Immune System Boosters
This is the Internet, so everything must be tempered with common sense. There are good and bad things said about most things...there is always someone with a differing opinion, so most of my recommendations are based on averages of opinion rather than fact.
The list
In order of its benefit as I believe it:
water
lemons
mushrooms
peppers
salmon
spinach
broccoli
fruits
fish and seafood— whiting, tuna (in water), shrimp, oysters
onion
tomatoes
leafy greens
coffee and tea
beans
whole grains
oranges
chicken
assorted vegetables
garlic
beef
Water: Staying hydrated helps the blood flow easily thus delivering more oxygen with less effort on your heart. I've reasoned that thinner blood causes the organism to spread out making it more susceptible to the immune system. White blood cells (phagocytes) carry the immune system's antibodies. When they encounter an invasion they chemically signal for more phagocytes to join the fight. When blood flows easily the white cell army is more responsive. Water improves your entire system, helping in memory, cognition, muscle function, digestion and much more.
Lemons: Google "lemon, health" and you will be amazed at the work a lemon can do. In addition to cleaning the liver, lemons assist the immune system by delivering essential nutritional elements like zinc, magnesium, calcium and pectin. Lemons are said to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. I have found lemon water to be more effective in my recoveries than is water alone.
Mushrooms: I eat crimini and white mushrooms which seem to top many benefit lists. They are inexpensive and easy to find. Portabella are of the same species— called button mushrooms. I have found sites that claim button mushrooms are the worst and are even carcinogenic, which is in conflict with other studies claiming that white mushrooms help prevent breast cancer. The mushrooms those sites claim to be beneficial fall under 'exotic'. They are harder to find and cost more. No matter the topic, there is always a conflict to be found.
Peppers: All peppers are healthy but it is the hot peppers that are best for immune boosting. Hot peppers have capsaicin— the chemical that makes them hot. Capsaicin has been attributed to killing cancer cells, reducing inflammation, assisting in weight loss, and helping to relieve gastric distress. Hot peppers contain high volumes of vitamin C which is essential for tissue repair, immune system strength, circulation, and brain function. Vitamin A is the most abundant which helps red blood cell form for more oxygen, immune system function, and vision. Vitamins B2 and B6 in hot peppers help blood production and nervous system health. Hot peppers are said to improve metabolism. They also contain small amounts of vitamin E and potassium.
Salmon: Of all the fish, salmon is the greatest source for omega 3 fatty acids. While omega 3s are currently controversial, it is unanimously accepted that they are essential for normal metabolism. A diet high in fish has been found to decrease the risk of stroke. And while the jury is still out, there is evidence that omega 3s might be beneficial in treating depression, ADHD, and pain from arthritis. Salmon also delivers antioxidants which are vital in preventing free radicals from causing cell damage.
One caution about salmon, wild caught Alaskan salmon is your best choice. Salmon farming results in sick fish and there is suspicion that these sick fish have affected the Atlantic salmon population.
Spinach: Spinach is a powerhouse of vitamins. It is good for immune functioning, the eyes, assisting red blood cells and stimulating production of white blood cells.
Broccoli: Broccoli is an immune system booster as well as providing greater bone health. It contains vitamins C and K. Have a cold? Raw broccoli is supposed to be more effective against cold and flu than oranges. It is good for flushing the system and is said to wash out many carcinogens.
Fruits: Grapefruit are said to increase fat burning. Saturated fats are linked to cardiovascular disease. I am assuming that since it is the saturated fats that our body most readily stores that these are the fats that p-myxzoa likes to use for protection. Dr. F says to stay under 20g of fat daily. I try for under 15g. Grapefruit is likely a great complement to a low fat diet.
Lemons are great. I don't think you can eat too many. Caution, lemons can be hard on tooth enamel.
You've heard of an apple a day...well, maybe you shouldn't. Apples are a good source of fiber, but so are many other foods. Apples have vitamin C but it seems most fruits do. The thing about apples is apples/apple juice is the number one contributor to tooth decay. Maybe two or three apples a week would be better.
Bananas have potassium and manganese but are also highest in saturated fats. They also contain melatonin, making them a better before bed snack than fruit with lunch.
Strawberries are good for skin and hair. More importantly they are ranked as a super fruit for their nutritional value. They are loaded with antioxidants and aid the immune system.
When it comes to fresh fruits versus dried fruits and fruit juices you need to understand that a small glass of fruit juice is the equivalent of many fruits. Without the pulp you don't get the fiber. Fiber helps slow down absorption of the fruit's sugars. A glass of juice is a sugar rush from the equivalent of three to six fruits. Dried fruits are most often pumped full of added sugar. With the water removed the smaller volume can encourage us to eat more. While dried fruits retain the majority of their nutrients and fiber, eating sweetened dried fruit in larger portions is going to increase sugar intake. P-myxzoa loves sugar. Eat fresh fruit. One exception, dried apricots are said to be even better for you than are fresh apricots.
