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professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from

the research and experience of Kevin Gianni,

RenegadeHealth.com and its affiliates. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care

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The Complete Immune Health Program - Course Materials

Table Of Contents

Module One ... page 4

Module Two ... page 8

Module Three ... page 13

Module Four ... page 17

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IMMUNE  HEALTH    In  this  audio  lecture  series,  I  discuss  the  immune  system  and  its  components,  and  introduce  the  new  immune  paradigm  –  immunity  as  a  “super  system.”  You  will  learn  what  happens  when  immunity  falters,  how  it  adapts  or  misbehaves  in  response  to  modern  pollutants,  and  why  infectious  disease  is  on  the  rise  and  autoimmune  conditions  becoming  epidemic.  We’ll  finish  the  series  by  learning  how  you  can  evaluate  your  body’s  immunity,  which  nutritional  supplements  are  most  important  for  immune  vitality,  how  diet  plays  a  role,  and  what  super  foods  and  herbs  are  best  to  modulate  immune  function.    As  a  clinician  with  over  twenty-­‐five  years  of  experience,  my  approach  to  the  immune  system  with  be  a  practical  immunology  of  what  makes  us  sick,  how  to  get  better,  what  to  do  to  prevent  illness,  and  how  to  promote  longevity  through  strong  immunity.    

I. Program  I  –  The  Immune  System:  Intersection  between  Health  and  Disease  

A. A  Very  Short  Course  in  Immunology:  In  this  part,  we  look  at  the  immune  system  with  an  emphasis  on  personal  health.    

• Definition:  The  immune  system  refers  to  all  the  organs  and  biological  mechanisms  that  protect  the  body  against  environmental  assault  from  substances  and  microorganisms  foreign  to  the  body,  including  infectious  “germs,”  foods,  chemicals,  drugs,  pollen  and  other  allergens.  

• Divisions:  Classical  immunology  is  divided  into  two  parts:  Innate  Immunity  and  Acquired  Immunity.    

o Innate  Immunity  is  what  we  bring  with  us  from  evolution,  genetics,  and  inherited  from  our  parents.  It  also  includes  body  protective  mechanisms  like  fever,  pH  and  secretion  of  fatty  acids,  as  well  as  physical  barriers  like  our  skin  and  mucous  membrane.  The  main  cells  of  innate  immunity  are  granulocytes  and  macrophages  which  destroy  and  eliminate  invasion  by  microorganisms.  Innate  immunity  is  present  at  birth.    

o Acquired  Immunity  is  the  highly  specialized  aspects  of  the  immune  response  that  supplements  innate  immune  responses.  It  is  a  learned  response  system  activated  by  lymphocytes  and  the  synthesis  of  specialized  protein  substances.  Acquired  immunity  can  be  induced  by  immunization.    

• Characteristics:  The  immune  response  has  several  distinct  features  including  specificity,  adaptiveness,  selectivity,  and  memory.    

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• Organs  of  the   Immune  System:  The  primary  organs  of   immunity  are  discussed  and   include:  

o The  Gut  

o The   Lymphatic  System  

o The  Thymus   Gland  

o The  EMC  –   Extracellular  Matrix  

• Cells  of  the  Immune   System  

T-­‐Cells:  T  lymphocytes  are  usually   divided  into  two  major  subsets  that  are  functionally   and  phenotypically  (identifiably)  different.  The  T   helper  subset,  also  called  the  CD4+  T  cell,  is  a   pertinent  coordinator  of  immune  regulation.  The  main  function  of  the  T  helper  cell  is  to  augment  or  potentiate  immune  responses  by  the  secretion  of  specialized  factors  that  activate  other  white  blood  cells  to  fight  off  infection.      Another  important  type  of  T  cell  is  called  the  T  killer/suppressor  subset  or  CD8+  T  cell.  These  cells  are  important  in  directly  killing  certain  tumor  cells,  viral-­‐infected  cells  and  sometimes  parasites.  The  CD8+  T  cells  are  also  important  in  down-­‐regulation  of  immune  responses.  Both  types  of  T  cells  can  be  found  throughout  the  body.  They  often  depend  on  the  secondary  lymphoid  organs  (the  lymph  nodes  and  spleen)  as  sites  where  activation  occurs,  but  they  are  also  found  in  other  tissues  of  the  body,  most  conspicuously  the  liver,  lung,  blood,  and  intestinal  and  reproductive  tracts.      Natural  Killer  Cells:  Natural  killer  cells,  often  referred  to  as  NK  cells,  are  similar  to  the  killer  T  cell  subset  (CD8+  T  cells),  with  their  own  designation,  CD56  cells.  They  function  as  effector  cells  that  directly  kill  certain  tumors  such  as  melanomas,  lymphomas  and  viral-­‐infected  cells,  most  notably  herpes  and  cytomegalovirus-­‐infected  cells.  NK  cells,  unlike  the  CD8+  (killer)  T  cells,  kill  their  targets  without  a  prior  "conference"  in  the  lymphoid  organs.  However,  NK  cells  that  have  been  activated  by  secretions  from  CD4+  T  cells  will  kill  their  tumor  or  viral-­‐infected  targets  more  effectively.      B  Cells:  The  major  function  of  B  lymphocytes,  CD19  cells,  is  the  production  of  antibodies  in  response  to  foreign  proteins  of  bacteria,  viruses,  and  tumor  cells.  Antibodies  are  specialized  proteins  that  specifically  recognize  and  bind  to  one  particular  protein  that  specifically  recognize  and  bind  to  one  particular  protein.  Antibody  production  and  binding  to  a  foreign  substance  or  antigen,  often  is  critical  as  a  means  of  signaling  other  cells  to  engulf,  kill  or  remove  that  substance  from  the  body.    

