HABITS THAT WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Certain foods and environmental influences can keep the immune system army from doing a good job. Watch out for these threats to your body's defenses.

1. Overdosing on sugar. Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of about two cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system.

2. Excess alcohol. Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second, alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. High doses of alcohol suppress the ability of the white blood cells to multiply, inhibit the action of killer white cells on cancer cells, and lessen the ability of macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factors. One drink (the equivalent of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounces of hard liquor) does not appear to bother the immune system, but three or more drinks do. Damage to the immune system increases in proportion to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity.

3. Food allergens. Due to a genetic quirk, some divisions of the immune army recognize an otherwise harmless substance (such as milk) as a foreign invader and attack it, causing an allergic reaction. Before the battle, the intestinal lining was like a wall impenetrable to foreign invaders. After many encounters with food allergens, the wall is damaged, enabling invaders and other potentially toxic substances in the food to get into the bloodstream and make the body feel miserable. This condition is known as the leaky gut syndrome.

4. Too much fat. Obesity can lead to a depressed immune system. It can affect the ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and rush to the site of an infection.

To finish reading this article go to:www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp

One of our customers shared with me what she does to maintain a healthy weight.  She is 45 years old and has found that she has to watch the carbs, sugars, and starch to maintain a healthy weight.

We would love to hear what helps you maintain a healthy weight.  Are you on a special diet because of an health issue?  If so, what changes in your diet helped you feel better. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

If I could tell you one thing that would change your physical health for the good, it would be to educate you on the dangers of sugar. Sugar does not just come from the beet plant or sugar cane. I am talking about carbohydrates in many, many foods. There is not a disease on this planet that would not be easier to get rid of with eliminating sugar, and learning to eat a lower carbohydrate, higher fiber diet.

Here is one article of many that I hope you will read and really think about. YOU, are the only one that can change your health for the better. I hope and pray that you will, because you are so worth it. Namaste, Kathy

Sugar's effect on your health
The average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week, which is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and a plethora of microwave meals.
sugar

In the last 20 years, we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. 26 pounds to 135 lbs. of sugar per person per year! Prior to the turn of this century (1887-1890), the average consumption was only 5 lbs. per person per year! Cardiovascular disease and cancer was virtually unknown in the early 1900's.

The "glycemic index" is a measure of how a given food affects blood-glucose levels, with each food being assigned a numbered rating. The lower the rating, the slower the absorption and digestion process, which provides a more gradual, healthier infusion of sugars into the bloodstream. On the other hand, a high rating means that blood-glucose levels are increased quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. These rapid fluctuations of blood-sugar levels are not healthy because of the stress they place on the body.

One of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease.

An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat sweets high in sugar, you're making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. Complex carbohydrates tend to be absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels.

To finish this wonderful article go to:  www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm
 

 Today, May 19th, Phil Lempert the famous Super Market Guru reviewed our Apple Cinnamon flavor and gave us a score of 88. This is what he said; This product is a HIT! If you have been hesitant to get into the flaxseed phenomenon you do not have to be anymore. These Raw Apple Cinnamon Flax Snax contain no wheat, no gluten, and are sweetened with cinnamon and stevia. They are crisp and are also certified vegan, and have 9g of fiber in just a one ounce portion To see the video, copy this link and paste it into your browser.   http://www.supermarketguru.com/index.cfm/go/sg.videoSlideshow/categoryId/34

Thanks so much Phil.