. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.

124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia

125. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.

126. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.

127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.

128. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.

129. Sugar induces salt and water retention.

130. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.

131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.

132. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.

133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.

134. Sugar causes constipation.

135. Sugar causes varicous veins.

136. Sugar can cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.

137. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.

138. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.

139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.

140. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.

141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel syndrome.

142. Sugar could affect central reward systems.

143. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.

144. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.

145. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.

146. Sugar can cause liver tumors.

Source: http://www.oawhealth.com/learning/146-reasons-why-sugar-is-ruining-your-health.html

Get Your Vitamin C From Nature, Not The Pharmacy

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Image: The Organic Prepper

The Nature’s Vitamins series

Sometimes the sources for  elemental nutrients are, quite literally, right in your own back yard.  This couldn’t be more true than for Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a vital nutritional component for a healthy diet and is the most recommended supplement in the United States. But skip the often toxic store-bought pills shaped like cartoon characters and turn to the garden for your daily dose!  Store-bought vitamins often contain heavy metals, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and other poisons.

Rose hips, the seed-filled pods at the base of a rose blossom, contain more than 60 times the dose of Vitamin C than is found in an equal amount of citrus fruit.

wild roses

All rose hips are not created equally.  Wild roses and old fashioned breeds of roses like the Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)  and the Dog Rose (Rosa Canina) have the highest concentration of Vitamin C.  Be sure that the roses were not subject to the spraying of pesticides or other chemicals.  Harvest rose hips after the first frost.  They should be red and yield slightly to the touch.

rose hips on bush

Fresh rose hips have the highest levels of vitamin C, but the best way to store rose hips for the winter is to dry them.  Wash the harvested rose hips and allow them to air dry.  Place them in the dehydrator whole for about 6-8 hours.  When dry they will be shriveled and wrinkly.

rosehips

Using your food processor, pulse the dried rose hips until they are coarse chunks. Don’t over process them.

Using a mesh colander, sift the pulsed rose hips so that the little hairs and seeds fall through, leaving you with a lovely colander full of reddish-brown tangy-tasting bits of Vitamin C.

rosehip tea

As a nutritional bonus, rose hips are also a good source of  vitamins A, B-3, D and E, bioflavonoids, citric acid, flavonoids, fructose, malic acid, tannins and zinc.
How to Make Rose Hip Tea

Rose hips are most commonly used in teas.  Commercially, most fruit or berry flavored teas contain rose hips. They give a tart, tangy flavor due to the naturally occurring ascorbic acid. Always prepare rose hips using non-aluminum cookware – aluminum destroys the vitamin C content.

    To make tea from fresh rose hips, steep 2 tablespoons of rose hips in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes.
    To make tea from dried rose hips, steep 2 teaspoons of rose hips in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.

Rose Hip Jam
Ingredients

    8 cups of washed rose hips
    1/4 cup of lemon juice
    6 cups of water
    5 cups of turbinado sugar
    1 package + 2 tbsp of no-sugar needed pectin

Directions

    With a sharp paring knife, cut the rose hips in half, then remove the seeds and the “hairs” from the inside of the halves.
    Use a food processor to roughly chop the rose hips.  (You’ll end up with about 4-5 cups of rose hip halves.)
    In a large non-aluminum pot, add the water, lemon juice, and rose hips. Bring this to a hard boil, uncovered,  for about 30 minutes to cook down the rose hips.
    In a small bowl, use a fork to mix ¼ cup of the sugar with one packet of pectin.
    Stir the pectin/sugar mixture into the rosehip liquid.
    Boil for 1-3 minutes, then TEST YOUR JAM with a spoon from the freezer.  If it is not the right consistency, add the extra 2 tbsp of pectin and boil for another two minutes, then retest.  Repeat until your jam has reached the desired thickness. (Be sure to skim off and discard foam throughout this step.)
    Ladle the jam carefully into your awaiting (sanitized) jars, wipe the rims and cap your jars with snap lids and rings.
    Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, making adjustments for your altitude.