 

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B. The  Immune  Super  System:  In  this  part,  we  look  at  the  new  immune  paradigm  –  the  neuroendocrineimmune  (NEI)  complex.    

• Definition:  Complex  neuroendocrine-­‐immune  interactions  hold  the  key  to  understanding  the  behavior  of  the  immune  system.  The  nervous,  endocrine  and  immune  systems  communicate  via  messenger  molecules  including  neurotransmitters,  cytokines,  and  hormones.  Rather  than  the  classical  view  of  the  immune  system  as  a  discrete  entity,  in  reality,  it  is  an  intelligent  higher-­‐order  entity.    

• Aspects:  The  NEI  includes  adrenal,  thyroid,  and  thymus  hormones;  a  vast  array  of  immune  messenger  molecules  called  cytokines  and  chemokines  including  interleukins  and  interferons;  and  a  highly  complex  cellular  immune  architecture  that  includes  T-­‐Lymphocyte  Helper  cells  and  their  subsets  (Th1,  Th2,  Th17).    

• Influences:  The  immune  super  system  has  innate  and  learned  intelligence,  and  is  directly  influenced  by  the  biochemical  nature  of  foods  and  medicines,  and  their  impact  on  positive  and  negative  gene  expression  –  immunogenomics.    

 

C. Special  Considerations:  The  Thymus  Gland  and  The  Gut:  In  this  part,  we  focus  on  the  importance  these  organ  systems  in  immune  health.    

 

• The  Thymus  Gland:  The  thymus  is  a  specialized  organ  of  the  immune  system  with  the  main  function  of  the  production  and  "education"  of  T-­‐lymphocytes  (T  cells)  of  the  adaptive  immune  system.    The  thymus  is  composed  of  two  identical  lobes  and  is  located  anatomically  in  front  of  the  heart  and  behind  the  sternum.  

 

   

Figure  1:  Understanding  of  the  Thymus  in  1968  

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 Figure  2:  Contemporary  Understanding  of  Thymic  Cell  Differentiation  

 

• GUT  Immunology:  Intestinal  flora  shapes  immune  responses  in  the  gut,  mainly  by  providing  activation  signals  for  innate  pattern  recognition  receptors.  However,  the  immunological  role  of  probiotic  bacteria  is  not  restricted  to  the  intestinal  mucosa,  which  can  influence  the  adaptive  immune  response  to  viruses  in  the  lung,  and  modulate  inflammation  in  all  parts  of  the  body  including  the  brain.  

The  intestine  is  an  open  ecological  system  that  is  colonized  immediately  after  birth  by  a  microbial  population  that  reaches  an  impressive  density  of  1  billion  bacteria  per  gram  of  content  in  the  distal  gut.  Colonization  is  initiated  by  maternally  acquired  bacteria  during  birth  and  breast  feeding;  these  bacteria  are  then  followed  by  hundreds  of  environmentally  acquired  species.  The  human  intestine  harbors  an  estimated  100  trillion  bacteria,  70–80%  of  which  have  not  been  cultured.  Each  individual  is  thought  to  host  several  hundred  species  of  bacteria  from  only  7  to  9  phylotypes:  mainly  Gram-­‐positive  Clostridium  species,  Enterococcus  spp.  and  Lactobacillus  spp.  and  Gram-­‐negative  Bacteroidetes  spp.    

