Bah, its winter and cold and flu season is in full swing. Building a strong Immune System is our best defence mechanism against infection.
The key factor in the prevention of colds and flu is overall cellular health. As we have all noticed not everyone exposed to a cold or flu becomes ill. A virus is the external threat that can cause an infection, but the internal susceptibility of our cells will determine if there is infection or resistance. Louis Pasteur's famous dictum"The germ is nothing, the terrain is everything" speaks to the importance of cellular health.
A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of the human body, and is the target of infectious organisms. There are many different types of cells, however, they all share one important characteristic - they are 60 to 70 percent water. The presence of water is so critical to all metabolic processes within a cell that it can be the single most important variable in resistance to infection.
Humans cannot survive without water. Even low-grade dehydration dries out mucous membrane in our nose and mouth, which damages our first line of defence against food and airborne illnesses.
A good approach to water intake is the "8x8 rule" . Drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day. The rule could also be stated: "drink eight 8 ounce glasses of fluid a day, as all fluids count toward the daily total. And keep in mind there are calories in juice and soda pop!
Another major component of a cells defence is the cell membrane. Cell membranes are the gateway to a cell where nutrients move in and waste moves out. The cell membrane is also the protective envelope that is designed to identify invading bacteria and viruses for elimination.
There are two absolutely necessary structural components of all cell membranes. These are the omega 3 essential fatty acids, called EPA and DHA. These two fatty acids cannot be made by the human body and must be consumed. without them cells do not function properly and are susceptible to invasion by viruses.
The most widely available source of EPA and Dha is cold water oily fish such as wild salmon, especially cod, herring mackerel, anchovies and sardines. Oils from these fish have a profile of around seven times as much omega 3 as omega 6.
Flax is six times richer than most fish oils. Flax and its oil are perhaps the most widely available botanical source of emega 3. Flax seed oil consists of 55% ALA (alpha linolenic acid). Flax , like chia, contains approximately three times as much omega 3 as omega 6.
15 grams of flaxseed oil provides 8 grams of ALA, which is converted in the body to EPA and DHA at an efficient of (2% -15%) and (2%-5%) respectively.
Everyday wellness is our best defence against colds or flu. Whole food nutrition, exercise and restful sleep create a foundation for a strong immune system.
