How To Increase Immunity Through Nutrition
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
Written by Tristan Anderson
The immune system is the system of specialized cells and organs that
protect an organism from external biological influences. When our
immune system is strong we have the ability to stay healthy when
certain influences such as bacteria, cancer cells, viruses, etc. show
up in our body. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_ system)
The human body has an amazingly ability to handle disruptive
influences. It is designed to survive. However, in our modern world of
increased pollution, genetically modified foods, and chemical laden
foods, we are putting the body to the test. We do have the ability to
help the body cope with these factors, though, and one of the major
ways is through healthy nutrition, such as organic and raw foods.
Nutrition plays a vital role in nourishing the cells and organs of the
immune system so that they can function at their optimal level.
Malnutrition has been shown to be a major cause in suppressing the
immune system, which leads to an increased chance of disease,
infection, colds, flu, and so on. One of the easiest and best ways to
support the immune system through nutrition is to buy only organic
foods. Organic foods are those which have not been genetically modified
and have not been sprayed with chemicals. They are far superior to
commercial foods in nutritional content as well as life-force content.
Sure, they may be a little more expensive, but isn’t your health, as
well as the planet’s, worth it?
The use of genetically modified foods and chemicals is a dangerous act
with harmful repercussions that have been proven through numerous
studies. We have no idea how genetically modified foods will alter the
entire food chain. The earth has spent millions of years evolving seeds
to perfection; do we really think we can add to perfection? Gabriel
Cousens adds these points about genetically modified foods in his book Conscious Eating (2000),
“Currently there are no FDA regulations on genetically engineered food.
There are genetically engineered foods in infant formula, pizza, chips,
and many other aspects of the general American Diet. There is no
guarantee that our children or grandchildren will not get cancer from
it or that it will not weaken the germ plasm. Do we know if these foods
are safe for pregnant women?” (303) Cousens is making the obvious point
that tampering with natural food could have potential harmful affects
on the immune system. Many progressive nutritionists believe that
genetically modified foods should be stopped immediately for the health
of the planet and all beings on its surface.
Chemicals sprayed on foods are designed to kill microorganisms, and
they do a good job at it since they are extremely poisonous.
Unfortunately for humans (and these innocent living creatures) these
chemicals are absorbed by food and then directly delivered to us. Many
people claim that ingesting small doses of these poisons is relatively
safe. There may not be an immediate reaction to these kinds of food (or
there may be) but what are the long term affects?
As stated before, the body’s immune system is designed to protect the
body from harmful external influences. A poison is a harmful external
substance no matter at what amount. Therefore if we are eating
chemically sprayed food at every meal we are creating an immune system
response to rid the body of these chemicals. Eating in this way puts a
strain on the immune system and eventually weakens the entire body.
An interesting experiment was done with animals in the zoo to see if
they preferred organic or commercial food. Two plates were offered, one
with organic food and one with commercial food. Over and over animals
continually chose the organic food. Their instincts showed them which
food was best for them. Perhaps humans have lost touch with their
natural instincts.
Organic food gives more nutrition to the immune system than commercial
food, which increases its ability to function, and does not bring any
chemicals into the body. This allows the immune system to focus on any
other aspects of healing that might need to take place. Buying organic
food obviously benefits humans but it is also important to realize that
organic crops benefit the precious top soil of the earth. Commercial
forms of agriculture drain and weaken it. Every item we buy at the
grocery store is a vote toward the future health of our body/mind as
well as the health of the planet as a whole.
Another interesting factor to consider in terms of increasing and
sustaining the body’s immune system through nutrition is understanding
what is known as leukocytosis, which is an unhealthy increase in the
number of white blood cells (a major part of the immune system). White
blood cells are released into the body when it senses a disruptive
foreign substance such as a virus. In 1930, Paul Kouchakoff M.D.
scientifically verified that when a person ingested cooked food, the
body responded with leukocytosis. When a person ingested raw foods
there was no leukocytosis.
The conclusion Kouchakoff reached from these experiments was that the
body’s immune system reacts to cooked food as if it were something it
needed to protect the body from. Raw food did not create any immune
system response. Therefore, if cooked food is continually ingested, the
immune system is constantly at work. Over time, this once again can tax
the immune system and make the body less resistant to harmful
influences.
There are many more ways that nutrition can enhance and sustain the
immune system, however as shown in this section, organic raw food may
be the most beneficial for supporting the immune system. It is
interesting to note that all wild food found in nature is organic and
raw, and that this is the diet of all other animals on earth.