By: Carlos M Viana, OMD, Clinical Nutritionist
Every day, my teachers are the orchid plants surrounding my consultation space under a large Ficus tree. The plants remind me there is no quick “fix” if they are not doing well. If you give orchids the correct growing environment, water, sun, and nutrients, they thrive and bloom. People thrive also when their body receives what it needs.
When a new client comes for a consultation at our healing center, I look for signs of problems with their immune system. I look for skin rash or hot or cold temperatures. The marks on their tongue tell me if they are exhausted. Do they have dry eyes, or are the white of their eyes a little yellow? The pulse informs me they are having elimination problems and constipation followed by diarrhea. I ask if they have headaches or mild fevers.
Your immune system has a vital role in health. It protects your body from harmful substances, germs, and cell changes that could make you ill. If your immune system runs smoothly, you don’t notice it’s there. But if it stops working correctly because it’s weak or compromised, it can no longer fight aggressive invaders, and you get ill.
Like providing orchids with a good environment, making good lifestyle choices can protect your immune system. Choices like getting enough sleep, exercising, not eating simple carbohydrates (processed, white grains, sugary foods), synthetic or altered ‘food products’ like ‘fast food,’ genetically modified organism (GMO), or its new label: Bioengineered. These foods have been changed in a lab in a way that cannot be found in nature. By the way, over 90% of US corn, soy, and sugar beets are Bioengineered.
Eating as fresh, local, organic foods as possible and adding dietary supplements can help protect and strengthen your immune system. Each person is an individual, but many years of clinical practice as a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist have led me to the essential supplements lacking in today’s diets: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc, and Lecithin. These four help increase your body’s energy.
When seriously improving your immune system, I recommend a dietary supplement made from the shiitake mushroom, Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC). This supplement is the most investigated in clinical studies. AHCC was developed in 1987 at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and other researchers as a natural product for regulating high blood pressure. AHCC is now primarily known for its immunostimulant potential in protecting against viruses, cancers, and infections. (Kenner 2001, Kidd 2000 ) AHCC is being researched in the United States, China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. AHCC has been used as a supplement for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases.
The best nutritional additive for orchids is different from other plants. And the best supplement available today for increasing your immune system is AHCC. Even medical journal articles document the use of AHCC as a supplement that regulates the immune system, as well as aiding in cancer treatment and various infections. Clinical trials have also examined the use of AHCC in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and as a liver protection agent.
If you want individual nutritional or lifestyle help, contact us. Commit to giving your Immune System the best care and allow your health to bloom.
VIANA HEALING CENTER – Vianaheal.com – info@vianaheal.com – Tel: 585-1270