How to strengthen my immune defenses

Translation of the text published last April 17, in Spanish: Cómo fortalecer mis defensas inmunitarias.

Strengthening our defenses, our immune system, is not just about how to strengthen or raise the body's defenses. Sometimes it is a matter of modulating the immune system. An allergy is an overreaction to a possible attack. And there are many factors that influence its better or worse functioning. What to take to improve defenses? What fruits raise defenses? How to improve our health?

Many people will perhaps be waiting for a recipe book of home remedies (some are), of potions to raise defenses. And this is not enough. The best thing for our defenses is healthy life. And healthy life is not just eating healthy or taking such and such. Healthy life is being happy, psychically, mentally and spiritually. It is living fully. It is to have a purpose in life. It is having a purpose, a determined self-improvement, self-formation, self-regeneration. As they say now, personal growth.

Stress is the main depressant of our defenses (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The greatest enemy of our defenses we can be ourselves. And the greatest enemy is stress, in all its manifestations: worry, nervousness, frustration, fear, anxiety, haste, dissatisfaction, soul pain... And improving general health improves our defenses.

What specialists always recommend is a balanced life, regular physical activity; get vaccinated; avoid excesses, avoid tobacco and alcohol; healthy and balanced diet; avoid stress in all its forms. Nervousness, anger, fear, worry, frustration, etc.; stress is a great depressant of the immune system. It is the main cause of low defenses.

Platonic school (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

And after this we might think what to take? Philosophy. Live fully, be happy at the bottom of the soul. Then we can take something to strengthen or modulate the immune system. Some specialist has come to quantify (logically it is illustrative, so that we see it clearly) the influence, for better or for worse, of the internal elements in 85% and the external ones (pathogens, food, toxins, contamination...) in 15 %.

Red berries provide vitamin C (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

There are foods that provide basic elements for the immune system. The first and fundamental thing is a healthy and balanced diet. Logically we will have to look at the sources of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. The typical products are citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruits, limes, etc.), but there are other foods, many with more vitamins and less sugar, such as red pepper, kale, broccoli, grapes, basil, persimmon, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, parsley, kiwis, mangoes, papayas, melon, pineapples, etc. Almost all vegetables have it, being one of the most abundant vitamins. It is not superfluous to remember how recommendable it is to take the pieces of fruit whole, not in juice, and to take raw vegetables since the heat destroys the vitamins.

Reishi or Ganoderma lucidum (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Other nutritional deficiencies can decrease the action of our defenses. Nutrients necessary for its proper functioning: B vitamins, flavonoids, iron, zinc or selenium. The importance of certain micronutrients or supplements based on transfer factors will deserve an article in a few days.

Agaricus blazei (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

But a massive intake of vitamin C, for example, does not guarantee something. Taking vitamins in the right amount is necessary, but not enough. Inner health is essential. Very common plants reinforce our defenses, such as echinacea, thyme, rosemary, savory, pine or bearberry. Certain fungi (mushrooms) such as blazei - agaricus, reishi or Ganoderma lucidum, Coriolus versiciolor or turkey tail (with antiviral effects), shiitake or Lentinula edodes (also antiviral and bactericidal) or maitake (Grifola leafy) can also strengthen our defenses. In another article we will expand all this.

Shiitake mushroom (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

As we said, it is not always about reinforcing the defenses, but modular. An allergy is an excess in the immune response; it is a “weakness” but of a different nature. Sometimes, in most cases, it is more about educating the system.

If you want to strengthen the immune response, products like 4Life Transfer factor (Tri-factor Plus) that add the effects of the transfer factor, Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms, Zinc, IP-6, soybeans, Beta Glucan (brewer's yeast), Agaricus blazei, Aloe vera, etc. People sensitive to fungi (mushrooms) or allergic to olive leaves or soy should refrain from taking it.

4 Life Transfer Factor Tri-factor Formula

In all cases, allergic people, those who want to modulate their defenses, avoid excessive reactions that are accompanied by inflammatory processes or the so-called "cytokine storm" should opt for 4Life Transfer factor (Tri-factor Formula) with 600 mg. transfer factor. You can buy them at the following link.