Greek Physician Hippocrates ( 5^th century BC ) is widely considered to be the Father of Modern Medicine. He was known for advocating that the patient is their own best doctor and they alone have the power to heal and cure themselves through diet and lifestyle.  He was also famously quoted as saying, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.  Dr Max Gerson made a name for himself in the early to mid 1900’s by helping guide people to wellness through diet and lifestyle changes.  His research led him to a simple conclusion: Your body will prevent most illnesses and keep you free of cancer and chronic disease until there is a breakdown of the immune system.

At birth the innate immune is active but the adaptive immune system is a clean slate and will begin to learn and grow stronger with time and exposure. The adaptive immune system can be jump started by breastfeeding whereas antibodies acquired by the mothers’ immune system are passed on to the newborn.

Life as we know it needs sunlight.  Without it there are no plants and animals and no humans. Sunlight provides life and nutrients to the food we eat and when it shines on our skin it provides vitamin D3 for healthy hormone balance and these hormones play critical roles in immune health.

Simply stated, the immune system will suffer from poor diet and poor lifestyle and benefit from healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Additionally, too much of a good thing can be bad and a little bit of a bad thing can be good. Example, physical activity can be good whereas excessive physical activity can tear the body down. A cold or flu is not necessarily a good thing but it does make the body fight back and in so doing strengthens the immune system.  Furthermore, some of the not-so-healthy things we may do from time to time would challenge the body to compensate.

A fever is the bodies’ natural defense mechanism. Fever is essentially a form of inflammation whereas the body raises its’ own temperature to create an environment in which the temperature is too high for the infectious agent to live. Letting a fever run its’ course can be very beneficial for the body unless it exceeds 102 degrees, then it is advisable to take measures to reduce.

Antibiotics which are used against bacteria do nothing against viruses and fungi. The human body has an estimated 10 times as many bacteria cells both good and bad on and in the body as is does human cells in the body.  Antibiotics are indiscriminate and when they are taken they kill all bacteria good and bad. The body needs good bacteria to help keep bad bacteria and fungi in check. Furthermore antibiotics wreak havoc on the digestive system which the body relies on for nutrient absorption to feed a healthy immune system.  Probiotics acquired either through cultured foods or supplementation can help maintain healthy levels of good bacteria especially if antibiotics have been taken.

Sugar is perhaps the most underrated reason for a suppressed immune system.  Around the world study after study has demonstrated that a diet high in simple carbohydrates is highly detrimental to overall health and longevity.

Bottom line, the body is capable of handling a lot. It’s capable of handling infection, colds and flu.  It’s capable of eliminating cancer cells before they can do harm.  It’s also capable of handling some of the not-so-healthy things we may throw at it from time to time. But it can only do all of this if it is properly cared for.

Written by DMK of Seven Grains.