Category Archives: Supporting the Immune System

Natural ingredients for helping build immunity and balance the system

Famly walkning on bbeach looking calm and balanced

Immune System: BALANCE IS BETTER THAN BOOST

There’s been a lot written recently about products that ‘BOOST’ your immune system, and people have been online intensely buying these so-called ‘immune-boosting’ products.

So let’s take a few steps back and look at what some experts say about a system that is ‘boosted’ and/or is over-active or over-reacts.

“A “boost” … would not be a good thing. Scientifically, it would mean your immune system was overactive, and overactive immune systems lead to autoimmune disorders.” Washington Post1https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/immune-boost-coronavirus/2020/03/05/e111554a-5e73-11ea-b014-4fafa866bb81_story.html

”These excessive immune responses can cause respiratory failure and death…This is also why we should talk about supporting rather than boosting the immune system, as an overactive immune response can be as risky as an underactive one.” Dr. Tim Spector, Genetic Epidemiologist 2https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/03/23/Microbiome-maintenance-Good-gut-health-could-tackle-COVID-19

“If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, it may not be advisable to use mushrooms, elderberry or probiotics that stimulate innate immune function….Once pneumonia develops and disease severity increases, the role of the immune system changes. Much of the damage is due to over activity of immune responses, what is termed a “cytokine storm.” Dr. Leo Galland 3https://drdanacohen.com/dr-leo-gallands-article-on-coronavirus-protection/

“…if our immune system has an uncontrolled high activity of pro-inflammatory cytokine release, (it leads) to the so called “cytokine storm”, which is only possible if due to the lack of anti-inflammatory downregulating pathways (to counteract pro-inflammatory cytokines), our immune system is exploited…and not working the way it should.” Alpstein Clinic, Switzerland

How does REGULAT® work?
There have been numerous studies on Regulat® showing its effects on helping balance the immune system. In one study, effects were even shown to continue many months after the subjects stopped taking Regulat. It should thus be no surprise that Regulat has been shown to assist release of cytokines after the body gets an infection or noxious agent. In addition, research by Dr. med. Volcker von Baehr of the IMD Institut für Medizinische Diagnostik Berlin-Potsdam indicates that it can assist in the release of anti-inflammatory/immune dampening cytokines (such as IL-10 or the IL-1 Receptor Antagonist). Without such strong dampening/braking cytokines, the immune reaction may possibly not be stabilized.

Diagram: Balance is better than Boost

This diagram shows that a balanced immune system is better in the long-term than one that is either over-reactive or under-reactive, and gives clues to many of the maladies facing people around the world these days. This is why, instead of trying to boost the immune system, many practitioners look to create balance, to help strengthen, support or regulate the system. In the words of Dr. von Baehr, the objective is IMMUNE-RESTORATION.

References

References
↑1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/immune-boost-coronavirus/2020/03/05/e111554a-5e73-11ea-b014-4fafa866bb81_story.html
↑2 https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/03/23/Microbiome-maintenance-Good-gut-health-could-tackle-COVID-19
↑3 https://drdanacohen.com/dr-leo-gallands-article-on-coronavirus-protection/

The Vaccination Question

Many people have strong opinions about vaccinations, and today we are linking to an article by Dr. Thomas Rau of the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland. Here he lays out some science, logic and his experience to help us make better informed decisions about whether or not to vaccinate.

He says that “significant problems will be experienced whenever children – or adults – are simply vaccinated to achieve “vaccination coverage” and that in many cases vaccinations may be more harmful than the disease it allegedly prevents. “This particularly applies to diseases that might be subjected to vaccination by ordinance, such as tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis B, HPV infections amongst girls, swine and avian flu.” For concerned parents considering vaccinations for their children, Dr Rau offers advice on timing of vaccinations as well as tips to help avoid adverse side effects.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VACCINES

To help us understand the different types of vaccines and what diseases they are intended to protect against, here is a list from Vaccines.gov (US Dept. of Health and Human Services), which lists 4 types of vaccines:

  • Live-attenuated vaccines use a weakened (or attenuated) form of the germ that causes a disease. Live vaccines are used to protect against: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR combined vaccine), Rotavirus, Smallpox, Chickenpox, Yellow fever
  • Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ that causes a disease and are used to protect against: Hepatitis A, Flu (shot only), Polio (shot only), Rabies
  • Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines use specific pieces of the germ – like its protein, sugar, or capsid (a casing around the germ). Because these vaccines use only specific pieces of the germ, they give a very strong immune response that’s targeted to key parts of the germ. These vaccines are used to protect against: Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) disease, Hepatitis B, HPV (Human papillomavirus), Whooping cough (part of the DTaP combined vaccine), Pneumococcal disease, Shingles
  • Toxoid vaccines use a toxin (harmful product) made by the germ that causes a disease. They create immunity to the parts of the germ that cause a disease instead of the germ itself, and are used to protect against Diphtheria and Tetanus

BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Whether or not you decide to vaccinate, a healthy immune system is key.  Give your body an extra immunity boost with Regulat® pro Bio.  Regulat is a liquid whole food supplement made from organically grown fruits, nuts and vegetables, produced by the unique patented process of live Cascade Fermentation.

stop sickness

Flu Fighters–Know Your Options

Here we are…smack dab in the middle of flu season.  If you’re one of the lucky ones with natural super-hero immunity, you can get thru the season unscathed. However, for many of us, we need a plan B.  So what are the options?

Should I Get a Flu Shot?

Dr. James Odell recently addressed this question in his article, “Opting Out of the Annual Flu Shot.”  Here he defines influenza as a respiratory infection caused by Type A and B influenza viruses.

Yet what is interesting is that “…about 70-80% of all suspected influenza-like illness lab specimens test negative for type A or B influenza viruses every flu season.”  This is one reason he says “it is important for the public and consumer to be fully informed about the influenza vaccine and its potential detrimental ramifications before opting-out or consenting to this annual injection ritual.”[1]

So, it appears that the majority of illnesses that present flu-like symptoms do not even fall within the main influenza category.  Why would you consider an unnatural approach to fighting off “the flu” when the odds are you don’t have the disease the preventative shot is targeting?  This contradicts the holistic approach to staying healthy.

What are the Risks?

If you’re still toying with the idea of getting the flu shot (maybe you’re one of those who seem to be a magnet, attracting a variety of viruses in the winter months), there is much to consider.  With several vaccine products licensed in the U.S., you’ll want to know what you’re getting.  You also need to be aware of the risks, which can include:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Painful joints
  • Headache
  • Pain, redness, swelling at the site of the injection
  • flu-like symptoms (sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, joint and muscle pain, and nausea)

There can be even more serious complications including brain inflammation, convulsions, paralysis or several others.  Of course, these are less common, but do you want to take the chance?  In 2016, there were 2,954 claims filed in the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) for injuries and deaths following Influenza vaccination, including 109 deaths and 2,845 serious injuries.

For more detailed information on what ingredients are in flu vaccines, check out these Vaccine Ingredients or the University of Oxford’s list.  Vegans and vegetarians may be surprised.  You can see a break down of potentially harmful items such as aluminum and Thimerosal, which is a compound made of 50% mercury—the second most poisonous element known to man. And, although the vaccine you receive may contain “trace amounts” of Thimerosal, that still means that mercury is being injected into your bloodstream.  Read more from the CDC’s “Understanding Thimerosal, Mercury and Vaccine Safety”.

What are Natural Flu Fighters?

A simple look at disease statistics shows that our bodies lack fundamental resistance and vitality: of adults over 20 years old, 32% are overweight, 34% are obese, 22% have arthritis, 23% have chronic joint symptoms, 11% have diabetes, 12% have heart disease, 8% have a form of cancer. Source: CDC (Centers for Disease Control), NIDDK.  So anything that naturally boosts the immune system is a great way to ward off the flu and other illnesses.

Regulat® products support the body’s own regulatory systems and enzyme balance, promote a healthy blood environment, revitalize and improve energy supply to the cells, neutralize free radicals, and support a healthy immune system.* This is why Regulat® products are recommended by so many health practitioners.

So, why not be proactive and safeguard against disease by boosting your immune system naturally? Check out our website for research on Regulat®, and also our Facebook page to learn what other folks are saying about Regulat® and how it helps maximize their health and wellness!

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

[1] https://www.brmi.online/single-post/2017/12/31/Opting-Out-of-the-Annual-Flu-Shot

Lyme Disease and Intestinal Immunity

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 in Lyme, Conn., which gave it its name. In September 2015, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised their estimates for people having Lyme disease, indicating that there are more than 329,000 new cases a year in the US – an increase of up to 10 times what was previously believed.

