3 Major Disease Fighting Nutrients

Food is not just for fun, food is for fuel. It nourishes us and enlivens us with a excellent life. Food nourishes our body, sets us up with true health.It is the foundation of our healing and recovery. Like the engine of a car, our immune system requires sufficient fuel for it to always function in peak performance. Nutrition plays an important role in fighting infections. The absence of any one nutrient would have depreciating effect on the immune system. However, NI does not focus on our need for basic nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, essential fats, vitamins and minerals. A deficiency in these basic nutrients may negatively impact the immune system but however in this day and age, most people do not lack these nutrients.

The nutrients we usually give a pass to are disease-fighting nutrients like antioxidants, phytochemicals and polysaccharides, in short we would term it as PAP. These are nutrients that, according to NI that augment the function of our immune cells. An appropriate and adequate supply of disease-preventing nutrients like antioxidants, phytochemicals & polysaccharides give us the sustenance needed to protect our body from daily dangerous threats like viral, bacterial attacks. What we eat determines how we feel, look and act every single day. So, in consuming plant-based food, we revitalize our immune system because plants aid in digestion and they flush out toxins. In contrast, consuming too many animal products and high-fat food would impair immunity leaving us in a exhausted, lethargic state. If we can demand the best quality fuel for our cars, why can’t we pamper our internal engine with the best quality nutrients?

Antioxidants – Your fountain of youth

Antioxidants are compounds that prevent cell damage through oxidation. These compounds neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable molecules produced by e.g. UV rays, atmospheric pollution, stress, poor nutrition, toxic fumes from industrial processes, cooking fumes, cooking at high heat, cigarette smoke, toxic chemicals, and even our own body’s metabolic processes. These molecules can cause the mutation of proteins, membranes and even our own DNA, leading to cancer and other degenerative disease like cataracts and heart disease. Anti-oxidants would inhibit this from happening, thus preventing the aging of organs through oxidation and highly encourage cellular repair. The effect of anti-oxidants have been likened to that of a vacuum cleaner. For e.g., studies have shown antioxidants fight heart disease by stopping cholesterol deposits on blood vessel walls and also decrease overall cholesterol levels. By neutralizing cell-mutating free radicals, antioxidants offer hope in the prevention of cancer. A diet filled with anti-oxidants is said to delay aging. Anti-oxidants have even been used as anti-inflammatory agents to reduce the severity of arthritis and bronchitis.

Phytochemicals – Power From Plants

Phytochemicals, or plant chemicals are compounds unique to each fruit, vegetable and herb. Phytochemicals are found abundantly in plants. Phytochemicals give fruits and vegetables their color, flavor and aroma. Phytochemicals protect these plants from sunlight and also ensure their survival. Research has shown that phytochemicals possess enormous healing and disease-preventing properties. They are said to prevent infection, reducing the probability of coronary heart disease, inhibiting and eliminating carcinogens in cells thus leading to breakdown of cancer cells. Phytochemicals hasten wound-healing properties found in our blood. They impede growth of new blood vessels in cancer cells, block processes that lead to cancer and may reverse or halt progression of cancer at any stage. They are also said to neutralize cancer-causing hormones and hence deter cancer.

Polysaccharides – Nature’s Antidotes

Polysaccharides are long chains of sugar commonly found in some mushrooms. Polysaccharides increase the production of natural killer cells such as interferon, interleukin that destroy existing cancer cells and viruses. Polysaccharides also increase the activity of natural killer cells by 38 to 49 folds. Polysaccharides prevent healthy cells or benign tumors from becoming malignant. Research has shown that mushroom polysaccharides can inhibit tumor growth by activating immune cells.  Polysaccharides help to balance the immune system and empower it to destroy existing cancer cells and viruses. Mushrooms rich in polysaccharides are also used in anti-viral medication. In the 1960s, scientists discovered that polysaccharides possess anti-cancer properties. Each type of polysaccharide was discerned to own unique ability and have a healing effect against certain cancers. Thus the amount of polysaccharides used is essential, as only a suitable amount will produce optimal effects.

I'm Your Excellence Lifestyle Coach ~ Raine

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