How many of us would like to live like a hermit? I doubt that many would decide to give up the comfort and pleasures of civilization. But we pay an increasing price for comfort.
Today, it鈥檚 impossible to escape fumes from cars, radiation from computers, Earth鈥檚 depleted ozone layer, foods that have been over-processed, pesticides sprayed onto crops, to mention a few. It鈥檚 no wonder that so many North Americans suffer from toxic inflammatory diseases. But there鈥檚 a natural way to boost the immune system to decrease the risk.
Dr. John Wilkinson, senior herbal medicine lecturer at Middlesex University in London, says the answer is plant sterols which, like vitamin C, cannot be made by the human body. Studies show that plant sterols reduce inflammation, which decreases the risk of hardening of the arteries.
But plant sterols are not only for the No.1 killer, cardiovascular disease. Every year, North Americans, on average, suffer six common colds due to weakened immune systems. Such infections become more dangerous as we age.
During early life, influenza is rarely fatal. But later, when it strikes an exhausted immune system, it results in the deaths of thousands of seniors every year.
Today鈥檚 stressful lifestyle is also not kind to our immune systems. Chronic stress triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and auto-immune disorders such as psoriasis, Crohn鈥檚 disease, rheumatoid arthritis, along with aching muscles, fibromyalgia and fatigue.
It is estimated that 30 million North Americans are allergy sufferers. Some people have acute anaphylactic attacks
that are life-threatening. But most are affected by pollen, animal dander, dust mites in bedding and moulds that collect in showers, window mouldings and damp basements. All can cause inflammatory reaction in the body鈥檚 airways.
Another threat is exposure to radiation. In addition to X-ray and CT scans, we鈥檙e exposed to home radiation from cellphones, microwave ovens and transmission towers, along with radiation from long hours of looking at television.
Unlike an infection that goes away, radiation never does, accumulating more year by year.
Fortunately, our immunity system works 24/7 against toxins that enter the body and trigger allergic reactions.
Without this, our bodies would decompose in a few days due to microbes, parasites and toxins.
We can all get more plant sterols by eating more grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and seeds. And research has shown that regular exercise can bolster the immune system by stimulating the body鈥檚 natural killer cells.
To learn more about plant sterols, look for the book Immunity, Thrive in a Toxic World, by Alan Fergusson and Jack Davidson.
