Can Vitamins and Minerals Boost Your Immune Function?

Vitamins And Minerals May Boost Immune Function

by: News Canada

 (NC)-Many experts believe vitamins, especially antioxidant vitamins, help boost the disease-fighting powers of the immune system. Antioxidants are thought to help protect cells in the immune system from damage caused by environmental contaminants, cigarette smoke, radiation and normal wear and tear.

 A Is For Allergies And Vitamin A!

Allergies are a significant problem in today’s world. Smog, factory pollution, and the increase in grasses and plants contribute to many people suffering from allergy attacks. The most common forms of allergic reactions are hay fever, some forms of asthma and hives may be a common reaction to some very normal and usually harmless substances.

Grass and tree pollen, and house dust are common irritants to people with allergies.

Immunoglobulin E is an antibody produced when a person is exposed to an allergen. Scientists are not sure how it first developed but the theory is that it was the body’s defense to parasitic worms. There are different types of this antibody and each will react differently to individual allergens. When a person is first exposed to a potential allergen the body will make large amounts of the Immunoglobulin E antibody that releases powerful chemicals to activate blood platelets and attract secondary cells. These chemicals include histamine, and heparin. These can cause the symptoms of allergies including the sneezing, itching, runny eyes, and wheezing that comes with the allergy. This antibody can also help prevent anaphylactic shock which is a potentially life threatening allergic reaction.

Vitamin A, selenium, and zinc are nutrients that play an important role in keeping mucous membranes healthy and protecting your outer skin. If you mucous membranes are healthy you have a significantly reduced chance of having allergy problems. The mucous membrane is the layer of cells that contain infection-fighting biochemicals.

Mucus also shields cell for substances that trigger allergies such as pollen and other allergens.

Mucous membranes also protect cells from the danger of air pollution. People who are exposed to air pollution are more likely to have severe allergies. Air pollution can come from factories, cars that are maintained, and even the harvesting of a food crop. An allergic reaction promotes unstable molecules called free radicals that injure mast cells and making them more prone to histamine release. Vitamins such as C and E and beta-carotenes help neutralize the free radicals and help protect healthy molecules from suffering harm.

Some of the most powerful allergic reactions are food related. People with serious food allergies should be tested to find out which foods they should avoid. Some foods can result in such a severe reaction it could be deadly. Peanuts are one food that is known to cause severe allergic and life threatening reactions.

A specialist can help pinpoint the foods that are potential troublemakers. The most common food allergies are milk, peanuts, nuts, eggs, soy and some seafoods. Gluten, which is a protein found in some grains may also cause allergy related gastrointestinal problems in some people. If you or someone you love has numerous colds or other sinus and congestion problems, you should contact your family doctor about having tests to determine if that person has any severe allergies.

Some doctors recommend taking a vitamin and mineral supplement that will help control allergic reactions. A doctor can recommend if you need any supplemental vitamins or minerals to combat your allergy problems.

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