Figure  3:  Modulation  of  Immunity  by  Gut  Probiotics  

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COMPLETE  IMMUNE  HEALTH      In  the  first  program  I  discussed  the  immune  system  and  its  parts,  and  introduced  the  new  immune  paradigm  –  immunity  as  a  “super  system”  –  the  neuro-­‐endocrine-­‐immune  (NEI)  system.    I  gave  a  short  course  on  what  the  immune  system  is  including  the  main  organs  and  cell  of  immunity.  Emphasis  was  placed  on  T-­‐Lymphocytes  and  important  subsets,  the  thymus  gland,  and  the  gut.      In  this  program,  I  will  discuss  what  happens  when  the  immune  system  falters,  how  it  goes  wrong,  and  what  conditions  result  from  immune  dysfunction.  The  emphasis  this  time  will  be  on  inflammation  as  the  common  link  among  chronic  degenerative  diseases  associated  with  aging  and  modern  lifestyle,  and  immune  system  related  diseases.        

Program  II  -­‐  When  Immunity  Goes  Wrong  

 

Part  4:  Types  of  Immune  Disorders  -­‐  Most  immune  disorders  result  from  immune-­‐deficiency  or  an  excessive  immune  response,  an  autoimmune  attack.  A  key  part  of  immune  function  is  to  differentiate  between  invaders  and  the  body's  own  cells;  when  it  fails  to  make  this  distinction,  a  reaction  against  your  own  cells  and  molecules  occurs  and  results  in  autoimmune  disease.      

According  to  the  classical  view  of  medical  immunology  there  are  four  main  areas  of  immune  system  disorders:  

 

1. Hypersensitivities  –  The  inappropriate  immune  responses  to  substances  that  are  usually  harmless  causing  allergy  and  asthma.    

2. Graft-­‐vs-­‐Host  –  A  life-­‐threatening  reaction  in  people  receiving  organ  transplants.  3. Immune  Deficiency  Diseases  -­‐  Disorders  in  which  your  resistance  to  disease  

becomes  dangerously  low.  4. Autoimmune  Diseases  -­‐  Conditions  causing  your  immune  system  to  attack  your  

own  body's  cells  and  tissues.    

 

In  this  program,  the  immune  super  system  model,  the  areas  that  most  concern  us  are  allergy  and  asthma,  immunodeficiency,  and  autoimmune  diseases.  I  will  discuss  the  immune  system’s  role  in  infection,  particular  viral  immunity,  in  another  program.    

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Common  Immune  Disorders:  Over  50  million  Americans  suffer  from  allergies.  More  than  23  million  have  asthma,  and  many  of  these  are  have  allergies.  Less  than  3%  of  people  have  celiac/sprue  disease,  but  between  55  and  70%  have  gluten  sensitivity.  And,  more  than  50  million  people  in  the  US  have  an  autoimmune  disease.  Let’s  review  the  most  commonly  occurring  types  of  immune  conditions.    

 

Hypersensitivity:  Allergy  &  Asthma  

§ Type  I  Hypersensitivity  (Hay  Fever,  Hives)  &  IgE  Mediated  Allergies    

§ IgG  Mediated  Delayed  Reactivity  (Food  Sensitivities)  

Immunodeficiency:  There  are  several  diseases  associated  with  immune  deficiency  including:    

§ Chronic  Fatigue  Syndrome  Immune  Deficiency  Syndrome  (CFIDS)  

§ Hyper  IgE  and  IgM  Syndrome  

§ Immunoglobulin  G,  Subclass  Deficiency  

§ T-­‐Cell  Deficiency  associate  with  chronic  viral  infection,  i.e.  HIV,  HHV-­‐6  

§ Combined  Immunodeficiency  Diseases  

Autoimmune  Diseases:  These  conditions  are  thought  to  develop  in  genetically  susceptible  individuals  after  an  environmental  trigger  activates  the  immune  response.  Such  “triggers”  can  be  viruses,  toxic  environmental  chemicals  and  heavy  metals  like  mercury,  and  bacteria.  Autoimmune  disease  is  also  associated  with  the  breakdown  on  CD4  T  cell  activity  and  imbalance  between  T  helper  1  and  2,  as  well  as  Th17  cytokines.  There  are  at  least  63  distinct  autoimmune  diseases  including:      

§ Alopecia  Areata  § Autoimmune  Thrombocytopenic  Purpura  (ATP)  § Celiac  Sprue-­‐Dermatitis  § Chronic  Fatigue  Immune  Deficiency  Syndrome  (CFIDS)  § Chronic  Inflammatory  Demyelinating  Polyneuropathy  § Crohn’s  Disease    § Fibromyalgia  &  Fibromyositis  § Grave’s  Disease  § Hashimoto’s  Thyroiditis  § Idiopathic  Thrombocytopenia  Purpura  (ITP)  § Lupus  § Meniere’s  Disease  § Mixed  connective  Tissue  Disease  

