Cancer
The key is the immune systemIt can be weakened to leave the person vulnerable to serious illness like cancer or it can be strengthened to fight off powerful invaders and even cancer it's self.
• High levels of stress and sleep deprivation can overwhelm the body and result in cancer.
• High levels of stress and cortisol can suppress the immune system and free radicals can damage the body and DNA.
• Toxic substances can also overwhelm the body, a.k.a. tobacco, alcohol, obesity, and a bad diet can also lead to cancer.
• High levels of sleep deprivation can overwhelm the body, the body is unable to repair itself, unable to fix DNA mutations or damage, and unable to fight off cancer in early stages.
Cancer
Cancer results when a portion of a cell’s DNA is damaged and the cell begins to divide uncontrollably. Factors that are genetic, behavioural, environmental, and lifestyle are said to be involved in causing cancer.
• Factors called inhibitors such as vitamins, supplements, fruits, vegetables, and a good diet are believed to inhibit cancer.
• Factors called promoters such as smoking, pollution, alcohol, stress, obesity, and a bad diet are believed to promote cancer.
Lifestyle factors are said to be the largest contributors to cancer risk with lifestyle and external factors accounting for about 80% of cancer deaths in the United States.
Internal factors are genetics and heredity, and infections.
External factors are unhealthy workplace environment, air pollution, water pollution, exposure to chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides.
Lifestyle factors are smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, stress, and diet.
• Smoking is said to account for about 30% of cancers.
• Obesity and a bad diet about 30% of cancers.
• Genetics about 10%.
Some experts believe that toxins or a bad diet impair the immune system, making it more vulnerable and unable to fighting or destroying precancerous cancer cells.
Some experts believe that what these risk factors have in common is that they increase the body’s exposure to free radicals, which cause cell and DNA damage.
Free radicals are atoms that can cause cell damage; impair the immune system, cause infections, and lead to degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Free radical are also thought to be the cause of the aging process, or premature aging, by some scientist.
• Risk factors that increase the body’s exposure to free radicals increase the risk of cancer.
• Risk factors that impair the immune system increase the risk of cancer.
Stress can increase the number of free radicals and impair the immune system resulting in the body’s inability to destroy precancerous cells before they develop into cancer.
Stress and Oxidative Stress
Referred to as rusting, oxidative is the production of reactive oxygen species which include free radicals and peroxides. Free radicals can cause high levels of cellular damage, DNA damage, and cell death. It causes premature aging. Oxidative stress is associated to diseases such as atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. Anti-oxidants reduce oxidative stress damage.
Cortisol is sometimes referred to as the stress hormone and suppresses or weakens the immune system.
Immune System Suppression Caused by Stress (Psychoneuroimmunology)
Stress decreases the number of helper T cells, suppressor T Cells, cytotoxic T cells, B cells, and the Natural Killer cells (NK). It also decreases T cell function, T cell proliferation response to phytohaemagglutinin [PHA] and concanavalin A [Con A]. Cortisol prevents proliferation of T-cells by rendering the interleukin-2 producer T-cells unresponsive to intereukin-1 and unable to produce the T-cell growth factor. Naturalistic stressors are also associated to increases in number of circulating neutrophils.
Sleep deprivation
Research studies have shown that when lab rats are sleep deprived sores develop, their body temperature drops, and their immune system do not function properly. When totally sleep deprived lab rats only live for about 5 weeks. The growth hormone (GH) is released during sleep and sleep deprivation can affect hormone balance in adults. The body repairs it’s self during sleep.
Sleep deprivation slows down the metabolism.
Sleep deprivation causes a very sharp rise in cortisol which suppresses or weakens the immune system. High levels of cortisol can also lead to hardening of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack, muscle loss, increased abdominal fat storage, loss of bone mass, depression, hypertension, insulin resistance, and lowers the growth hormone and testosterone production. Sleep deprivation can also increase the risk of diabetes.
