Breakthrough immune boosting supplement

A healthy immune system naturally!

The Immune System and Interferon

The immune system is our hardest working system whose job it is to protect us 24 hours a day from bacteria, and viruses and invading pathogens.

That's a good thing since germs can live several hours on surfaces like:

• Cafeteria tables
• door knobs
• desks
• telephones (#1 surface for viruses)

We're also under attack from environmental toxins. And stress and poor nutrition can lower the bodies defenses, as can the aging process.

Immunity has become a global issue because we are literally jet-setting pathogens across the world every day. The good news is that scientists and researchers are making new discoveries every day about the immune system and how it works. One of the most promising of those discoveries had to do with the important role interferon plays in keeping the immune system healthy and strong.

Interferon is a family of cytokines (Cytokines are small secreted proteins which mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation.) that are active participants in host cell defense because they possess antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects. More simply put, interferon is a natural substance produced by the body that's activated when a cell is attacked by a virus. Interferon has two main functions:

1. When a cell has been an attacked, it signals to neighboring unaffected cells and triggers their defenses. It acts as the body's first responder and triggers the bodies defenses. Once the surrounding cells get the message they can produce certain proteins to protect themselves. That way the infection stays localized and can't spread.


2. Interferon activates other immune system support cells that search out, kill and dispose of the invading pathogens. It does this by signaling natural killer cells (NK cells), macrophages and other immune cells so they can mobilize and proliferate and then kill invading pathogens.

Interferon production and activation occurs within hours of a person being infected but the other cells, such as macrophages, can take much longer, up to several days, to react. However, theoretically, if you keep your immune system in top shape your body can produce interferon when it's needed.

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Factors that challenge the body's immune system

• Stress of everyday life
• Poor nutrition deficient in key nutrients
• Lack of exercise
• Inadequate sleep
• Intense exercise
• Aging

The effects of aging on the immune system

There is a well recognized progressive decline in immune function that is associated with aging. This particularly effects the T-cells, a type of white blood cell. This decline is also linked to an increase in infectious diseases, especially viral diseases, such as upper respiratory diseases and shingles. Recovery from an illness often takes longer in older people. That can often be a result of declining immune function.

Effects of stress on the immune system

Stress is a major factor in compromised immune health. Clinical research is showing that chronic, severe or unrelenting stress diminishes immune function. In fact, an entire field of study called psyconeuroimmunology has emerged in response to the growing link between stress and illness.

The effects of lack of sleep on the immune system

Sleep deprivation and insomnia have a similar effect as depression has on lowering immunity. Even modest amounts of sleep disturbance can produce a 30-50% transient decrease in natural killer cell activity. Natural killer cells, also known as NK cells, are activated to kill invading pathogens.

Dietary factors effecting the immune system

Low caloric intake may lower immunity. Undernourished people are at increased risk of infection and very low caloric intake can also lower immunity.

On the other hand, eating too much can also lower the body's immune system. We know that obesity is linked to many cancers and that is a sign of an under functioning immune system. Diets that are high in fat may also depress the immune response and result in infection.

Overuse of antibiotics on our immune system

The overuse of antibiotics, both in our food chain and used for treating viral infections, leads to stronger bacteria that will not respond to available antibiotics. Scientists cannot develop new antibiotics fast enough to keep up with these drug resistant bacteria. To add to this challenge, viruses naturally mutate so that when you develop antibodies to a virus, it mutates so your immune system has to be constantly ready to respond to new viruses.

Global travel

Today pathogens can be spread quicker than ever. In very recent news we've read about pandemic concerns regarding SARs, influenza and Avian Flu. Since antibiotics do not affect virus, we are dependent on vaccinations and our immune system to keep viruses at bay. In past years there have been shortages of vaccine which has caused concern. The elderly and the chronically ill need this vaccine to protect them from this ever changing virus.

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What can we do to keep our immune system strong?