Unfortunately, many cases are not diagnosed properly and current diagnostics miss up to 60% of acute cases (ref. Bay Area Lyme Foundation – http://www.bayarealyme.org). 40% of Lyme patients end up with long-term health problems – the average patient sees 5 doctors over nearly 2 years before being diagnosed. (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society – http://www.ilads.org). According to Dr. Mercola, “Sometimes the cell wall can collapse around the bacterium, forming a cloaking device that allows it to evade detection by many tests and by your body’s immune system.” For this reason, many fear that Lyme is actually a silent epidemic.

When one suffers from Lyme disease, the body’s immune system may be compromised to varying degrees. Although there is no consensus in the medical community on the use of anitibiotics to treat Lyme disease, many Lyme sufferers have a compromised immune system – and antibiotics are known to kill off the good bacteria required to support the intestinal immune system. Richard Horowitz, one of the most prominent “Lyme literate” physicians in the US, has seen more than twelve thousand patients, all of whom have a tick-borne ailment. Whenever possible, he avoids antibiotics. (http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/01/the-lyme-wars)

Immunity Resides in the Gut
Approximately 70-80% of your immune tissue is located within your digestive system, and so-called killer T-cells (the white blood cells that defend against infection), are created in the intestinal system. So building the immune system is highly important for Lyme patients. One of the most beneficial ways to improve your gut bacteria is by incorporating fermented foods into your daily diet. Friendly gut flora found in fermented foods have been shown to survive the digestive process. So they are therefore able to introduce positive changes to the gut, allow it to function more efficiently and help the immune system do its job more effectively. screen-shot-2016-09-19-at-2-29-28-pm

Dr. Byron Braid, who has worked with Dr. Thomas Rau of the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland, has a ‘secret ingredient’ that helps build such intestinal efficiency and immunity – Regulat®!

Regulat® is a whole food preparation with broad-spectrum phytonutrients, produced by live Cascade Fermentation™. It began in Germany…70 years’ worth of scientific research on plant enzymes propelled the Munich company Dr. Niedermaier Pharma to world fame as the expert in the field of fermented health products.

I am allergic to some Regulat® ingredients? Can I still take it?

Fork with Allergy MessageMany of our food allergies – such as to nuts or soybeans – are actually an allergic response to the proteins found in these foods.  Thanks to the cascade fermentation process used to produce Regulat®, these harmful protein chains have been broken down and are no longer present. In addition, other potentially allergenic substances are also converted into much simpler forms.

Patients suffering from conditions that are marked by food allergies and intolerance report high tolerability to Regulat®.  We have also developed a sensitive protocol for those whose general food intolerance is very severe. We have found that once people with food sensitivities start taking Regulat®, the body begins a normalizing process, sometimes called a “healing response,” and over time the system becomes more balanced with less issues.

Happy Senior Couple Embracing In Kitchen.In addition, Regulat with its healthful ingredients may help allergy sufferers over time. Probiotic lactobacilli cell wall components counteract allergy while the increases seen in interleukin­10 secretion, shown in those taking Regulat, also indicates increased protection against allergies. (IL­10 is important in the development of immune tolerance and helps prevent excessive immune reactions.)

Can Regulat® boost the immune system?

Based on scientific research as well as user reports, we can say that Regulat® boosts the immune system and has anti-oxidant effects.* Usually products that are isolates or extracts make such claims, but our supplement is vegan, organic AND a whole food. This is why Regulat® is highly regarded by people concerned about the quality of the supplements they take.

immune man

A highly controlled clinical trial on Regulat® was published in a peer-reviewed journal (it was a prospective randomized, double-­blind, placebo-­controlled trial, such as those usually only done in drug trials) and published in the journal “Nutrition” in 2009. 48 healthy men were studied. They were randomized into two groups of 24 each. One group took Regulat®. The other group took acetic acid diluted in water. (Regulat® tastes a bit like cider vinegar or kombucha.)

Specific biomarkers for the immune system, inflammation and oxidative status were measured before and after the four­week use of Regulat®. The results are very exciting and provide evidence of a number of positive effects of Regulat®. For example, the intake of Regulat® significantly enhanced intracellular glutathione, a measure of immune response. There were other notable changes which also indicate the immunomodulatory effects (boosts to the immune system) of this drink concentrate. The study can be viewed here, or you can do a search for “Regulatory effects of a fermented food concentrate on immune function parameters in healthy volunteers.”

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.