Don’t let foreign invaders deplete your drive or put you out of Action. Fight Flu, Fatigue and other nasty bacteria with a powerful immune system!
Mission Overview:
If you love adventure and action sports chances are you also enjoy pushing your body to the extreme. This can be an advantage, as the body adapts to higher levels of stress becoming more resistant to illness. However, the balance is a fine one and intensity over time can breakdown your defenses rendering you out of Action completely!
Mission Brief:
So this month’s mission is focused on building an impenetrable immune system by prescribing to some simple strategies!
Body Armor
The first line of Defense is your skin which serves as a basic bacteria barrier for germs and viruses. Its protective properties are largely due to the layer of dead cells that form on top of the skin ‘the epidermus’. Thinner than plastic cling-wrap this layer is composed of protein called keratin which is difficult to breakdown. In addition tiny hairs, chemicals within your sweat and beneficial bacteria present on the skins surface all help form a boundary for keeping out the bad guys!
But…..
Armor left exposed to the elements invites rust and skin is no different, as cuts, cracks and burns allow for infection to penetrate.
Try these Evasive Health Tactics:
Cuts- Allow a wound to bleed a bit before attempting to clean it as this helps naturally remove any dirt or debris. It is also a good idea to avoid strong disinfectants or alcohol as they can damage tissue. Instead use a gentle cleanser or mild soap then pat dry with a sterile gauze or clean cloth.
Cracks- Dry skin is more susceptible cracking and occurs most commonly after exposure to the elements such as wind, cold and heat. Using a natural moisturizer with sunscreen will help keep skin hydrated.
Burns- Striping the skin of its natural defense burns also place an extra demand on the metabolism as the body must work much harder to repair itself. Drinking more water will help your skin rebuild damaged cells and manage any increase to body temperature.
Inner Defense System (IDS)
The outer layer is your first line of defense but the real work begins beneath the surface where an inner army of complex molecules and white blood cells prepare for battle. These minute soldiers are vital to your inner defense as they strengthen your immune system.
Your A-Team consists of….
The Scouts or Antigens responsible for detecting foreign invader.
The Tag Team or Antigens efficient fighters these guys team up to take down the enemy.
The Commanding Officers or T-Cells which play two different roles, kind of like good cop/bad cop. Helper T-cells are responsible for sending in reinforcements whilst Cytotoxic T-cells target infected cells for termination.
The Gobble Gang or Phagocytes are hungry soldiers out for a feed. The smaller neutrophils navigate your circulatory highway scouting for infections to gobble up whilst their bigger brothers the macrophages stakeout healthy cells waiting for unsuspecting invaders chow down on!
The specialists or Natural Killer cells (NK-cells) viral infections stimulate the production of NK-cells which often hold the fort until cytotoxic T-cells can arrive.
To ensure your Army is up for Battle try performing the following Systems Check-
* I recently suffered from a cold, sore throat or the flu.
* My illnesses typically last for two or more weeks.
* I usually feel tired throughout the day.
* The majority of my training is performed at high intensities.
* I frequently travel long distances for short stays.
* I feel constantly pressured or overwhelmed.
* I’ve recently taken a long course of antibiotics.
If your checklist is full of Yes responses then it’s time to rebuild the fort and add some Evasive Health Tactics to your current regime.
To keep your Inner defense ready for Action outfit your operation with the following supplies:
Foods with the highest antioxidant rating are given a score for their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and here is a list of the top picks.
Fruits: Prunes (5770 per 100g), Blueberries (2400 per 100g), Strawberries (1540 per 100g) Raspberries (1220 per 100g), Oranges (750 per 100g) & Red Grapes (739 per 100g).
Vegetables: Kale (1770 per 100g), Spinach (1260 per 100g), Brussels sprouts (980 per 100g), Broccoli florets (890 per 100g), Red Capsicum (710 per 100g) & Onions (450 per 100g).
Other powerful foods to fuel your army’s defense system: Garlic (acts as a natural antibiotic), Citrus Fruits (provide a quality source of Vitamin C), Tomatoes (loaded with lycopene a cancer fighting antioxidant), Carrots (provide the body with carotenoids which your body converts to Vitamin A which increases the proliferation of white blood cells), Mushrooms (contain lentinan an immune stimulant).
Pantry Staples: Olive Oil (a source of squalene shown to improve immune function), Basil (helps kill intestinal parasites), Cayenne (contains capsaicin which improves blood circulation and acts as a decongestant), Coriander (rich in coriandrol combats liver cancer by fighting aflatoxins, carinogenics commonly found in mouldy bread and peanuts), Chocolate (yum factor aside dark varieties with less sugar and more cacoa are a rich source of antioxidants).
Simple Supermarket Supplements for Extra Insurance:
Morlife Immune Milkashake contains natural colostrum a rich source of antibody IgG, especially good to help you get through those winter months. It is synergistically blended with herbs, vitamins and minerals for a quick energy pick-me-up. Milkashake is also fortified with vitamins: C, B1, B2, B3, B6 and Folate to help support an active lifestyle.
Co-Enzyme Q10 is produced by the body and is a powerful antioxidant and effective free radical scavenger. Co-Enzyme Q10 also plays a vital role helping to improve energy levels, stamina and endurance, and assisting the conversion of food to energy.