Source:The Organic Prepper

Signs Your Immune System Needs Help

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Symptoms of Impaired Immune System

"To strengthen the immune system, one must address the needs of the whole body.  A strong immune system is essential for health.  It is a very complex system of the body, involving the skin, intestines, nasal mucosa, blood, lymph and many other organs and tissues.  Factors that impair the immune system include nutrient deficiencies, contaminated air, water and food, unhealthful 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

Your immune system needs work if you suffer from two or more of the following:

    THREE OR MORE EAR INFECTIONS IN ONE YEAR
    TWO OR MORE SINUS INFECTIONS IN ONE YEAR
    ORAL ANTIBIOTICS USE MORE THAN TWICE IN ONE YEAR
    TWO OR MORE EPISODES OF PNEUMONIA IN ONE YEAR
    FAILURE TO THRIVE (CHILDREN)
    RECURRING DEEP SKIN OR ORGAN ABSCESSES
    ORAL OR CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS AFTER AGE ONE
    HISTORY OF MENINGITIS, OSTEOMYELITIS, CELLULITIS, SEPSIS, OR RECURRENT     HERPES ZOSTER
    HISTORY OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, LYMPHADENOPATHY OR SPLENOMEGALY
    FAMILY HISTORY OF IMMUNE DEFICIENCY
    INCREASE OR SUSEPTABILITY TO INFECTIONS
    CANCER
    SARS
    THRUSH
    DIARRHEA
    HASIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS
    PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
    ADDISONS’S DISEASE
    DIABETES
    RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
    SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
    MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
    MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
    REITER’S SYNDROME
    GRAVES DISEASE
    PSORIASIS
    ECZEMA
    CUSHING’S
    FIBROMYALGIA
    SCLERODERMA
    SJORGREN’S SYNDROME
    DERMATOMYOSITIS
    LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
    STRESS
    CRAVE SUGAR OR SWEETS
    NEED FOR INTRAVENOUS ANTIBIOTICS TO CLEAR INFECTIONS
    LACK OF ENERGY
    ILLNESS MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR
    DIFFICULTY DIGESTING CERTAIN FOODS
    FOOD ALLERGIES
    RECENT OF FREQUENT USE OF ANTIBIOTICS
    SORE OR PAINFUL JOINTS
    DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING IDEAL WEIGHT
    SLOW RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS
    EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION DAILY
    POOR RESISTANCE TO DISEASE
    BELCHING OR GAS AFTER MEALS
    FEELING OUT OF CONTROL
    FOOD/CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES
    RECURRENT YEAST/FUNGAL INFECTIONS
    CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
    ASTHMA
    DEPRESSION
    SINUSITIS
    ACNE
    MIGRAINES
    ANXIETY
    INSOMNIA
    HIVES
    BOWEL DYSFUNCTION – CHRON’S DISEASE
    HEPATITIS B & C
    HIV
    SHINGLES
    TB
    ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
    LIVER DISEASE
    SILVER AMALGAMS
    HEAVY METAL TOXICITY
    PARASITIC INFECTIONS
    BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
    ARTHRITIS
    CHEMOTHERAPY
    CORTISONE OR PREDNISONE
    LYMPHOMAS

IMMUNE SYSTEM ASSAULT

Modern living is making it harder to maintain a healthy immune system. Here are just some of the forces working against it.

POOR NUTRITION. Empty calories' is a term that aptly describes the typical American diet. Even a mild deficiency of iron and selenium can cause suppressed immunity and Americans are typically low in both.

HIGH-FAT DIETS. In a 1993 report published in Progressive Food and Nutrition, scientists found that excessive fat intake impairs immunity.

POLLUTION. A recent report published in Environmental Pollution and Neuroimmunology stated that the combined influence of various factors (chemical agents, radiation, stress) may lead to immunodeficiency in the form of respiratory and inflammatory disease. Hundreds of studies show that toxic chemicals impair immune defenses.

STRESS. Stress releases biochemicals that suppress immune 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 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 may predispose a woman to breast cancer.

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE and 'SUPER BUGS'.Once considered miracle drugs, antibiotics are now abused to the point 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. 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 are able to 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, day care, food additives, aging, lack of sleep, poor digestion and elimination continually weakens our natural immune defenses."

Source: oawhealth.com

What Happens When You Are Asleep

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We spend about one-third of our lives asleep. But far from being wasted time, from the moment we slide into unconsciousness, a whole raft of functions takes place to make sure that we get optimal benefit from our nightly rest. >Sleep is the time the body can undergo repair and detoxification. Poor sleep patterns are linkedto poor health - and those who sleep less than six hours a night have a shorter life expectancy than those who sleep for longer. So sleep has a profound effect on our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. 