Fish and Seafood: Shrimp is loaded with beneficial nutrients but is said to increase cholesterol. Whiting is a good alternative as a break from salmon. It costs less and still provides an abundance of nutrients. It is much lower in fats than is salmon and might be a better alternative if you have weight concerns. Tuna is another beneficial fish. If you buy canned fish make sure it is in water and not oil. Oysters are another health power food but I can only find them canned in oil so I buy a can monthly and eat it on a low fat day.
Kelp is a sea plant that is high in iodine. Many people with a hypothyroid condition eat kelp or take kelp supplements to improve the thyroid's absorption of iodine. Kelp increased my thyroid symptoms which implies I was absorbing too much iodine. Creating the T3 hormone is where my thyroid fails and I have no option but to supplement it pharmaceutically. You should be aware of what seafoods increase your iodine intake and how it effects your thyroid.
Onion: There is nothing like an onion to open your sinuses. Yellow onions seem to top the list in health benefit. Some suggest the white onion is second but others put it nearer the bottom. My favorite, vidalia onions, are said to be last, but another source said that vidalia country (central Georgia, USA) has half the mortality rate from stomach cancer than the national average. Additionally, onions help keep the blood flowing, which might not be so good for a hemophiliac, but it is great for the rest of us. Thinner blood reduces risk for blood clot and stroke. It moves oxygen faster and speeds the response time of the white blood cells. Pungent onions are supposed to be more beneficial than the more popular mild onions.
Tomatoes: I started eating raw tomatoes because of their tendency to control free radicals. They contain the four major carotenoids: alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. Together they provide greater health benefits. Tomatoes have been proven to work with broccoli to prevent prostate cancer. Tomatoes increase lycopenein in breast milk passing antioxidants to the infant. Eating tomatoes with olive oil increases the bodies absorption of carotenoid phytochemicals by 15 times. Phytochemicals are said to reduce risk of cancers.
Leafy Greens: A source of minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the Bs. Salad greens are said to help the eyes to resist the effects of aging. They are a guard against blood clotting and can reduce inflammation such as from arthritis. Most of this is credited to the vitamin K, which most of us do not get enough of. Eating salad with olive oil increases the absorption of vitamin K.
Coffee and Tea: When I told Dr. F that I had quit coffee he asked me not to. "Coffee has flavonoids," which are said to have anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant properties. They are attributed to reducing many cancers including mouth cancer. Decaf is proving to be as beneficial as regular coffee. As for caffeine, it has long been know to boost mental activity as well as energy. There are doctors that say four cups a day is fine, and others who say drink as much as you want. I do. It is my one substance abuse. It is a natural blood thinner and reduces the chance of stroke as well as kidney stones. Caffeine is controversial in memory testing having both positive and negative results. There have been tests suggesting caffeine might improve memory recall. While you'll never prove that by me, I do think more clearly with coffee.
Though green tea has the better rep, green and black teas are very much the same. Green tea is picked and fired immediately while black tea is allowed to age before firing, creating a difference in oxidation giving each a different benefit to health. Drink both. They may lower blood pressure and cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar and reduce tooth decay. There is evidence that teas might inhibit cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Chamomile tea is one of my regulars. Reading has suggested three cups a day is beneficial. It is said to help relax you and aid in sleep. Science is concluding that the old claim that it relieves menstrual cramps is true. It is found to calm muscle spasms in general.
**Chamomile is related to ragweed so consider your allergies.
Beans: Legumes are high in zinc which helps your immune system function. They are among the best sources of proteins and can be a fair substitute for meats. Among the highest rated is the black bean. A dish of black beans served with brown rice is suggested to be even more beneficial. The pair make a complete protein. The high fiber and protein of black beans help move your bowels along which can ease digestion by spreading the work out. The evening out of the digestion helps to regulate the uptake of simple sugars and avoids blood sugar spikes. On the opposite spectrum, it avoids the blood sugar drops often encountered after a spike. The soluble fibers in black beans helps lower cholesterol.
The abundant volume of folate (B6) in black beans helps the nervous system to produce the amino acids it needs to function. Black beans are said to be particularly helpful during pregnancy. Their folate and iron help the fetus to develop a normal brain and spinal cord. Black beans are said to reduce risk of colon cancer.
Green beans, soy beans, black eyed peas are regulars on my table but the black bean is almost a daily contributor.
Whole Grains: Studies suggest that whole grains are a component in reducing the risks of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Whole grains help maintain healthier blood pressure. They reduce risk of stroke and help to better maintain weight management.