Sleep deprivation can lead to acid-base disorders, which can corrode the arteries and body, the high levels of stress and cortisol result in the hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure, which can damage the arteries, the body is unable to repair its self due to the sleep deprivation and stroke or heart attack risk is increased or can result. The acid-base disorders can also overwhelm the body and promote or lead to serious illnesses or cancer.
In a research study, the study subjects were pre-diabetic after one week of sleep deprivation and diabetes is another cause of a high number of deaths or serious illnesses. The sleep deprivation reduced the Growth hormone (GH) and testosterone hormone which can lead to muscle loss and promote weight gain. Leptin levels were also reduced which can lead to or results in over eating and weight gain or obesity, obesity also being linked to cancer.
Sleep deprivation can reduce mismatch repair (MMR) gene proteins that repair DNA damage or errors.
Mismatch repair (MMR) genes are involved in numerous cellular functions including: (1) repairing DNA synthesis errors; (2) repairing double-strand DNA breaks; (3) apoptosis; (4) antirecombination; and, surprisingly, (5) destabilization of DNA. These responsibilities make MMR proteins extremely important in the basic maintenance of the genetic material, the regulation of the cellular cycle, and in the last instance, development of an effective immune system. When MMR is lost or defective there is a decrease in apoptosis, an increase in cell survival, and a potential increase in damage-induced mutagenesis. This can provide a selective growth advantage to the cell, thus causing an increased susceptibility to tissue-specific cancers.
How To Boost Your Immune System
Immune System Tips
Glutathione
Glutathione is the body’s most powerful antioxidant, detoxifier, and vital for the immune system.
Glutathione is produced naturally by the body and its secret is (SH). The sulfur sticks to toxins, heavy metals like mercury and lead, and free radicals. Glutathione is produced and recycled normally by body unless the body is overwhelmed by toxins or oxidative stress.
"'It's the secret to prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia, and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease.'
'In treating chronically ill patients with Functional Medicine for more than 10 years, I have discovered that glutathione deficiency is found in nearly all very ill patients.'"
http://ultrawellness.com/blog/glutathione
"Glutathione augmentation is a strategy developed to address states of glutathione deficiency, high oxidative stress, immune deficiency, and xenobiotic overload in which glutathione plays a part in the detoxification of the xenobiotic in question. Glutathione deficiency states include, but are not limited to: HIV/AIDS, chemical and infectious hepatitis, prostate and other cancers, cataracts, Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, radiation poisoning, malnutritive states, arduous physical stress, aging, and has been associated with sub-optimal immune response. Many clinical pathologies are associated with oxidative stress and are elaborated upon in numerous medical references.
Low glutathione is also strongly implicated in wasting and negative nitrogen balance, notably as seen in cancer, AIDS, sepsis, trauma, burns and even athletic overtraining. Glutathione supplementation can oppose this process and in AIDS, for example, result in improved survival rates.
Glutathione has shown positive preliminary results in several studies of glutathione's ability to affect levels of reactive oxygen species, which may have implications in the reduction of cancer rates."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutathione
The list includes people with chronic fatigue, chronic infections, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, kidney problems, liver disease, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autoimmune disease, and cancer.
Pollution, toxins, medication, radiation, aging, stress, and a bad diet all deplete or reduce your glutathione. This reduction in glutathione leaves you more vulnerable to oxidative stress and free radicals, disease, and cancer.
The ability to produce and maintain high levels of glutathione is vital in helping to prevent disease such as cancer, and in helping to recover from disease.
•Glutathione is the body’s most powerful antioxidant, detoxifier, and vital for the immune system.
•Glutathione cools off free radicals and recycles antioxidants.
•Glutathione is the most important part of the body’s detoxification system.
•Glutathione levels can decrease muscle damage and increase recovery time.
•Glutathione can increase strength, endurance, and muscle production.
•Glutathione helps control inflammation.