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§ Multiple  Sclerosis  § Myasthenia  Gravis  § Polymyalgia  Rheumatica  § Polymyositis  and  Dermatomyositis  § Psoriasis  § Raynaud’s  Phenomenon  § Reiter’s  Syndrome  § Rheumatoid  Arthritis  § Sarcoidosis  § Scleroderma  § Sjogren’s  Syndrome  § Stiff-­‐Man  Syndrome  § Ulcerative  Colitis  § Vasculitis  § Vitiligo  

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Part  5:  Inflammation  -­‐  Inflammation  is  one  of  the  first  responses  of  the  immune  system  to  infection.  The  classical  symptoms  of  inflammation  are  redness,  swelling,  heat,  and  pain.  Inflammation  is  produced  by  eicosanoids  and  cytokines,  which  are  released  by  injured  or  infected  cells.  Eicosanoids  are  signaling  molecules  made  by  oxidation  of  twenty-­‐carbon  essential  fatty  acids,  (EFAs).  They  exert  complex  control  over  many  bodily  systems,  mainly  in  inflammation  or  immunity,  and  as  messengers  in  the  central  nervous  system.  The  networks  of  controls  that  depend  upon  eicosanoids  are  among  the  most  complex  in  the  human  body.  

Eicosanoids  derive  from  either  omega-­‐3  or  omega-­‐6  EFAs.  The  omega-­‐6  eicosanoids  are  generally  pro-­‐inflammatory;  while  omega-­‐3s  are  much  less  so,  and  may  exert  anti-­‐inflammatory  effects.  The  amount  and  balance  of  these  EFAs  in  a  person's  diet  affects  the  body's  eicosanoid-­‐controlled  functions,  with  effects  on  cardiovascular  disease,  triglycerides,  blood  pressure,  and  arthritis.  Anti-­‐inflammatory  drugs  such  as  aspirin  and  other  NSAIDs  act  by  downregulating  eicosanoid  synthesis.  There  are  four  families  of  eicosanoids—prostaglandins,  prostacyclins,  the  thromboxanes  and  the  leukotrienes.  Prostaglandins  produce  fever  and  the  dilation  of  blood  vessels  associated  with  inflammation,  and  leukotrienes  that  attract  certain  white  blood  cells.    

Common  cytokines  include  interleukins  that  are  responsible  for  communication  between  white  blood  cells;  chemokines  that  promote  chemotaxis;  and  interferons  that  have  anti-­‐viral  effects,  such  as  shutting  down  protein  synthesis  in  the  host  cell.  Pro-­‐inflammatory  cytokines  include  Interleukin-­‐6  (IL-­‐6)  and  Tumor  Necrosis  Factor  (TNF).  Growth  factors  and  cytotoxic  factors  may  also  be  released.  Cytokines  recruit  immune  cells  to  the  site  of  infection  and  promote  healing  of  damaged  tissue  following  the  removal  of  pathogens.  

Chronic  Low  Grade  Inflammation:  There  is  considerable  clinical  and  research  that  low  grade  inflammation  is  responsible  for,  or  at  least  intimately  associated  with,  obesity  and  type  II  diabetes,  cardiovascular  disease,  fatigue  syndromes  and  fibromyalgia,  Alzheimer’s,  allergies  and  asthma,  osteoporosis,  and  nearly  all  other  diseases  once  associated  with  aging,  and  even  aging  itself.      

Immunity  &  Aging:  Are  senescence  and  exhaustion  intertwined  or  unrelated  processes  that  compromise  immunity?  Can  the  immune  system  be  reactivated  continuously  throughout  life  or  is  there  an  endpoint  at  which  repeated  antigenic  challenge  leads  to  the  loss  of  lymphocyte  function  or  the  cells  themselves  or  both?  Senescence  and  exhaustion  are  processes  that  control  T  cell  proliferative  activity  and  function;  therefore  

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aging  is  linked  to  the  immune  super  system.  The  onset  of  aging  occurs  in  three  basic  steps:  telomere  shortening,  lose  of  DNA  repair,  and  arrest  of  cell  metabolism.    

Exhaustion  is  characterized  by  the  progressive  loss  of  T  cell  function,  leading  to  the  removal  of  the  exhausted  cell.  Functional  exhaustion  develops  when  there  is  a  high  antigenic  load  and  lots  of  worn  out  T  cells.    

