Innate Immunity

Does Protein Protect From Infection?

Protein is a macronutrient you need in your diet every day for optimal health. In addition to building muscle mass, repairing damaged tissues and manufacturing hormones, your dietary protein protects you from infection by supporting your immune...

What Are the Treatments for HPV?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 million people in the United States are currently infected with the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV). The immune system normally clears the HPV virus in...

Zinc & My Immune Function

Zinc is a trace mineral, meaning you only need tiny amounts each day. Still, it supports many important body functions such as immunity. You can purchase zinc in a variety of over-the-counter supplement forms to help boost your immune function....

About the Immune System

The immune system defends the body against disease by identifying and destroying microorganisms and substances that could cause harm. The immune system can recognize millions of different potential invaders and can maintain the ability to...

Why Do I Need Probiotics?

Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that are naturally found in the gut and vagina. Their key role is to fight against so-called "bad" bacteria from the digestive tract that may cause various health problems. Probiotics are also available as...

Astaxanthin and Cancer

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that is related to vitamin A, lutein and lycopene. It is present in a variety of foods, including salmon, shrimp and crayfish, and in microalgae and the feathers of some birds. According to a January 2004 review in "The...

Types of Antimicrobial Peptides

"Pharmacological Reviews" states that tissues and organisms representing every kingdom of life, from plants to insects to humans, have yielded antimicrobial peptides. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the properties...

Parts of the Body That Make White Blood Cells

White blood cells are part of your immune system and are found in your blood and tissue. Your body has several different types of white blood cells that fight infections by producing antibodies and cytokines, killing infected cells and removing...

Vitamins for Immune Deficiency

Immune deficiency can leave the body vulnerable to any passing disease. Mitigating this condition requires proactive decisions about personal health and wellness. When working with a licensed health professional, people who are interested in the...

Protein & the Immune System

Your immune system helps protect you from infection by invading bacteria and viruses, parasites, worms and a variety of other infectious agents. The system depends upon organs and cells, but also upon many different proteins that work with the...

Low Vitamin D & HIV

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. If you are HIV-positive, you may be at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency because certain medications appear to lower vitamin D levels, according to...

Symptoms of Low Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin, as it is produced in the body when the skin is exposed to the natural sunlight. According to NaturalNews.com, a deficiency in vitamin D affects 40 per cent of the American population. Discuss your...

Echinacea & the Immune System

Echinacea is an herb that is native to North America. It has been used traditionally to treat colds and other infections. Scientific evidence shows support for echinacea as an immune system enhancer. However, the advice of a medical professional...

Vitamin D3 5000 IU Benefits

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is stored within fat tissue in your body until it is used by cells and tissues. In many cases, you can synthesize sufficient levels of vitamin D in your body, since specialized skin cells...

How Vitamins Help the Immune System

Your immune system plays a central role in maintaining your health, helping to fight infections, as well as prevent potentially infectious agents from entering your system. Damage to your immune system leaves you open to infection, so that even...

What Are the Benefits of Eating Whey?

Whey protein isn't just for beefy bodybuilders who live in the gym. Whey protein is abundant in a number of health boosting nutrients not found in other foods or supplements. Eating whey protein powder regularly can help you lose fat, recover from...

Problems With a Vitamin D Deficiency

According to a 2007 review article in the "New England Journal of Medicine," an estimated 1 billion people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is both a fat-soluble vitamin and hormone that plays many vital roles in the body. Vitamin D...

Citracal Plus Magnesium Ingredients

Citracal Plus with Vitamin D and Magnesium provides essential minerals and vitamins that helps strengthen bones, which is especially important for women who are at risk for osteoporosis, a thinning and weakening of the bones. Citracal Plus with...

Mannose Benefits

D-mannose is a sugar molecule similar to glucose. It’s also known simply as mannose and is sometimes called seminose or carubinose. This substance may help prevent bladder infections. However, before you use mannose for this or any other...

Vitamin D and Pneumonia

Vitamin D is also called the "sunshine vitamin" and plays a vital role in your immune system by strengthening the cells that seek out and destroy bacteria and viruses. Vitamin D also might play a role in preventing pneumonia, which led to a...

How Does Vitamin D Boost the Immune System?

Vitamin D is well known for its beneficial role in bone health, but recent research has also found evidence of immune activity. Because vitamin D appears to interact with many different cells within the immune system, deficiencies could leave you...

Positive Effects of Sunlight on the Skin

Doctors of natural and conventional medicine both agree that sunlight can heal a wide variety of health conditions, particularly conditions affecting the skin. Doctors describe the positive effects that sunlight has on the skin and prescribe...

Activia Yogurt & Illnesses

Activia — a probiotic yogurt manufactured by the Dannon company — and other yogurts with live and active cultures contain probiotics, microorganisms that may help support the health of your digestive and immune systems. Many probiotic...

The Best Probiotic for Gut Health

Probiotics are live microorganisms that behave similarly to the healthy, or good, bacteria already present in your body. They are often taken in supplement form to support gut health and digestion. Different strains of probiotics work in different...

Research on Whey Protein

Whey protein is a group of globular proteins that are removed along with water during the making of cheese. Whey protein contains no lactose, so it is a safe form of dairy protein for lactose intolerant people. Research has revealed a variety of...

Vitamins for Infections

Infection is a colonization of the body by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, that has a detrimental and debilitating impact on an individual. The pathogen can enter the body from outside via openings in the skin and...

Supplements for Immune Deficiency Disorders

Immune deficiency has many causes. Primary immunodeficiency consists of malfunctioning immunity usually due to rare diseases that are genetically linked, which greatly increase risks of infection from childhood onward. Acquired immunodeficiency...

What Are the Benefits of Curry in Preventing Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of senile dementia and is characterized by short-term memory loss, reduced cognitive abilities and inappropriate behavior. The American Health Assistance Foundation cites that over 26 million people are...