Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were expose

Joni was more right than she, or we, knew. The spots on our apples – and indeed, the traces of yeast and moulds that used to be on almost all our foods – are now known to be as important for our health as the apples themselves.

These moulds, fungi and yeasts (technically, all part of the same group of micro organisms) – contain compounds in their cell walls known as 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans. We now know that these compounds are critically important in priming a part of our immune system known as the innate immune system – but we no longer have many of them in our diet.

To compound the problem, we have over-sanitised our environment, through the wide-spread use of fungicides and bactericidal household sprays. (This is known as the hygiene hypothesis – and it is supported by the fact that children with pets do tend to have stronger immune systems).

Consequently we have left our immune systems weakened and off-balance and less effective at defending us against bacteria and viruses - and we are more likely to develop allergic symptoms. Immune function is further weakened by Type B malnutrition, a condition now recognized by the UN Standing Committee on Human Nutrition as a major cause of ill health. Type B mal-nutrition is characterized by a typical western diet – sufficient – even excess calories, but less than necessary vitamin and mineral intake.

The key to restoring optimum immune function is nutrition, and this involves not only good diet (one rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains), but also a broad spectrum supplement, and a small number of key phyto-nutrients i.e. nutrients derived from plants.

Vitamin D – activating natural killer cells

Depletion of Vitamin D in the body has long been known as a key contributory factor to the common problems of osteoporosis and osteopenia (loss of bone density). More recently, D depletion has also been shown to reduce the effectiveness of the innate immune system – the first line of defence against bacterial and viral invaders.

A gene named Vitamin D3-Upregulated Protein 1 (VDUP1) takes a vital part in giving directions to stem cells to expand into natural killer cells, one of the key elements in the innate immune system, and whose function is to seek and destroy virus-infected cells.

If you are low in vitamin D, (and reduced exposure to sun in the northern hemisphere means we tend to be) fewer numbers of natural killer cells are formed and your innate immune defence against viruses becomes impaired. Since the other function of natural killer cells is to kill tumour cells, D-depletion also increases our risk of cancer.

Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were exposed

To compound the problem, we have over-sanitised our environment, through the wide-spread use of fungicides and bactericidal household sprays. (This is known as the hygiene hypothesis – and it is supported by the fact that children with pets do tend to have stronger immune systems).

Consequently we have left our immune systems weakened and off-balance and less effective at defending us against bacteria and viruses - and we are more likely to develop allergic symptoms. Immune function is further weakened by Type B malnutrition, a condition now recognized by the UN Standing Committee on Human Nutrition as a major cause of ill health. Type B mal-nutrition is characterized by a typical western diet – sufficient – even excess calories, but less than necessary vitamin and mineral intake.

The key to restoring optimum immune function is nutrition, and this involves not only good diet (one rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains), but also a broad spectrum supplement, and a small number of key phyto-nutrients i.e. nutrients derived from plants.

Vitamin D – activating natural killer cells

Depletion of Vitamin D in the body has long been known as a key contributory factor to the common problems of osteoporosis and osteopenia (loss of bone density). More recently, D depletion has also been shown to reduce the effectiveness of the innate immune system – the first line of defence against bacterial and viral invaders.

A gene named Vitamin D3-Upregulated Protein 1 (VDUP1) takes a vital part in giving directions to stem cells to expand into natural killer cells, one of the key elements in the innate immune system, and whose function is to seek and destroy virus-infected cells.

If you are low in vitamin D, (and reduced exposure to sun in the northern hemisphere means we tend to be) fewer numbers of natural killer cells are formed and your innate immune defence against viruses becomes impaired. Since the other function of natural killer cells is to kill tumour cells, D-depletion also increases our risk of cancer.

Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were expose

The key to restoring optimum immune function is nutrition, and this involves not only good diet (one rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains), but also a broad spectrum supplement, and a small number of key phyto-nutrients i.e. nutrients derived from plants.

Vitamin D – activating natural killer cells

Depletion of Vitamin D in the body has long been known as a key contributory factor to the common problems of osteoporosis and osteopenia (loss of bone density). More recently, D depletion has also been shown to reduce the effectiveness of the innate immune system – the first line of defence against bacterial and viral invaders.

A gene named Vitamin D3-Upregulated Protein 1 (VDUP1) takes a vital part in giving directions to stem cells to expand into natural killer cells, one of the key elements in the innate immune system, and whose function is to seek and destroy virus-infected cells.

If you are low in vitamin D, (and reduced exposure to sun in the northern hemisphere means we tend to be) fewer numbers of natural killer cells are formed and your innate immune defence against viruses becomes impaired. Since the other function of natural killer cells is to kill tumour cells, D-depletion also increases our risk of cancer.

Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were expose

A gene named Vitamin D3-Upregulated Protein 1 (VDUP1) takes a vital part in giving directions to stem cells to expand into natural killer cells, one of the key elements in the innate immune system, and whose function is to seek and destroy virus-infected cells.

If you are low in vitamin D, (and reduced exposure to sun in the northern hemisphere means we tend to be) fewer numbers of natural killer cells are formed and your innate immune defence against viruses becomes impaired. Since the other function of natural killer cells is to kill tumour cells, D-depletion also increases our risk of cancer.

Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were expose

Selenium deficiency in the body weakens resistance to invading viruses

Selenium deficiency allows invading viruses to mutate and remain for a longer period in the host. Researchers at the University of North Carolina compared mice that received a selenium-deficient diet with non-deficient animals, all of which were exposed to the human influenza virus. The deficient mice had more severe cases of the flu and it lasted for a longer period of time than the non-deficient mice.

Selenium deficiency has become a prominent dietary factor contributing to an increased risk of infection. It is prevalent in large parts of the world, including the UK.

Beta sitosterols – an important immune modulator

The nutritional plant extract beta sitosterol is an example of a group of molecules called sterols. They are regarded as the plant kingdom’s equivalent of cholesterol. Beta sitosterol is a natural immuno-modulator as it up-regulates (enhances) certain aspects of immune function while down-regulating others. Hence, a diet rich in sterols can ‘quieten’ unwanted auto-immune responses and improve desired immune response.

Beta sitosterol increases natural killer cell activity, so depletion leaves the cells under-active. This contributes to an overall degradation of the innate immune system. It is present in a large number of plant foods and especially seeds and nuts

1-3, 1-6 Beta Glucans – priming the immune system

Of all the natural compounds known to stimulate the innate immune system, the best documented and most effective are the 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans, generally derived from baker’s yeast and now available as a supplement.

When you ingest 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans, receptors on macrophages - which are important components of the body’s innate immune system – recognize the beta glucan particles as foreign bodies and ‘assume’ that a potential enemy has arrived. In response, the number and activity level of the body’s immune cells is increased.

Many well-conducted research papers have shown that this sequence results in a significant enhancement of resistance to infection – so it is worth examining how this nutrient works in a little more detail.

A biological ‘guided missile’

Biothera is a biotech company which is a world leader in research on beta glucans, and is the manufacturer of a patented source of 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans, WGP 3-6 (The US Government are now testing Biothera’s WGP beta glucans with a view to stockpiling it as a protective measure against potential nuclear radiation).

Their research shows that, once swallowed, 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans pass through the stomach into the small intestine and are taken up by specialized regions called the Peyer’s patches.

In the Peyer’s patches, the beta glu