2007-10-02
Hanna Ian

Hanna Ian is a naturopathic physician with a focus on women's health, chemical sensitivity, chronic disease, oncology, ADD/ADHD and autism. You can reach Dr. Ian at (623) 792-8889.

Question:I work in the school system, and now that school has begun, I feel like I am always fighting a cold. How can I stay healthy when I am around sick kids all day?

Answer:It may be hard to believe, but within our body approximately 5,000 microorganisms - bacteria, virus and fungi - live a healthy, happy life. Our health in many ways is dependent on these microorganisms. They help with digestion, manufacture vitamins and crowd out harmful bacteria.

Q:What causes susceptibility to colds and flu?

A:There are many aspects of our modern lifestyle that diminish our immune system. Lack of sufficient sunlight lowers our resistance to disease. A day spent indoors under artificial lights can alter the communication between the pituitary and pineal glands and our endocrine system. The communication between these systems regulates our immune responsiveness, our reaction to stress and fatigue, and the rhythms of our biological clock. The consumption of sugary foods is another culprit. One teaspoon of sugar will depress the activity of your immune surveillance cells for four hours. Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, beet sugar, maple sugar and honey all have the same effect in retarding the surveillance activity of the white cells in the blood. Coffee and soda are beverages with a diuretic action that will reduce the fluid volume of your blood. This fluid volume is needed to circulate immune cells and flush out the pathogens they have tagged and destroyed.

Q:So are there things I can do to lower my susceptibility?

A:Definitely. To begin with, if you work indoors, make sure you get 15-30 minutes of sunshine every day. Enjoy a minimum of five servings of vegetables and fruits, one of every color - red, yellow, green, orange and purple. Seek a diet as close to nature as possible. Try iced herbal teas and drink plenty of purified water instead of coffee and soda.