The Effect of Stress on the Immune System: FAQ

Here we answer some commonly asked questions about the effect of stress on the immune system, as well as questions like "how do you boost your immune system". We have found that these are frequently asked questions and hope to help people find their answers.

What is the effect of stress on the immune system?

Short term stress like dealing with an attack or playing a sport does not negatively affect the immune system. The spleen is instructed to release more red and white blood cells. The red blood cells increase oxygen supply to the lungs and heart while the white blood cells are directed to portions of the body most likely to be injured or become infected, namely the skin, bone marrow and lymph nodes.

Chronic stress, on the other hand, appears to blunt immune system responses. Studies have shown that those who work in high pressure jobs, have continuous financial problems, marital difficulties or any of the other problems that can cause chronic stress, have lower than normal white blood cell counts, are more vulnerable to colds and other viruses, take longer to recover from them and experience worse symptoms than do people who are under less stress.

How do you boost your immune system?

There are many ways, including good nutrition and proper rest. There are a number of dietary and health supplements that can boost the immune system including Vitamin C, Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Beta Glucans.

How do you boost your immune system if you are under chronic stress?

If you cannot reduce the stress in your life, then vitamins and health supplements are the only choice.

Can supplements counteract the effect of stress on the immune system?

Clinical studies have not been done concerning the improvement in immune system responses among people who use health supplements and are under chronic stress. Studies have shown that AP increases white blood cell counts in person's using the herb, which could counteract the lowered white blood cell counts in persons under chronic stress.

How do you boost your immune system if you work or live in a high risk environment?

People at higher risk for infection can benefit greatly from the use of a health supplement for immune system enhancement. For more information about products that naturally boost immune system performance, visit http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

About The Author
Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in health care and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Read more at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

You Are What You Eat, Do You Dig Your Grave With Your Tongue? Boost Your Immune System

I know that the headline is a oldie, but it really is a goodie and is so very true of most of us, in this age of fast takeaway foods giving us all the foods that we should not be eating if we wish to maintain good health. What you must do is have natural nutrition that will boost your immune system.

Do we eat enough foods that contain antioxidants? or do we really know what antioxidants do for our health?

Antioxidants help to protect our systems against the terrible effects that free radical molecules have on our bodies healthy cells, They have been associated with premature aging and a whole spectrum of diseases such as eye problems, cancer and cardiovascular disease, they could also be the cause of a number of auto immune disorders.

You will see that antioxidants are important to our health and lifestyle. The body actually produces antioxidants as a normal part of energy production from the nutrition that we consume daily, however, we are also exposed to the effects of smoking, pollution and chemicals in what we eat and drink, unfortunately these sort of things increase the production of free radicals. What can we do to overcome these effects? the answer is simple, that is to somehow or other increase the level of antioxidants produced in the body, to overcome the extra free radicals being produced. In other words, we have to boost your immune system.

Without getting technical, the best way to do this is by eating lots of plant foods and making sure that your diet is full of these health giving foods.

There are many antioxidants available in different fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, grains and seeds.

You should also look for color in you plant food intake, red, yellow, orange, green, this will ensure that you have a wide balance of the antioxidants needed by your body.

Some of the antioxidants that are easy to obtain in their natural form are:

Vitamin E, this can be found in avocado, nuts, seeds, wholegrain and wheat germ, this can help with cardiovascular problems.

Lycopene, is found in red or pink fruits or vegetables like tomatoes, this helps in preventing cold sores, prostate cancer, and it might even help to prevent skin cancer.

Lutein, is found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cabbage lettuce, they help to prvent cararacts, macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

Sulphur Compounds, are found in garlic and onions, broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts.

I have mentioned before the huge antioxidant benefits that can be obtained from broccoli if eaten the correct way. Broccoli itself is an abundant source of antioxidants, but if you grow salad sprouts from broccoli seeds and eat them in your salad they contain about thirty times more antioxidants that broccoli eaten in the normal way. That will help your body to receive a Boost to your immune system.

This is by no means the complete list of foods that will help you produce the antioxidants, there are thousands more, but this will give you a good idea of where to start if you wish to improve your health.

About The Author
Article by Alfred Jones
http://www.SugarsR4U.com A Vitamin for Boosting your Immune System - Goji Juice.
http://www.RUSweetEnuf.com The Eight Essential Sugars for Health - Glyconutritionals.