One of life's richest rewards is the priceless gift of a healthy body. Though our journeys take us down different paths, we all share the common desire for good health. When illness interrupts our lives, it can easily place our goals and priorities on hold. When we are healthy, we enjoy strength, energy, passion and the ability to fulfill our dreams and care for ourselves and others.
According to the science of Nutritional Immunology (NI), when your body is deprived of essential nutrients, your immune system weakens and loses its ability to ward off the potential causes of poor health. Because most problems are present in your body long before they give any outward manifestations, nothing can take the place of a healthy immune system. Insufficient knowledge, unhealthy living habits and an imbalanced diet can contribute to suppressed immune function. At peak performance, however, your immune system-along with stress reduction, adequate sleep and moderate exercise-can overcome the constant attacks of environmental pollutants and toxins, avoiding many harmful illnesses.
Simply searching for cures is no longer enough to combat disease. Prevention is your key to greater health and Nutritional Immunology can unlock the knowledge needed to protect you. Nutritional Immunology is the study of how proper nutrition, through a plant-based, whole-foods diet, enhances the immune system and its related functions. During her years of research, our founder, Dr. Jau-Fei Chen, recognized that prevention addresses the problem of poor health more effectively than searching for cures. She focused on the link between nutrition and its effect on the immune system.
Your immune system specifically requires three types of nutrients to function properly-antioxidants, phytochemicals and polysaccharides. Antioxidants protect your body's cells from the damaging effects of oxidization, a process that occurs naturally in your body. Taken in sufficient amounts, antioxidants also help delay the effects of aging.
Phytochemicals occur naturally in plants giving them the color, flavor, smell and texture unique to each. Research shows that phytochemicals protect plants from sunlight and help ensure their survival. They also possess an amazing ability to nourish and bolster the immune system. Additionally, the phytochemicals found in plants are believed to protect cells from DNA damage, hinder the growth of microorganisms and help maintain healthy blood lipids and serum cholesterol levels.
Polysaccharides are long sugar chains that increase production of natural killer cells, as well as interferon and interleukin, body chemicals that trigger immune responses. Polysaccharides also create balance in your immune system and enable it to destroy existing damaged cells and invading viruses.
These nutrients are only available in plant foods and cannot be mimicked in a lab. Experts, therefore, advise us to obtain a variety of nutrients through a healthy diet. Research has shown that nothing provides you continued health more than eating wholesome plant foods high in antioxidants, phytochemicals and polysaccharides.
Day after day, the science of Nutritional Immunology continues to gain momentum. A pioneer in this growing field, Dr. Jau-Fei Chen is dedicated to helping everyone improve their life through proper nutrition. Living in this new millennium, where we face different health hazards on a daily basis, emphasizes that continued research and education is vital in our quest to bring health to the world. After all, when you have the gift of good health, life's journey is much more enjoyable.