Here, Daily Mail writer Angela Epstein explains how the body works on when we drift off. 

The brain 

Sleep may seem to be a passive and dormant state, but even though activity in the cortex - the surface of the brain - drops by about 40 per cent while we are in the first phases of sleep, the brain remains highly active during later stages of the night.

A typical night's sleep comprises five different sleep cycles, each lasting about 90 minutes. The first four stages of each cycle are regarded as quiet sleep or non-rapid eye move-ment (NREM). The final stage is denoted by rapid eye movement (REM).

During the first stage of sleep, brain waves are small undulations. During stage two these intersperse with electrical signals called sleep spindles - small bursts of activity lasting a couple of seconds which keep us in a state of quiet readiness.

As stage two merges into stage three, the brain waves continue to deepen into large slow waves. The larger and slower the brain wave, the deeper the sleep. Stage four is reached when 50 per cent of the waves are slow.

At this point, we are not taxed mentally and 40 per cent of the usual blood flow to the brain is diverted to the muscles to restore energy. However, during the REM that follows there is a high level of brain activity.

This is the stage associated with dreaming and is triggered by the pons - the part of the brain stem that relays nerve impulses between the spinal cord and the brain - and neighbouring structures.

The pons sends signals to the thalamus and to the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for most thought processes. It also sends signals to turn off motor neurons in the spinal cord, causing temporary paralysis and so preventing us from acting upon our dreams.

REM sleep is thought to help consolidate memory and emotion, as at this point in sleep blood flow rises sharply in several brain areas linked to processing memories and emotional experiences. In areas involving complex reasoning and language, blood flow declines. 

The eyes 
Though covered by lids, the movement of the eyes denotes the different stages of sleep.

On first falling into semi-consciousness, the eyes roll. But as we move into deeper sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) occurs when the eyes twitch and dart about.

This REM occurs within about 90 minutes of falling asleep and recurs about every 90 minutes throughout the night. It denotes a time when most dreaming is done.

Although brain activity is high at this point, the muscles of the body are relaxed to a point of virtual paralysis. Some experts suggest that this is a device to allow the mind to explore the realms of subconscious without acting upon events occurring in dreams. 

Hormones 
During our waking hours, the body burns oxygen and food to provide energy. This is known as a catabolic state, in which more energy is spent than conserved, using up the body's resources.
This state is dominated by the work of stimulating hormones such as adrenaline and natural cortisteroids. However, when we sleep we move into an anabolic state - in which energy conservation, repair and growth take over. Levels of adrenaline and corticosteroids drop and the body starts to produce human growth hormone (HGH).
A protein hormone, HGH promotes the growth, maintenance and repair of muscles and bones by facilitating the use of amino acids (the essential building blocks of protein). Every tissue in the body is renewed faster during sleep than at any time when awake.

Melatonin is another hormone produced to help us sleep. Secreted by the pineal gland deep in the brain, it helps control body rhythms and sleep-wake cycles.

Levels of melatonin rise as the body temperature falls, to encourage feelings of sleepiness. The opposite occurs to wake us up.
It is mostly during sleep that the sex hormone testosterone and the fertility hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone and leuteinising hormone, are secreted.

Immune system 

Research suggests that sleeping more when fighting infectious illness aids recovery.

This may be due to the immune system's increased production of certain proteins during sleep, as the levels of certain agents which fight disease rise during sleep and drop when we are awake.
Getting enough sleep can also help resist infection, as some studies of healthy young adults have shown that moderate amounts of sleep deprivation reduce the levels of white blood cells which form part of the body's defence system.

A cancer killer called TNF - tumour necrosis factor - also pumps through our veins when we are asleep. Research has shown that people who stayed up until 3am had one-third fewer cells containing TNF the next day, and that the effectiveness of those remaining was greatly reduced. JUST as the world is governed by light and dark, human beings also have an inbuilt body clock called the circadian rhythm.