Inflammation  –  Direction  from  the  Matrix:  Emerging  evidence  reveals  that  components  of  the  extracellular  matrix  can  directly  regulate  inflammatory  processes.  The  extracellular  matrix  (ECM)  has  an  important  role  in  influencing  immune  cell  behavior  in  inflamed  tissues.  The  ECM  exists  in  several  biochemical  and  structural  forms  and  individual  components  of  the  ECM  signals  information  to  cells  and  modulates  essential  immune  functions,  particularly  inflammation.  

The  ECM  is  gel-­‐like  highly  insoluble  substance  made  of  proteins.  These  proteins  are  glycosylated  and  contain  glycosaminoglycan  chains.  There  are  complex  interactions  among  growth  factors  and  chemokines  resulting  in  a  highly  organized,  insoluble  suprastructure  that  integrate  and  delivers  multiple  complex  signals  that  affect  biological  behavior  in  inflamed  tissues.  

The  two  basic  forms  of  the  ECM  are  basement  membranes,  which  are  thin  networks  of  highly  crosslinked  glycoproteins,  and  the  loose  fibril-­‐like  interstitial  matrix.  In  addition,  specialized  ECM  structures,  which  combine  features  of  both  the  basement  membrane  and  the  interstitial  matrix,  form  the  reticular  fibre  network  of  secondary  lymphoid  organs    

Since  the  ECM  interconnects  and  drains  into  the  lymphatic  system,  the  immune  systems  circulatory  network,  there  is  an  intimate  link  between  the  ECM,  inflammation,  and  disease  associated  with  immunity.    

There  are  two  ways  to  access  the  ECM:  (1)  by  sublingual  application,  and  (2)  intradermal  injection.  In  both  cases,  specialized  low-­‐dose  biologic  medications  are  used  composed  of  coenzymes,  botanical  compounds,  trace  minerals,  interleukins  and  anti-­‐interleukins,  interferon,  and  hormones.    

 

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Complete  Immune  Health  

Module  III  –  How  to  Fix  Your  Immune  System  

In  Modules  I  and  II,  we  learned  about  the  neuroendocrineimmune  (NEI)  super  system.  This  new  paradigm  of  immune  health  looks  at  underlying  common  processes  rather  than  symptoms,  the  final  manifestation  of  disease,  and  rather  than  attempting  to  find  a  single  cause  or  factor,  it  looks  at  underlying  processes.  Because  the  understanding  of  immune  diseases  is  complex,  we  learned  that  the  wiser  approach  is  to  restore  normal  biological  processes  with  complex  “low  technology”  natural  compounds  found  in  foods  and  herbs,  enzymes,  probiotics,  hormones  and  peptides.  We  learned  that  low-­‐dose,  low  potency  substances  modulate  immune  responses  by  normalizing  inflammation  and  improving  T-­‐cell  integrity.    

There  is  a  third  element  in  immune  modulation  called  cell  signaling,  molecular  pathways  responsible  for  all  cell  functions  in  the  body.    Cell  signaling  is  part  of  a  complex  system  of  molecular  communication  that  governs  basic  cell  activity  and  coordinates  cell  actions.  The  ability  of  cells  to  perceive  and  correctly  respond,  through  cell  signaling  pathways,  to  their  microenvironment  is  the  basis  of  development,  tissue  repair,  and  immunity  as  well  as  normal  tissue  homeostasis.  Defects  in  cell  signaling  are  responsible  for  diseases  such  as  cancer,  autoimmunity,  and  diabetes.  By  understanding  cell  signaling,  diseases  may  be  treated  more  effectively.  

CELL  SIGNALING  DEPENDS  ON:  

• A  healthy  ECM  and  communication  from  the  surface  of  the  body  to  the  interior.  

• Growth  factors  • Hormones  • Neurotransmitters  (serotonin)  • “Survival  factors”  (IGF-­‐1)  

In  the  early  years  of  my  clinical  practice,  almost  30  years  now,  I  often  wondered  why,  if  cells  were  frequently  replaced  in  the  body,  that  more  diseased  cells  were  made  rather  than  healthy  new  cells.  We  now  know  the  answer:  messenger  molecules  and  their  pathways  are  a  key  factor  in  health  and  disease,  especially  in  chronic  conditions.  Dysfunctional  and  disrupted  cell  pathways  are  the  underlying  process  in  chronic  disease.  The  cause  of  this  disruption  is  rooted  in  modern  lifestyle  and  includes  toxic  environmental  chemicals,  heavy  metals,  hormone-­‐mimicking  substances  in  plastics,  and  stress.  And,  is  intimately  interlinked  to  environmental  factors  that  serve  as  messages  that  communicate  with  our  genes.  Our  epigenome  is  serves  as  a  record  of  all  our  biological  life  experiences:  stressors,  infections,  and  nutrition.    

