Archive for Immunity
Are You at Risk of Getting a ‘Clostridium difficile’ Infection?
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Many people are very concerned about the outbreaks of health care acquired infections that have recently been widely reported in hospitals and other settings. These infections have been traced to the bacteria Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile. This is a highly infectious pathogen that is very resistant to many front line commonly utilized antibiotics.
In order to increase your ability to live longer and live healthier you must do what you can to enhance your immune system and become as resistant as possible to infections caused by these type bacteria.
The following may increase your risk of getting C. difficile infection …..
- Hospital stay: Staying in a hospital too long or sharing a room with a C. difficile infected person increases your risk.
- Nasogastric tube: A common medical procedure involves using a NG tube or NGT. This is typically put into your nose and down your stomach to feed you or keep your stomach empty. Having an NGT may promote a C. difficile infection
- Age: Elderly are more susceptible to C. difficile infections as the body changes overtime. Newborn babies also have an increased risk of being infected
- Antacids: These medicines decrease the stomach acid that can kill harmful bacteria.
- Antibodies: Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria, including the good ones. Taking such medicines may upset the balance between the good and bad bacteria in the colon.
- Dormant Infection: The C. difficile bacteria from a previous infection may still be in your system and could cause another infection.
- Weak Immune System: The immune (body’s defense) system is that part of your body that fights infection. Chemotherapy and other medicines, such as steroids, decrease your immune system and make it weak. Having surgeries or procedures, such as an organ transplant, in the past may also affect your body defenses.
So, what can you do to decrease your risk of acquiring C. difficile?
Plastics & BPA – What you don’t know CAN hurt you!
Posted by: | CommentsThere has been much discussion and controversy lately regarding the safety (or lack of) of plastics in our environment, as well as, in our food and water supplies. As an environmental scientist I can assure you that it is much more insidious with far more negative impacts than most people realize.
Is this intended to scare you? Well, let’s hope so! It would be great if you get concerned enough to actually take actions that can help protect you and your family from plastic ‘pollution’ as much as possible and perhaps allow you to live longer and healthier lives. Many of us have been complacent for far too long assuming that ‘business’ and government agencies have been looking out for our best health interests. Unfortunately, that is just not always the case.
Who cares, what’s the big deal anyway? The big deal is that there are components in plastic containers that break down and leach into the liquid and food they contain. One of major concern is BPA or bis-Phenol A. BPA is a building block of plastics and has long been known to be an endocrine disruptor. That means the human body ‘sees’ this man-made substance as a hormone that can be taken up by our endocrine system and used in place of one of our many human hormones that are essential for so many of our proper body functions. 
Our endocrine system includes our gonads, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, and pineal glands. These are all critical components of our endocrine system and their proper functioning is essential for good health. Imagine what could happen if a little piece of BPA is mistakenly taken up by your body to be used in place of a human produced hormone. It certainly could ‘disrupt’ your endocrine system and cause untold havoc in your body.
Bisphenol A is found in hundreds of household products, including plastic bottles, as well as, baby bottles and food containers. It is also present in the linings of canned goods such as sodas, soup, baby formula and canned fruits and vegetables.
Swine Flu and How to Enhance Your Immune System
Posted by: | CommentsThe latest buzz in the news is all about swine flu and concerns we may be in a pandemic with this one. However, so far this doesn’t appear to be any worst than ‘the flu’ that we see every year at about this time. Unfortunately, on average over 36,000 people a year die from ‘the flu’ in the US so it is certainly something to be taken seriously.
There is lots of good information at the Center for Disease Control website that you might want to check out. Here’s an excerpt from their site:
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
The most effective thing one can do is to stay as healthy as you possible can and to take measures to enhance your immune system. Shaklee® has a natural approach to doing that with Nutriferon™:
Enhance Immune System Naturally
Remember to always practice the basics of good health; eat nutritious meals, take supplements to ensure you have adequate nutrients, drink plenty of water, get 7 – 8 hours of sleep daily, exercise regularly, and maintain a loving and positive attitude.
Health IS Your Greatest Wealth!