Me being a celiac, it is hard to find whole grain foods that are gluten free. Granola has been my best source for multi-whole grains, but even with that it is difficult to find a granola that doesn't have flavor enhancers like honey, vanilla, nuts and dried berries. When I do find a product I use it sparingly for the occasional breakfast, but mostly I use it as a sprinkle on steel-cut oats which I have two or three times a week.
A note on oats. Rolled oats break down the fiber and thus the carbs are delivered into your system faster. Steel cut oats retain their fiber and so regulate the carbs. Oats are another good source of natural melatonin. Mom always said to start your day with a hot bowl of oats. Maybe mom was wrong. Melatonin is the hormone that signals your mind to shut down and your brain to sleep. That exam might be easier if you have eggs for breakfast. A bowl of oats and a banana before bed makes for a great nights sleep and can make dreams more vivid.
Oranges: One orange can have more than a whole days supply of vitamin C. It is somewhat sad that the greatest benefits that the orange has to offer are generally tossed out with the peel. The white membrane under the peel is also more beneficial than the pulp. Save some peel and allow it to dry. Put some in a cup of black tea and clove. Not only is it flavorful, it is a triple benefit beverage.
Chicken: When I'm not eating fish I'm eating chicken. Niacin-rich chicken provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline due to aging. Chicken is a source of protein and selenium, vitamin B6, and phosphorus which is necessary for bone health.
Assorted Vegetables: What can I say beyond this. Eat your brussel sprouts. Don't forget the okra.
Garlic: It has been suggested that Garlic might assist in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies have shown it to be a broad spectrum antibiotic without the danger of creating resistive bacteria. It is said to be a powerful antioxidant and can help control free radicals.
Garlic should be farther up the list. There is a wives's tale that says eating garlic will interfere with your reaction time for days to follow. I can almost validate this from experience. I've weighed its benefit against its interfering with such a vital system and dropped its importance. While I don't suggest that you eliminate garlic, you might want to lay off of it a few days before that big lacrosse game or ping pong match.
Beef: Dr. Fry's favored McDougall diet excluded beef because of it's fat content. But McDougall's own recommendations urge the use of B12 supplements due to the lack of beef. Advantages of beef are its high iron, B12 and zinc which are many times over that of chicken. Beef is also a great source of protein. There are many cuts of beef that are quite lean at only about 1 gram of fat per ounce. That's less than many low fat diet dishes. A beef dinner can be planned for by limiting other fats throughout the day and can come in well below the 15 gram limit. I'm not a dedicated beef eater and have it only once or twice a month. I do feel it is important to give your body red meats. Our ancient ancestors evolved on a diet of red meat and vegetation. Given Darwin's theory of evolution where advantages are inherited, we are genetically primed to eat it.
My Routine
In the mornings I chop up a large (or two small) Anaheim peppers. Often I toss in a couple small jalapeno peppers. I use the entire pepper (well, not the stem) because the seeds and membrane hold the highest levels of capsaicin. I chop half of a medium onion, usually a yellow but sometimes a white. I slice up a half dozen crimini mushrooms— a wire type egg slicer will save you a lot of effort. Make sure the wires aren't resisting against the guides, the extra stiffness of the mushroom can misalign them. I put a tablespoon of olive oil into a skillet and sauté the mix. In a separate skillet I spray a bit of fat free no-stick and cook three egg whites either fluffy or firm. It wouldn't hurt to cook everything together, what ever is your preference.
On peppers...they can be uncomfortably hot and I urge you to start small. My wife cannot tolerate any hot peppers so when I prepare her meals I use bell peppers. The red bell pepper is reported to be particularly beneficial.
When piled on the plate it seems like a lot, but I am maintaining a constant reasonable weight so I must be using it even though I am not very active by my standard. For curiosity sake, I've always loved hot peppers, mushrooms and onions. I find that interesting since they are three of the top immune boosting foods. Your body knows what it needs, ask any pregnant woman with cravings.
After breakfast I squeeze one lemon and two cutie oranges (the dinky ones) into a half gallon of drinking water. The oranges offset the bitterness. I drink this throughout the day. I find it easy to consume the entire half gallon before dinner.
For midday I get two dinner plates and pile garden mix salads on one with a tablespoon of olive oil. On the other I set out carrots, grapes, cherry tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, spring onions, hot pepper, cucumber, broccoli and cauliflower (raw). Most days I'll open a can of black beans too and eat them a little at a time with the rest. All this I graze on until it is gone...usually in about 6 hours.
There is a saying I heard that had a lot to do with designing my diet; if you want to be healthy, eat like a cave man. What they mean is natural fresh foods that can be picked and eaten, and perhaps the occasional mastodon. Basically, if it comes in a package don't eat it. A friend told me once to stay to the outside rim of the grocery store— that she never shops in the middle. In most stores this works...except for the bakery. But I thought about how a cave man would have to eat. He didn't have a refrigerator. They wouldn't finish building the local grocery store for another 50,000 years. He grazed. When he found it he ate it. Granted, when he found a lot he ate a lot. The stomach can double as a storage tank. But generally, his nourishment was delivered slowly and more or less constantly giving him easy even absorption of nutrients.