 

 

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KEY  ELEMENTS  FOR  IMMUNE  SUPER  SYSTEM  MODULATION  

• Detox  and  Restore  the  Extracellular  (ECM)  &  Intracellular  DNA  Repair  • Promote  Positive  Gene  Expression  &  Balance  Polymorphisms    • Restore  T-­‐Cell  Integrity  &  Support  the  Thymus  Gland  • Balance  T-­‐helper  1  and  2  Cytokines  • Normalize  Cell  Signaling  Pathways  • Restore  Hormone  Balance  –  Adrenal,  Thyroid,  and  Estrogen  • Detoxify  Heavy  Metals  and  Toxic  Chemicals  

10  STEPS  TO  FIX  YOUR  IMMUNE  SYSTEM  

Step  1:  Lower  Your  Stress  –  It’s  well  known  that  stress  disrupts  the  hypothalamic-­‐pituitary-­‐adrenal  (HPA)  axis  and  messes  with  your  immune  system’s  function.  To  effectively  restore  your  immune  system  and  successfully  treat  immune  deficiency  and  autoimmune  conditions,  managing  stress  is  essential.    

Step  2:  Low-­‐Antigen,  Low-­‐Arachidonic  Acid  Diet  –  Personal  experience,  clinical  evidence,  and  research  studies  confirm  that  an  anti-­‐inflammatory  diet  reduces  inflammation  and  improves  immune  function.  A  vegan  diet  is  ideal.  A  vegetarian  diet  with  some  fish  also  works  well.  Both  diets  require  supplementation  with  omega  3  fatty  acids  (EPA/DHA).    

• Eliminate  toxic  foods,  additives,  highly  refined  carbohydrates  • Eliminate  gluten  (wheat)  and  casein  (dairy)  • Reduce  or  eliminate  commercially  farmed  meats  • Increase  fiber  with  complex  carbohydrates  (daily  dietary  fiber  target  is  

between  30-­‐50  grams)  • Add  fish  of  great  omega-­‐3s  (wild  salmon,  sardines,  mackerel,  trout,  canned  

albacore  tuna,  canned  wild  Alaskan  salmon)  • Avoid  arachidonic  acid  foods  (organ  meats,  game  meats,  poultry  and  eggs,  

catfish,  tilapia,  and  farmed  salmon)  • Manage  your  calories  so  you  don’t  over  eat,  and  restore  normal  weight.  

(1,200  to  1,800  calories  daily  for  the  average  person.  Very  active  people  will  need  more  calories.)  

Step  3:  Increase  High  Polyphenol  Foods  –  These  include  dark  green  vegetables,  green  tea,  deep  purple  fruits  like  blue  berries  and  pomegranate.    However,  all  fruits  have  polyphenols,  but  don’t  over  do  them  because  they  are  also  high  in  sugar.  Choose  polyphenol  vegetables  like  broccoli  and  artichokes,  onions  and  red  cabbage,  over  fruits.  Seeds  and  nuts  also  contain  polyphenols  like  raw  organic  almonds.  Other  high  polyphenol  “super”  foods  include  acai,  red  wine  for  its  resveratrol,  and  70%  or  greater  dark  chocolate.  Green  super  foods  like  wheat  grass  and  cholera  are  also  great  additions.  But  the  best  of  category  is  green  tea,  as  proven  by  the  Chinese  over  10,000  years.    

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Eating  lots  of  plant-­‐based  foods  helps  prevent  cancer.  Many  common  plants  that  we  consume  make  a  group  of  compounds  called  polyphenols.  The  way  polyphenols  work  are  multi-­‐faceted  and  complex,  including  the  regulation  of  growth  factor-­‐receptor  interactions  and  cell  signaling  cascades,  such  as  kinases  and  transcription  factors  that  determine  the  expression  of  genes  involved  in  apoptosis,  programmed  death  of  diseases  cells.  Polyphenols  also  enhance  the  body's  immune  system  to  recognize  and  destroy  cancer  cells  as  well  as  inhibiting  tumor  growth.    