•Glutathione protects our cells and makes our energy metabolism run better.
•Glutathione helps reach better mental and physical function.
•Glutathione production deceases as you age and boosting your glutathione production can slow down or reduce the aging process.
Boosting your Glutathione Levels and Immune System see also Immune System Tips
You can boost your Glutathione levels with exercise, supplements, and food.
•Sulfur rich vegetables such as garlic and onions can help boost your glutathione levels. Other vegetables such as broccoli[1], cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and watercress are also said to be rich in sulfur but genetically modified versions like broccoli that now have a lower nutritional value may not be as sulfur rich as they once were.
•Bioactive whey protein and amino acids that contains cysteine, glycine, and glutamine are the simple building blocks of glutathione.
•A vitamin B complex (Methylation nutrients: folate, vitamin B6 and B12) is probably the most important supplement in keeping the body producing Glutathione.
- Studies suggest that a good way to boost glutathione production by the body is by taking supplemental dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone; N-acetylcysteine or L-cysteine; and L-methionine.
Vitamin D and White Killer T Cells
1) Take Vitamin D; "Sunshine" vitamin D is crucial for immune system and killer T cells.
- "T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease."
- "If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won't even begin to mobilize."
- Women who take vitamin D every day were at 24% lower risk of breast cancer.
- A new FDA approved cancer treatment involves taking white blood cells and using a drug that trains them to more actively attack cancer cells.
Notes
•Alpha Lipoic Acid can also help boost Glutathione levels.
•Selenium is also important and helps the body recycle and produce Glutathione.
•Vitamins such as vitamin C and E, antioxidants, can also work together to recycle Glutathione.
•Milk Thistle helps the liver and can boost Glutathione levels.
Smoking inactivates vitamin B6.
Caffeine can deplete vitamin B levels.
Alcohol can deplete vitamin B levels.
Vitamin B6 is needed by your body to transform tryptophan to serotonin.
"'In one study of older adults, the group with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume as those with the highest levels.'
'Another remarkable study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 27 percent of severely depressed women over age 65 were B12 deficient.(1)'"
http://ultrawellness.com/blog/glutathione
Alpha Lipoic Acid, like glutathione, is also important and can also become depleted due to stress. It’s important for blood sugar control, detoxification, cell health, and brain health.
Low stress and sleep can also boost the immune system.
Omega-3 fats can help control blood sugar and brain cells.
Stress depletes serotonin.
Magnesium can boost serotonin levels.
Probiotics can also improve the intestinal flora and boost the immune system.
Notes:
1. Broccoli contains indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) a compound known to eradicate many types of cancer cells on contact.
Different Products
GSH COMPLEX by Nutraxis
"•Immune Regulator (Immune System Enhancer)"
"The immune system is dependent on glutathione for proper functioning and is considered the body’s frontline defense against infection, whether bacterial or viral. glutathione also plays a major role in the body’s defense against the formulation and ongoing production of abnormal cancer cells."
"Glutathione helps regulate the immune system, protects against radiation, is a primary anti-oxidant and detoxifies cells. This includes the “Natural Killer” and “T-Helper“ cells, which are essential for immune system regulation and act as the body’s first defense."
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION for GSH COMPLEX by Nutraxis
IMMUNOCAL by Immunotec
Immunocal can:
•Increase your body’s ability to fight off free radicals by optimizing its antioxidant production
•Maintain your immune defenses
•Help properly deal with pollutants and toxins in your body
•Enhance your energy and sense of well-being
http://ultrawellness.com/blog/glutathione Mark A. Hyman, M.D.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutathione
http://bodybuilding.about.com/od/injurypreventiontreatment/tp/sleepdeprived.htm Top 8 Effects and Maladies Caused by Sleep Deprivation
http://longevity.about.com/od/sleep/a/sleep_benefits.htm Benefits of Sleep
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The Merck Manuals - A trusted source for medical information available free online
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