White blood cells are the cells of the immune system that destroy the organisms that cause disease. They are produced or stored in many locations throughout the body, including the thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. The white blood cells travel through the body via blood vessels as well as an alternate system called lymphatic vessels.

There are many different types of white blood cells. Some are called lymphocytes, which are designed to remember and recognize previous invaders to the body. Examples of lymphocytes are T cells and B cells. When the body sees a foreign invader, also called an antigen, it signals these cells to action. The B cells produce antibodies. These antibodies are special proteins that attach to specific antigens (foreign invaders). Once these antibodies attach to the foreign invader they send for help to the T cells. The T cells (some are called Killer cells) will destroy the foreign invader once the antibodies have recognized it. There are also phagocytes that destroy invading organisms such as bacteria. One that you may have heard of is called a neutrophil. These cells mainly fight bacteria and are increased when you have an infection.

All humans contain what is called natural or innate immunity, immunity that allows us to exist in our natural environment without getting sick or ill on a daily basis. An example of natural immunity would be the protection that the skin offers our body. Skin and Mucous membranes that line our digestive tract, throat, nose, etc act as a barrier to foreign bacteria and viruses that would otherwise be able to enter our body and cause illness.

As stated previously, when the immune system is weakened or malfunctions occur autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, AIDS, and even certain cancers (leukemia and lymphoma) are more likely. Unfortunately, many things in life can cause a weakening of the immune system. For example, researchers have shown that if a person is exposed to chronic stress, cellular immunity is reduced in as little as one year.

There are some things that people can do to increase the strength of their immune system.

How to Strengthen the Immune System:

Exercise

Typically, people who perform moderate physical activity have fewer colds than those who are more sedentary do. In addition, when they do have a cold, the amount of time that it is present is shorter for those people who exercise. In two different controlled studies, women who walked briskly for 35 to 45 minutes, for 12 to 15 weeks, at a frequency of 5 days per week, had approximately 50% less days of the cold symptoms than those who did not exercise.

Take supplements

There is evidence that taking supplements can have a positive effect on the immune system. For example, in one study, elderly people taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement for 1 year improved their immune responses. In another study, elderly people who took a multivitamin supplement that contained 100% of the recommended intakes of most vitamins and slightly higher amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, had fewer sick days and less use of antibiotics.

Each person has his or her own unique immune system. This is why some people get sick all the time and others seem to never get sick. Although there are many variables and factors involved the strength or functioning of the immune system is one such factor. At Supplement Doctors we believe that a person must have a strong and optimal functioning immune system in order to stay healthy, fight disease, resist cancer and live a long and healthy life. This is why Supplement Doctors created XtraHealth Immune Power.

XtraHealth Immune Power contains a variety of potent antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, green tea, bioflavinoids, elderberries and others to help fight free radicals and minimize possible cell damage, which can lead to sickness and disease. There have been many studies that demonstrated improved immune responses with antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E when taken above the RDAs.

For example, in one study of elderly people, vitamin E with other vitamins and minerals over a one-year period resulted in only 50% as many colds, flu, or other infectious diseases than those given a placebo (sugar pill). In addition, those who took the supplements and still suffered from sickness recovered twice as fast. In another study, 88 healthy people, aged 65 years or older, who took vitamin E supplements had significant improvement in immune response after 4 months. A vitamin C study demonstrated that marathon runners who took 1 gram of vitamin C per day compared to those who consumed a placebo (sugar pill) had half the post-race infections as those consuming the placebo. Vitamin C has also been shown to be protective for cancer of the larynx, cervix, and possibly breast. Laboratory studies demonstrated that Selenium inhibited the growth of breast, cervical, colon, and skin cancer. Selenium may protect against all cancers in general. And it has been shown that cities and states with high selenium levels in the soil have lower rates of cancer, particularly of the digestive and urinary systems. In general, cancer patients have been shown to have lower levels of selenium in their blood than non-cancer patients do.

Carotenoids are compounds that exist in nature in predominately fruits and vegetables with lutein and lycopene being the most recent to be of interest. In animal studies, lutein has been shown to decrease cancer growth while increasing the growth of normal white blood cells. Lycopene is found in tomatoes, and high intakes of tomatoes have been shown to reduce cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, rectum, and of the colon. Men who have 10 servings per week of tomato-based products have 33% less prostate cancer risk than those who consume 1.5 servings per week.

XtraHealth Immune Power contains all these powerful and beneficial nutrients in the proper amounts to help fight free radicals and potentially minimize the risk of disease. In addition, XtraHealth Immune Power contains many herbs, mushrooms, and other nutrients that may increase the strength of the immune system and help prevent illness from viruses.

TAKE XTRAHEALTH IMMUNE POWER EACH AND EVERY DAY TO HELP DECREASE THE RISK OF COLDS AND FLU