Step  4:  Get  Tested  –  Besides  a  complete  blood  count  with  differential  (CBC  with  Diff),  comprehensive  chemistry,  and  lipid  panel,  get  the  following  tests:  

• Homocysteine  • C-­‐Reactive  Protein  (CRP),  highly  sensitive/cardiac  • Hemoglobin  A1c  (HbgA1c)  • Sedimentation  Rate  (ESR)  • Vitamin  D3,  25  Hydroxy  • Heavy  Metal  Profile  (arsenic,  cadmium,  mercury,  lead)  

Consider  the  following  tests  to  supplement  the  testing  profile:  

• Comprehensive  Digestive  and  Stool  Analysis  (CDSA)  • Salivary  Adrenal  Stress  Profile  • Hair  Analysis  for  Heavy  Metals  

TEST  NAME   DESIRABLE  RANGE   OPTIMAL  RANGE  Homocysteine   <  9   <  6  CRP   <  3.0   <  0.9  HbgA1c   <  5.5   <  5.1  ESR   <  10   <  5  Vitamin  D3   >  39   70-­‐100  Heavy  Metals   Within  acceptable  limits   Non-­‐detected    

Step  5:  Chelate  Out  Heavy  Metals  &  Toxic  Chemicals  –  Get  a  heavy  metal  blood  or  urine  test.  If  you  have  any  at  all,  consult  with  your  doctor  about  oral  and  intravenous  ways  to  remove  them  from  your  body.    

Step  6:  Avoid  Drugs  That  Have  Negative  Cell  Signaling  Effects:  

• Prednisone  • Synthetic  Hydrocodone  Opiates  (Vicodin)  

Step  7:  Take  Supplements  –  Nutritional  supplements  can  make  a  significant  addition  to  your  immune  health  program.  Food  is  simply  not  enough  to  fight  chronic  inflammation  and  autoimmune  disease.    

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• Immune  supportive  nutrients:  vitamin  D3  (1,000  –  5,000  IU),  zinc  (30-­‐60  mg),  selenium  (200  –  400  mcg)  

• N-­‐acetyl-­‐carnitine  (NAC)  (500-­‐1,500  mg)  • Coenzyme  Q10  (250  –  500  mg)  • Folic  Acid,  especially  5-­‐tetrahydrofolate  (1  –  5  mg)  • Omega-­‐3  fatty  acids  (1,000  to  3,000  mg)  • Phenolic  compounds:  EGCG  (standardized  extract  50%,  250-­‐500  mg)  and  

Resveratrol  (100%  trans-­‐resveratrol,  125  –  250  mg)  • Anti-­‐inflammatory  compounds:  Curcumin  (standardized  to  95%  

curcuminoids,  500  –  1500  mg)  and  Cat’s  Claw  (standardized  extract,  250  –  1,500  mg)  

• Antioxidants:  vitamins  C  (500  –  1,500  mg)  and  a  complete  natural  E  (400  –  800  IU)  

• Amino  Acid:  L-­‐Lysine  (500  –  1,500  mg)  • Vitamin  B12  as  Methylcobamin  (1,000  –  5,000  mcg)  • Prebiotics  and  Probiotics:    

Step  8:  Add  Immune  “Boosters”  –  Immune  modulating  compounds  come  from  wild  and  cultivated  mushrooms  and  Saccharomyes  cervesia  yeast.  Others  come  from  first  milk-­‐derived  products  like  colostrum  and  transfer  factor.  Botanicals  also  have  amazing  immune  modulating  activity,  especially  those  found  in  traditional  Chinese  medicine.    

• Beta  Glucan  (Beta-­‐1,  3-­‐D-­‐Glucan,  500  –  1,500  mg)  • Medicinal  Mushrooms  (Cordyceps,  Ganoderma,  Reishi  –  various  forms  and  

dosages)  • Transfer  Factor  (250-­‐500  mg)  • Astragalus  (standardized  extract,  500  –  1,500  mg)  

Step  9:  Balance  Hormones  –  Healthy  immunity  needs  balanced  hormones.  If  they  are  too  low  or  too  high,  or  not  communicating  effectively  with  your  immune  cells,    

• Strong  thyroid  –  T3  &  T4  • Strong  adrenals  –  DHEA  and  cortisol  • Balanced  steroid  sex  hormones  –  estrogen,  progesterone,  testosterone  • Adequate  growth  hormone  &  insulin-­‐like  growth  factor  (IGF-­‐1)  

Step  10:  Exercise  Daily  –  Start  with  slow  and  work  up.  Even  10  minutes  of  walking,  preferably  in  a  park  on  grass  or  the  countryside,  helps.  Better  is  30-­‐40  minutes  daily  of  moderate  cardiovascular  exercise  combined  with  light  circuit  weight  training.  The  best  overall  ways  to  exercise  are  practicing  yoga  asanas  and  swimming.  The  best  is  moderate  exercise  for  60-­‐90  minutes  every  day,  with  occasional  vigorous  workouts.  However,  never  over  do  it,  as  excessive  exercise  causes  inflammation  and  oxidative  damage.    

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Complete Immune Health MODULE  IV:  Viral  Immunity  In  this  module  you  will  learn  about  viral  immunity  and  to  treat  cold  and  flu,  and  other  common  viral  infections  like  herpes.  To  start,  let’s  get  back  to  the  basics.  Every  thing  you  learned  in  Modules  I-­‐III  apply  to  viral  immunity.      

