Health & Wellness News From Byron J. Richards

Major Immunity Breakthrough

Friday, September 12, 2008 - Byron J. Richards, CCN

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It is one thing to kill the microbe, and it is another to clean up the battle field. New research says that if the battle field is not cleaned up properly, with remnants of the previous intruder still hanging around even though it is not infectious anymore, then your immune system may not recognize what is going on and you will be much more likely to get sick again.

This is a rather startling discovery and redefines what it means to actually get over an infection. The widespread medical model that you simply kill the infection with an antibiotic and that is “successful” is now seen as woefully inadequate. This mechanism is likely behind recurring infections, especially in children, the elderly, and any person who is always coming down the latest bug.

Lipopolysaccharide, or LPS, is a cell wall fragment of bacteria. LPS is highly toxic to the human host and invariably elicits an immune response. The new study found that if all the LPS fragments are not cleaned up following an infection, similar to the idea of clearing the battle field of all carnage, then your immune system will not be able to properly see and respond to the next battle.

Your body has a number of strategies to clear LPS, all of which need energy. Interestingly, LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind) has as one of its duties the deactivation and clearance of LPS. Any acute bacterial infection will always raise LDL cholesterol as part of the natural defense system – and you should be very glad your body does this otherwise you will enter toxemia from the infection.

Many people have elevated LDL because they are fighting low grade chronic bacterial infection, such as periodontal problems. Lowering cholesterol in this situation causes toxicity in the general circulation, making cardiovascular problems even worse. Of course, those on statin medications will have a compromised response to infection because of this issue, making them more at risk for serious infection and death from toxemia related to infection. Of course, doctors do not even begin to think about this issue when they give out statins to lower cholesterol.

There are a variety of nutrients that can help clear LPS. These include arabinogalactan (which helps bind it up and get rid of it), bromelain and papain (which helps gobble it up), and general liver support (which helps clean your blood and assists your liver to clear this toxin).

The take home message is that if you do get sick, use enough immune support nutrients and energy producing nutrients to not only feel well but keep up the support until your energy is fully normal (you can do a full days work and/or heavier exercise and not feel too tired). It as at that point that your body is done with housecleaning and your immune system is ready for another challenge, if needed. Use LPS clearing nutrition, as needed, to help clear out the gunk.

Otherwise, you will be more at risk for a flare up of the last problem or you will be too friendly a place for the next potential invader. It is technically impossible to avoid germ exposure, which means that cleaning up properly after any battle is critical to healthy immune function. This is major new knowledge about immunity that was not previously known and the researchers certainly didn’t really explain what their results meant – so that’s the scoop. Stay well this winter!

Related Entries: How Hostile Bacteria Take Up Unwanted Residence

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