Housed in the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, it causes 24 hour fluctuations in many bodily activities. It also governs the body's daily alternation between sleep and wakefulness, and works on a 24-hour cycle to let the body 'know' when sleep is coming.
The circadian rhythm regulates all the processes of the body, from digestion to cell renewal. All these body rhythms are triggered by an action of a network of chemical messengers and nerves which are controlled by the circadian clock.

Ensuring regular periods of sleep at night lets the bodyclock regulate hormone production, so that you feel wakeful and alert during the day and ready to enjoy restorative sleep at night. 
Body temperature 

In the evening, body temperature, along with levels of wakeful hormones such as adrenaline, start to drop. Some sweating may occur, as the body is immobile and tries to combat losing heat.
Body temperature continues to fall throughout the night. By about 5am it has dropped to about one degree centigrade below the temperature it was in the evening. 

At the same time, our metabolic rate drops too. This is the time of day when you would feel most tired, as the low temperature coincides with adrenaline at its lowest level.

Low body temperatures increase your likelihood of sleeping deeply and so give the body chance to rest and rebuild. As body temperature starts to rise, it remains more difficult to stay in a deep sleep. 

The skin 

The top layer of the skin is made of closely packed dead cells which are constantly shed during day. During deep sleep, the skin's metabolic rate speeds up and many of the body's cells show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins. 
Since proteins are the building blocks needed for cell growth and for the repair of damage from factors like ultraviolet rays, deep sleep may indeed be beauty sleep.

Daytime sleep will not compensate for loss of nightly 'beauty sleep' as the energy needed for tissue repair is not available during daylight because it is being used elsewhere. 

Breathing 

When we fall asleep, throat muscles relax so that the throat gets narrower each time we inhale.
Snoring occurs when the throat is narrowed to a slit and parts of the airway vibrate because of a resistance to breathing. Air is forced through the narrow air passage, causing the soft palate and uvula to vibrate.

Those who snore are more likely to have poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat, which allows the tongue to fall backwards into the airways. Being overweight or having large tonsils and adenoids also contribute to snoring.

However, impaired breathing during sleep can cause a condition called sleep apnoea.

Often caused by fat build-up, poor muscle tone or ageing, sleep apnoea causes the windpipe to collapse when the muscles relax during sleep. This blocks the air flow for from ten seconds to a minute while the sleeping person struggles for breath. 
When the person's blood oxygen level falls, the brain responds by making the person tighten the upper airway muscles and open the windpipe. This will result in a snort or gasp before snoring is resumed. 

The mouth 

Saliva is needed to lubricate the mouth and for eating, but during sleep salivary flow is reduced, so causing a dry mouth in the morning.

However, the mouth can be very active during sleep, as one in 20 adults unconsciously grinds their teeth at night. 

This is known as bruxism and occurs mainly during stages one and two of sleep. It is caused by poor alignment of the teeth within the jaw but is also thought to be nocturnal relief for daytime stresses. 
Muscles 

Though a person can change their sleeping position about 35 times a night, the muscles of the body remain relaxed. This gives the chance for tissues to be repaired and restored.
However, studies indicate that muscles might receive just as much relaxation and repair during simple rest periods and that a state of unconsciousness is not needed for this to take place. 

Blood 

The heart rate goes down by between 10 and 30 beats per minute when we sleep. This produces a decline in blood pressure, which occurs in restful sleep.

During rest, blood flows from the brain, distends arteries and makes the limbs bigger.

Some scientists believe that fatigue-induced sleep may be a mild form of blood detoxification.

This is because during the day debris from broken down tissues is thrown into the bloodstream. In the waking state, most of this waste will be eliminated through the lungs, kidneys, bowels and skin.

But there could be a saturation point. So nature warns us to reduce these waste products to replenish lost energy, and that causes us to get tired and sleep.

During sleep, the cells and tissues that break down to produce toxic waste then become less active. This gives the chance for broken-down tissue to be rebuilt. 

Digestive system 

The body requires a regular supply of energy and its key source is glucose. This is constantly burned up to release energy for muscle contraction, nerve impulses and regulating body temperature.
When we sleep, our need for these energy reserves is marginal so the digestive system slows down to a sluggish pace. The immobility of our bodies promotes this.

For this reason, eating late at night is not recommended as our inactive state will prevent enzymes and stomach acids from converting it to energy. This causes that telltale bloated feeling.

By Angel Epstein

Source : Dave Sommers, Daily Mail