What  is  Viral  Immunity?    

Viral  immunity  is  the  ability  of  the  immune  system  to  prevent,    defend  against,  neutralize,  and  eliminate  viruses  from  the  body.  

 

What  is  a  virus?  

“A  virus  is  bad  news  wrapped  in  protein.”  

 

 

Your  Viral  Immunity  Ally:  Natural  Killer  (NK)  Cell  

A  small  fraction  (<2%)  of  the  lymphocytes  circulating  in  the  blood  are  neither  T  cells  nor  B  cells.  Most  of  these  are  called  natural  killer  (NK)  cells.  NK  cells  are  a  type  of  cytotoxic  lymphocyte  and  part  of  the  innate  immune  system.  They  play  a  major  role  in  the  rejection  of  tumors  and  killing  of  cells  infected  by  viruses.  They  kill  by  releasing  small  proteins  called  perforin  and  granzyme  that  attack  and  kill  diseased  cells.  Upon  release  in  close  proximity  to  a  cell  slated  for  killing,  perforin  forms  pores  in  the  cell  membrane  of  the  target  cell  through  which  the  granzymes  and  associated  molecules  can  enter,  inducing  apoptosis.  In  addition  to  killing  target  cells,  NK  cells  

FOUR  THINGS  THAT  MAKE  A  VIRUS    1. Viruses  Are  Very  Small  –  They  are  smaller  than  an  individual  human  cell.  

2. Viruses  Are  Intracellular  Parasites  –  They  have  no  life  of  their  own.  

3. Viruses  Are  Minimalists  –  They  are  genetically  lean  and  have  limited  genetic  material,  but  use  genes  from  host  cells.  

4. Viruses  Adapt  -­‐  They  mutate  as  a  method  of  survival.  

 

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secrete  anti-­‐viral  cytokines  like  interferon  (IFN-­‐γ)  and  inflammatory  cytokines  like  tumor  necrosis  factor  (TNF-­‐α).    

 

 

Treating  a  Cold  

• Keep  up  fluids  • Take  zinc  (30-­‐50  mg  once  daily)  and  suck  on  zinc  lozenges  • Push  vitamin  C:  1,500  mg  buffered  C  powder  in  water  every  two  hours  up  to  

bowel  tolerance  • Take  Chinese  medicine:  Gan  Mao  

Beating  the  Flu  –  THE  BASIC  FOUR  

1. Enhance  viral  immunity:  zinc,  vitamin  D3,  vitamin  C,  Echinacea  2. Manage  fever  3. Control  inflammation  4. Keep  up  fluids  and  electrolytes  

Taming  Herpes  I  &  II  

• Reduce  arginine  containing  foods    o Nuts    o Chocolate    o Coconut    o Seeds    o Oats    o Lentils    o Brown  rice    o Soybeans  o Caffeine  (increases  arginine  utilization)  

• Increase  Lysine:  500  –  1,500  mg  three  times  daily  • Push  vitamin  C:  500  –  1,500  mg  three  times  daily  • Take  zinc:  30  mg  three  times  daily  • Drink  green:  fresh  juices,  spirulina,  blue  green  algae,  wheat  grass  

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• Go  raw  vegan  for  awhile  • Drink  Aloe  vera  juice  • Take  olive  leaf  extract  (pharmaceutical  grade  17-­‐23%  oleuropein):  500  –  

1,000  mg  three  times  daily.    

KEYS  TO  SUCCESSFUL  VIRAL  IMMUNITY  

• Hit  multiple  things  in  small  ways.  • Influence  regulatory  centers.  • Manage  inflammation.  • Put  pressure,  but  not  too  much,  on  viral  replication.    

 

COMPLETE  IMMUNE  HEALTH  SUMMARY  

Use  diet  and  natural  medicine  to  modulate  immunity.  • Eat  a  plant-­‐based,  high-­‐phytochemical  (polyphenols),  organic  diet.  Go  vegan  

or  vegetarian  with  fish.    • Balance  pH  with  a  shift  towards  alkaline.  • Restore  normal  body  mass  index  and  composition.    • Regular  glucose  and  improve  insulin  sensitivity.  • Detoxify  liver  and  cleanse  the  colon.  • Replace  probiotics,  and  add  prebiotics  and  fiber.    • Get  rid  of  heavy  metals.  • Manage  stress.    

TOP  IMMUNE  SUPPLEMENTS  

• Zinc  • Selenium  • Vitamin  D3  • Vitamin  C  • Beta  Glucan  • Medicinal  Mushrooms