By; Marcia Zimmerman, CN
“It’s very clear to see that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down, the medicine go down. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way” -Mary Poppins singing to her charges.
The Effect of Sugar on Immune Cells
Sugar indeed helps the “medicine” go down, but what effect does it have on white blood cells, the warriors of the immune system? An interesting study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed how much the neutrophils (a kind of white blood cell) drawn from test subjects were unable to engulf and digest (phagocytosis) the bacterium Staphylococcus. At the beginning of the test, each neutrophil was able to ingest and destroy an average of fourteen bacteria. After the folks drank a sugar containing beverage, each person’s phagocytes were able to gobble up on average only one bacterium before dying. Amazingly, the dampening effect lasted for up to 5 hours!1 Obviously, sugar in any form is one of the worst things to take with your “medicine.” So what should you drink and eat when you have a cold or flu?
Foods to Boost Immune Cells
Chicken soup has been a time tested remedy for relief of upper respiratory tract infections. Scientists at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha decided to see what effect chicken soup has on chemotaxis (movement of neutrophils toward the site of infection). Chemotaxis is a life-saving event in acute injury or infection as neutrophils launch chemical warfare against invading bacteria or viruses. However, an overzealous response may lead to chronic inflammation and free radical damage. The researchers exposed activated neutrophils to chicken soup and found that it modified their aggressiveness and this in turn reduced inflammation. Homemade chicken vegetable soup worked best, but some commercial soups also slowed chemotaxis.2 Other nutrition-minded scientists even suggested that the Nebraska team should have used “free range” chickens in their soup to eliminate the possibility of antibiotic contamination from conventionally raised fowl.3
Now the “Medicine”
How do you prepare for seasonal defense besides skipping sugar and stocking chicken soup? Start with a good multiple vitamin and mineral combination. A multi contains all the micronutrients necessary for the immune system to function efficiently.4 Several well controlled studies have shown that zinc
and selenium, in particular, are essential for healthy immune function.5 Zinc functions as an intracellular signal molecule for immune cells and thus is essential for multiple cellular functions. Zinc supplementation has been successfully used as a therapeutic and preventive agent for many conditions.6 Selenium deficiency can induce changes in the genetic makeup of influenza viruses that induces conversion into a more potent strain.7 Zinc lozenges with elderberry are effective when a cold or virus first strikes.
During an infection, the need for vitamins and minerals increases because of reduced nutrient intake and metabolic alterations that reduce utilization. The need for micronutrient intake increases as one ages because a variety of changes occur in the immune system, and this translates into less effective immune response and increased susceptibility to infections.8 Perhaps this is why older folks seem to be especially at risk for seasonal infections.
The increased consumption of highly refined ingredients that have reduced levels of micronutrients, further affects the normal growth and development of immune cells. In particular, vitamins A, C, D and E plus the fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) are often deficient.9 Molecularly distilled fish oil in enteric coated soft gel capsule (no fishy burp back) helps reduce inflammation.
There appear to be clear indications, from both animal and human studies, that supplements containing beta-glucans or glucan-containing mushroom preparations can be of help in relieving various immune-related symptoms. Mushrooms rich in beta-glucans have been highly esteemed for centuries for their healing properties.10
Flu epidemics occur every 2 to 3 years in the United States, most often caused by influenza A viruses, which mutate rapidly. Consequently, antibodies generated to the previous strain have limited protection against a new viral strain.11 This leaves the body is a constant state of “catch-up.” Keeping your immunity up
to snuff is the best way to stay healthy. Several botanicals have a remarkable history of effectiveness if you do catch a cold. These are elderberry, olive leaf extract, allicin stabilized garlic, oregano oil, arabinogalactans and rosemary.12 If your doctor puts you on antibiotics for a more severe complication, be sure and add a good probiotic and prebiotic combination.
References:
1 Sanchez, A.; et al; “Role of Sugars in Human Neutrophilic Phagocytosis” Amer J Clin Nutr 973,26:1180-84.
2 Rennard, B.O.; et al.; “Chicken Soup Inhibits Neutrophil Chemotaxis in Vitro” Chest 2000;118:1150-57.
3 Durfee, A.; Rennard, S.I.; “Free Range Chicken Soup” Chest 2001;119:1978.
4 Barringer, T.H.; et al.; “Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life” Ann Int Med 2003;138:365-371.
5 Beck, M.A.; “Antioxidants and Viral Infections: Host Immune Response and Viral Pathogenicity” J Nutr 2001;20:384S-388S.
6 Prasad, A.S. “Zinc: Role in Immunity, Oxidative Stress and Chronic Inflammation” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care Aug 25 2009; [epub ahead of print]
7 Nelson, H.K.; et al.; “Host Nutritional Selenium Status as a Driving Force for Influenza Virus Mutations” FASEB J June 8, 2001; 10.1096/fj.01-0115fje.
8 Intergerst, E.S.; et al.; “Contributions of Selected Vitamins and Trace Elements in Immune Function” Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51:301-23.
9 Wichers, H.; “Immunomodulation by Food: Promising Concept for Mitigating Allergic Disease?” Anal Bioanal Chem 2009;395:37-45.
10 Webb, A.L.; Villamor, E.; “Update: Effects of Antioxidant and Non-Nutritive Vitamin Supplementation on Immune Function” Nut Rev 2007;65:181-217.
11 Roxas, M.; Jurenka, J.; “Colds and Influenza: A Review of Diagnosis and Conventional, Botanical, and Nutritional Considerations” Altern Med Rev 2007;12:25-48.
© 2014 Reposted with permission from NOW University. This article can be found at: http://www.nowuniversity.com/Library/HealthConcerns/AllergyImmuneSystem/077946.htm
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