• Eat healthfully
• Take appropriate supplements
• Get adequate sleep
• Manage your stress levels

If you incorporate all these changes in your lifestyles you'll be well on your way to a healthy, functioning immune system.

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Why not just take interferon?

Ever since it's discovery in 1954 scientists have been studying interferon and how to use it to treat disease. There are a variety of synthetic interferons that have been developed. Each of these synthetic interferons is specific to a particular disease, in other words each synthetic interferon drug is used to treat one disease, most often a specific type of cancer. These interferons are actually chemotherapy drugs and are quite toxic with many side effects. So these are drugs used as treatment once you're sick, not a form of of prevention. Also since they are drugs with serious side effects they are only prescribed to people already ill with serious diseases.

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Boost interferon production naturally!

Interferon production in the body can now be boosted naturally in healthy individuals though a new dietary supplement. Developed by Dr. Yasuhiko Kojima, who first discovered interferon in 1954 while conducting studies on virus replication in rabbits, it is the result of more than 40 years of research on natural interferon-inducing compounds. After screening, testing and evaluating more than 200 different herbs, Dr. Kojima successfully isolated a combination of botanicals that naturally increase the body’s production of its own interferon.

This dietary supplement is designed to be taken daily and is a blend of four botanicals that, when combined together, naturally allow the body to increase the production of interferon without added stress to the body*:

1. Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita moschata) extract, which has been found to induce interferon production


2. Plantago seed (Plantage asiatica), which contain chemicals called polysaccharides that are thought to stimulate the immune system


3. Safflower flower (Carthamus tinctorius) polysaccharides, which has been found to prompt development of macrophages, a type of white blood cell


4. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) flower buds, used in Asian medicine

Since this supplement was developed, a number of human clinical studies have documented the supplement’s effectiveness. These studies, which have been published in medical journals, such as the Journal of Gastroenterology, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy, and the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, highlight a variety of benefits associated with it. In one study the viral loads in Hepatitis C patients with high viral loads were significantly decreased*. Studies also show that these herbs have an immune system modulating effect specific to the NK cells*. Many scientists now believe that these NK cells have an important role in balancing the immune system. If you have too many NK cells you may be at risk for autoimmune disorders. If you have too few NK cells it might put you in risk of cancer.

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Buy this breakthrough immune boosting supplement

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Health News: Oily Fish Make Babies “Brainier”

Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.

A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon, England suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs. These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.

'Frightening data'

Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.

While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.

Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions - such as an inability to make friends. Research leader, Dr Joseph Hibbeln, said "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mother had eaten small quantities of Omega -3 during pregnancy demonstrated this sort of behavior. This compared with 8% of those born to the group with the highest intake, he said.

Dr Hibbeln said, "The findings of poor social development and poor motor control in children indicate that these children may be on a developmental trajectory towards lifelong disruptive and poorly-socialized behavior as they grow up."

Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, 15 years ago to look at predisposition to disease. She told the BBC: "The baby's brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn't create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat."

The new research also builds on earlier work in the US, which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.

Nutritional expert Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre, said Omega-3 was key to children's intelligence because the brain is formed of 60% fat - 30% of which are essential fats. Successive studies have shown clear links between intelligence and consumption of this essential fatty acid, he added.

It's absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3 - Patrick Holford, Nutritional expert

Ed. Note: We’ve known for quite awhile about Omega-3’s positive effect on hearth health, but more and more now we’re learning about how beneficial it is for moods and depression, autoimmune diseases and now brain development. Shaklee’s new OmegaGuard is the world’s finest fish oil supplement. It’s triple molecular distillation and purification process is unique to Shaklee. This results in an ultra-pure pharmaceutical-grade supplement. Plus, OmegaGuard provides a full spectrum of seven natural omega-3 fatty acids. For more information on Shaklee OmegaGuard or to order it online go to: http://www.shaklee.net/pjstory/product/20244

Article excerpt from BBC News. For the complete story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4631006.stm

Jeff & Bonnie