|
Immune survival.
Do you:
• struggle to get through the winter without several colds and/or bouts of flu
• find it difficult to shake off the remnants of a bug and suffer a lingering cough or a head full of snot for months afterwards
• Have a stressful life that impacts negatively on immune function
• Are you already vulnerable, e.g. experiencing Chronic Fatigue syndrome, or training very hard for a sports goal
Factors that have an adverse influence on immune function
• Eating a bad diet -junk food, lots of caffeine, not enough vegetables and fruit
• Eating a lot of sugar - sugar competes with vitamin C, which is good for the immune system; so if you have heaps of sugar then you undermine your immune system
• Eating lots of fatty foods - having a high fat intake or high cholesterol makes your immune cells lazy - they lie around instead of going out on patrol!
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is also bad for your immune cells, which get disorientated and confused...just like us!
• Smoking is bad for immune function as well as everything else in the body
• Not getting enough sleep lowers your immune function
• Being stressed and unhappy also means you'll have a less active and efficient immune response
Echinacea is well known for its positive effect on colds and flu, and recently published research shows that it has more effect when the immune system is under pressure due to stress factors. [1] Studies have also shown that those using Echinacea were less likely to develop colds when compared to placebo, reducing the incidence by about half. [2]
This means that you can take it preventatively and reduce their likelihood of coming down with a bug in the first place, rather than waiting to use it once you’ve become ill.
Another piece of research will interest those of you who train hard physically, maybe working towards a marathon or just focusing on improving your personal fitness. In a study on athletes actively involved in sports training, 71% of the participants remained free of cold episodes over the 2-month trial period when taking Echinacea. This is the first study to suggest that Echinaforce is effective in the prophylaxis, as well as the treatment, of the common cold in persons who actively participate in sports. [3]
Another herb that can prove beneficial when tackling an immune system undermined by chronic stress is Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus). This herb is particularly good for women whose hormonal shifts are adding to the pressures in their lives. It is associated with a balancing effect on female hormones and a strengthening of the body's response to stress. Known as an adaptogen, it supports the adrenal glands and often improves energy levels. Not suitable for long-term use, it can be very handy for a temporary lift when under fire - think Frenetically Frantic Festivities! A combination of Echinacea and Siberian Ginseng throughout the worst of the winter weather will help hold you together.
Be aware that Ginseng has plenty of contraindications: always check the product details and phone the Vogel Helpline (0845 6085858) if in doubt.
Lifestyle tips
• Keep up a high intake of fruit and vegetables throughout the winter months. Stew fruit rather than having it cold, and have vegetablessteamed, stewed or roasted instead of focusing on cold salads.
• Keep refined sugar intake down, using stewed and dried fruit for sweetness and that 'stodge' factor that we sometimes crave in the dark, cold months. A fruit crumble made with wholemeal or spelt flour and agave syrup instead of sugar is wholly satisfying and doesn't impinge on immune function.
• Reduce or cut out caffeine and alcohol, especially when under pressure and/or foregathering with people who come bearing strange bugs!
[1] Ritchie MR, Gertsch J, Klein P, Schoop R. Effects of Echinaforce®
Treatment on ex wVo-Stimulated Blood Cells. Phytomedicine 2011; 18: 826 - 831
[2] Schoop R et al. Clinical Therapeutics 2006; 1:10
[3] Schoop R et al. Adv Ther 2006; 23 (5): 823-33
If you'd like more information about any of this research, please contact Eileen@bioforce.co.uk
|
