It doesn't take a doctor to tell us how poor diet and lack of sleep can make us feel fatigued and run-down, but what most people don't know is how basic stressors can tax our immune system, making us vulnerable to a vast array of diseases and conditions we never thought were related to stress.
That's what Dr. Sherrill Sellman, a Naturopathic Doctor, thinks people need to understand in order to safeguard their health.
"We leave our immune systems open to attack every day by doing things we know we shouldn't," she said. "As a nation, we don't eat right for the most part. According to more than a dozen studies, we are the most obese nation on the planet. We eat way too much sugar and refined carbohydrates, we don't get the recommended level of sleep, we don't get enough exposure to the sun and we take antibiotics at the first sniffle or sign of nausea. The immune system involves your skin, intestines, nasal mucosa, blood, lymph, white blood cells, stem cells, b-cells 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. The problem is that sometimes the result is a condition that we don't even realize came about because of our poor habits."
Dr. Sellman knows that all these behaviors compromise our immune system, which could lead to a wide variety of conditions, including:
• The Common Cold -- There still is no cure for the common cold, but a strong immune system can help prevent you from catching one. An overactive immune system is useless against the modern strains of colds, so the best way to avoid it is still keeping your immunities strong.
• Fibromyalgia - When we tax our immune system too much, it goes into overdrive and that overactivity can lead to fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, vision problems, nausea, sleep disorders and many more specific issues.
• Arthritis - Many people don't know that rheumatory arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Stress on the immune system makes it hyperactive, and it begins to attack the joints. It's not an old person's disease - it's a disease that is caused by an immune system compromised by overactivity.
• Asthma - The respiratory system is especially vulnerable to a compromised immune system, because infections can reside in the lungs longer when a person's immunities are weakened. This can make a person more susceptible to developing asthma, especially if it runs in their family.
• All Chronic Illness - A weakened immune system plays a role in all chronic illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. When your immune system is under siege by poor nutrition, lack of sleep and undue stress, it places people in a higher risk group for these conditions.
"To strengthen your immune system, you must address the needs of the systems in your body starting at the cellular level," she added. "A strong immune system is essential for health. One element that I have found helpful with my patients is a colostrum-based ingredient called Immunel, which can be found in certain natural health supplements. Immunel (www.thenaturesgift.com) is a targeted immune product that activates the innate immune system within 3 minutes of consumption. Studies have concluded it is effective in promoting immune system health. Combined with better lifestyle choices, it can help keep people out of the doctor's office and beat the stress."
Author Resource:-
Tony Panaccio is a staff writer at News & Experts.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesidea.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
