UNDERSTANDING CANCER: WEAK LINKS IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

posted by admin in Cancer

Our body’s immune system regularly battles foreign invaders and cancerous cells everyday, isolating or destroying these toxins so that they can do no harm. However, the immune system can become weak or depressed due to a number of dietary, psychological, environmental and physical factors. This can ultimately set up the pathway for the growth of cancer, as cancer not only requires abnormal cells to exist, it also needs the right environment, ‘a suppression of the body’s immune system’ to grow. Factors that may suppress immunity include:

Diet

Nutrient deficiency is without question the most frequent cause of a depressed immune system. Lack of protein has a severe effect on cell-mediated immunity. Adequate protein is optimal for good immune system function. A high sugar intake decreases the ability of white blood cells to destroy foreign particles. Excess sugar, fat and calories as well as singular or multiple nutritional deficiencies all have a marked effect on our immune system. Zinc, in particular, is an extremely important mineral needed for strong immunity and a deficiency of this mineral will present in the form of lowered immunity.

Man-made Electromagnetic Frequencies

Computer terminals, power lines, video terminals, electric blankets, electric razors and waterbed heaters all have a depressive effect on the body’s immune system.

Emotional State

When we are depressed, lonely, sad or grieving, our immune system also becomes depressed. The more significant the emotion is and how deeply we feel this indicates how strongly the immune system becomes affected. The link between the body and mind should never be underestimated.

Lack of Exercise

Exercise has been shown to cause a variety of improved immune functions and health benefits.

Obesity

The white blood cells of overweight people are less capable of destroying bacteria viruses and tumour cells.

Smoking, Alcohol and Other Stimulants

Alcohol decreases the function and efficiency of white blood cells and natural killer cell activity, particularly after direct consumption. Regular high intake of alcohol has a depressive effect on the body’s immune system and increases the risk of cancer. Nicotine and other stimulants such as caffeine and recreational drugs weaken the body’s immune system. Marijuana and amphetamine use diminishes macrophage and natural killer cell activity and impairs interferon production and cytotoxic T cells.

Stress

Stress has perhaps the greatest negative influence on the body’s immune system. It has the ability to reduce lymphocyte production, diminish lymphocyte count, reduces the body’s ability to produce interferon and decreases macrophage function. Secretions of adrenaline and cortisol from the body’s adrenal glands affect many functions, including the ability of macrophages to scavenge lipids from arteries. They also decrease production of the antibody IgA, necessary in building the body’s resistance to infections.

Stress can result from negative events like divorce, marital separation, death or illness of a family member, trouble at work and other reasons. Stress can also result from positive events like marriage, retirement, pregnancy, a new family member, career change, graduation from school and vacations. The degree of change in one’s life – whether negative or positive – and how we deal with this seems to determine the level of stress we feel and the degree of our susceptibility to illness.

Other factors which may decrease immune system function include a lack of sleep, lack of sunlight, long-term living in air-conditioning and central heating, lack of exercise and excessive exercise, lack of fresh air and a low fluid intake.

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