I have to share dinners with my wife so they are mostly traditional, but always from the list. Usually it is chicken, fish, chicken, fish alternating through the week. Occasionally brown rice or baked potatoes (or sweet potato or yams) but most often it is a starchy veggie like yellow squash, Lima beens, etc, with a green veggie— spinach, asparagus, broccoli, green beans. Now and then I get creative and do something fancy with mushrooms, and there is my chicken onion soup, shrimp kale/broccoli. Sometimes I create whoknowswhat that I might never be able to duplicate. Changing it up makes dinners more interesting, but always from the list.
You will notice there is no dairy in the list. No chips or soda or pasta. The list is of reported immune boosting foods, and foods that repair the body and ease the burden on the immune system. Your body is a unit. Fixing one part will help another to function better. Things like corn products and cheese are hard to digest. I no longer agree with limiting night shades (peppers) and legumes (black beans) like Dr C had me doing, but keeping a mind on how hard your system has to work to get your nourishment is only smart. Be nice to your gut.
Why I think the diet works
I'm afraid I've let us all down a little. I'm not diligent toward keeping my routine routine. I don't often stray from the list but, more often than I care to, I forget to eat entirely. When I have work planned I can walk right through the kitchen and out the door without ever a thought of food. After a few hours I'll crash and usually keep right on working until the job is finished. By the time I remember to eat I'm too exhausted to cook and I'll grab something easy and go lie down.
Clinically speaking, this isn't a failed process. After an hour, and sometimes only minutes, I'm up again and, while tired, I am functional. Compare this to pre-diet activities where an hour or two of work, even after having eaten, would send me to the bed for three days with the most uncomfortable sensations that defy description. This was not improved during the year on Dr. F's treatment and diet. I did have a nearly complete recovery during that time but it only lasted days and then I plummeted to near bottom, was in exceptional pain and the ataxia and mental fatigue returned to a greater degree.
In all fairness to Dr. Fry, his diet advice was sharing time with two other doctors. I had my celiac diet to contend with, and Dr. C was concerned with healing my digestive tract in order to improve my immune system. It was the hardest dieting I have ever done. Basically I was left with a few fruits, lettuces and chicken.
A year into it the antibiotics stopped working. The diet combination was killing me. I couldn't work or even sit through an entire TV show. I spent most of my time in bed being miserable. Frustrated and angry I quit everything. When my self pity and depression began to ease I surfed the Internet looking for alternative treatments. That was when I stumble on lists of immune boosting foods. I realized that for the past year I hadn't fed my immune system...at all. During that short period of remission, if my immune system had been healthy, I likely would have beaten protomyxzoa. My doctors were concerned with their small areas of treatment and none broached the subject of feeding my immune system.
Today I've been on my immunity diet for about 3 months. When I've eaten properly, I can wear myself out from working (hours and hours now and almost every day) and recover completely only hours later. For this I consider my diet a success, and more beneficial than antibiotics with the McDougall/celiac/gut healing diet. Antibiotics are active only for about two hours. The immune system is all day and night.
I'm not yet cured, but I'm better than I've been in decades. The pain is gone, save the occasional short term recurrence. The ataxia is still present and much more prevalent than I care to mention. Mental systems are improved but still impaired; I am getting around town without the GPS now, but I still find language difficult. I keep telling my wife to hear what I mean, not what I say.
Largely, the pain was an issue of infected body tissue. My immune system seems to be keeping up with that now. The ataxia and mental impairments are all beneath the blood brain barrier. It is difficult even for the immune system to work below the BBB. But while improvements are slow they are there. That's a positive thing. I don't know how long it will take to eradicate decades of established organisms in my brain but to think it would be quick is unreasonable. What are my choices...I feel better so I'll keep on this path.
A day off from the diet is a day backwards. Your antibodies aren't an army battling a foe. The white cells are the army. The antibodies are the ammunition. Once fired they are spent and need to be replenished If you don't resupply your troops everyday your foe advances. To my observation, benefit from eating the immune boosting diet goes on for hours and hours but not days. When I've skipped a day, after the first meal I can instantly feel improvement, but it takes about two days of diet to get back.
Am I right?
I don't know but it seems to be working for me. If you suspect something here might adversely affect health, please let us know. Being sick is hard enough without complicating it with bad information. Everything here is, "according to sources on the Internet...." We are each responsible for our own safety. I took the time to develop this blog in hopes I could help others cope and heal. But though I've been ill since the Eisenhower administration, I'm just a babe in the search for self healing. Please feel free to add your thoughts and suggestions in a comment. We need to share information to improve it.
