I'm a big proponent of preventative medicine rather than curative medicine. If some future medical problem can be prevented by doing something that you have control over, I'm all for it. That's why it's so important to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and take a high quality daily nutritional supplement. Protecting our cells and the systems that protect us, in my estimation, is critical. One such system is the immune system.
In a report from Brazos Minshew, TriVita's Chief Science Officer, he says that "our immune system uses heat to destroy invading bacteria. A specialized cell called a macrophage douses the invader with inflammatory enzymes (like acids) and the heat generated in this battle destroys the invading bacteria."
"Sometimes our own healthy cells become the focus for disease. This often happens because of toxic exposure. When we eat, drink or breathe a toxin, or if it is absorbed through our skin, our detoxification system works to remove it before the poison can compromise our health. Unfortunately, many of today's poisons are simply too strong and they overwhelm our detoxification system and enter healthy cells. These cells now become the target of disease, infection and inflammation. Our immune system must treat them as hostile and use heat to destroy them."
"Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system becomes so overworked that it can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and sick cells. It attacks all cells of a particular type equally. This body system is never able to heal and chronic inflammation sets in." [1]
After further review of the immune system, autoimmune disorders, and inflammation, I've found this information on the Medline Plus web site, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders.
Normally the immune system's army of white blood cells helps protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and foreign blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances.
But in patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy body tissue and antigens. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. The response is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to allergies, where the immune system reacts to a substance that it normally would ignore. In allergies, the immune system reacts to an external substance that would normally be harmless. With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts to normal body tissues.
What causes the immune system to no longer distinguish between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. One theory holds that various microorganisms and drugs may trigger some of these changes, particularly in persons who are genetically prone to autoimmune disorders.[2]
Minchew explains more about toxins and there affects on the immune system.
"When a toxin overwhelms your detoxification process it will likely settle in your weakest system. The immune system melts these polluted cells in an effort to save healthy cells. This is acute inflammation. With chronic toxicity comes the opportunity for chronic inflammation. In the case of chronic inflammation, the immune system attacks any sick cell as well as any healthy cell that looks like the sick one. If the immune system attacks connective tissue we say a person has lupus. If it attacks the beta cells of the pancreas we say they have type 1 diabetes. If it attacks the joints we say they have rheumatoid arthritis.
How do we treat an autoimmune disorder? Medical professionals basically determine the proper procedure. However, Minchew says that "we simply must reduce our toxic exposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. And we must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity - every moment of every day."
On the medical side of the equation, and according to the Medicine Plus web site, treatments can be as simple as using supplements, or as drastic as blood transfusions.
The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms and control the autoimmune process while maintaining the body's ability to fight disease. Treatments vary widely and depend on the specific disease and your symptoms.
Some patients may need supplements to replenish a hormone or vitamin that the body is lacking. Examples include thyroid supplements, vitamins, or insulin injections.
If the autoimmune disorder affects the blood, the person may need blood transfusions.
Measures to help with movement or other functions may be needed for autoimmune disorders that affect the bones, joints, or muscles.
Medicines are often prescribed to control or reduce the immune system's response. Such medicines may include corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine.[2]
I don't know about you, but if we can prevent our bodies from contracting this disorder, I'm all for it. With that said, and something (prevention) I believe in, I'd rather follow Mr. Minchew's advice. "We simply must reduce our toxic exposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. And we must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity - every moment of every day."
To me, that sounds like a better option, to "have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity - every moment of every day."
One way to do get a the nutrients our bodies need is to take a high quality daily nutritional supplement, and drink TriVita's Sonoran Bloom Nopalea® on a daily basis. Combining these two products work wonders to keep your body in top physical shape, right down to the cellular level. Start on the road to preventing unwanted diseases today. Your body will thank you in the future.
Jeffrey Sloe
TriVita Independent Business Affiliate, 12871028
440-725-3729
jeff@internetmarketingadvisors.net
Sonoran Bloom
Sources:
[1] http://www.trivita.com/trivita-mailings/wwr/2009/June/20090620/0127-inflammation-pf.html?tref=12871028&sid=4068
[2] http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000816.htm
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