resource in sorting out all of these questions is the National Vaccine Information Center at
www.nvic.org. In addition to reviewing all the current-day issues with vaccinations, the website also offers information on state-by- state regulations.
The Immune System The immune system is a complex system
of the body that has many components, in- cluding the lymphatic system which supports drainage of waste from the body, the liver which is in charge of detoxification or break- ing down of toxins, the bowel and bladder for optimal elimination and excretion of toxins from the body, and even the skin as a route of elimination. The immune system’s greatest task is twofold: to break down toxins and excrete them. If toxins build up, this can have damaging effects on the whole body, including contributing to general inflamma- tion, an increased load on the heart, neu- rological impairment, and so much more. In children and adults, this can manifest as a myriad of issues such as fatigue, learn- ing deficits and decreased mental clarity, behavioral issues, chronic pain, and more. It is helpful to imagine the immune system as our foundation. Without a healthy immune system, our bodies go into slow motion and begin to store toxins. This type of toxicity could even lead to depression and anxiety. Vaccines target the immune system
with the overall goal of increasing immunity. However, in a child or adult who has a chal- lenged immune system, the vaccine process could be derailed significantly. Consider the previously mentioned child who has unde-
tectable immune deficiency. That child visits their family doctor for a routine exam and during the visit receives multiple vaccines, commonly exceeding the allotted amount. This child would be affected strongly by the elevated heavy metal and pathogen load. This toxicity could contribute to a change in health for that child which could manifest as any number of issues, including learning, behavior, socialization, and more. It could contribute to autism or another neurologic impairment. Though the issue of vaccinating or not
vaccinating your child is a comprehensive decision-making process that ultimately is made by the parents, hopefully after careful and extensive thought, there is a lot that a parent can do to support their child’s im- mune health by making dietary and lifestyle changes as well as implementing other alter- native health modalities to promote immune competence.
Augmenting the Immune System Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Gluten Elimination
There are many ways to augment the immune system through dietary and lifestyle changes. One such approach is to imple- ment an anti-inflammatory diet for the family. By decreasing general inflammation as well as decreasing the allergen load in the body, the person’s immune system becomes stronger. The foremost strategy in anti- inflammatory eating is a gluten elimination
diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oat. Gluten is pro-inflammatory. This means that when a person ingests or is exposed to gluten, the level of inflammation in the body is increased. This is the case for ALL persons. Gluten free cooking and gluten free products are widely available today. One of my favorite gluten free cooking books is “Gluten Free Baking Classics” by Annalise Roberts. Her follow up book, “The Gluten Free Good Health Cookbook” is a great resource for gluten free living as well.
Other Elimination Diets
A second strategy to decrease inflamma- tion in the body through diet is to consider performing systematic elimination diets of other well known allergens. Some of these allergens include: soy, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy (casein), eggs, and shell fish. Often, people suffer from various food sensitivities. An elimination diet can help to hone in on the particular allergies that are contributing to a variety of body issues. An elimination diet is best performed when adopted for a minimum of three months and performed 100%. As for gluten, it is presenting as toxic to all persons and a gluten elimination diet is best continued long term. When performing an elimination diet, look for a decrease in signs and symptoms beyond just digestion. Food sensitivities can contribute to all kinds of body issues, including headaches, joint pain, learning deficits, behavioral problems, and so much more.
12 Natural Nutmeg
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