Why Nutrition Is Important

Vitamin A is most important vitamin which stimulates cells growth, participates in formation of leucocytes, helps to maintain epithelium and mucosa healthy. Vitamin A is first barrier on the way of deleterious invaders. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and this is an additional advantage. It is found in milk, dairy cream, butter, natural fish-oil, liver (beef, cod, chicken), salmon, eel, eggs.

In vegetables and fruits is found provitamin A (beta-carotene). Butter helps to transform beta-carotene into vitamin A. Carotene strenghtens immune system. Therefore it is recommended to get also “animal” vitamin A and “vegetative” beta-carotene, and generally all group of carotinoids. They are found in green and orange vegetables and fruits: carrot, pumpkin, paprika, spinach, mango, persimmon, parsley, broccoli and fennel. Daily norm is 15 – 30 mg (two big carrots).

Vitamin C is most popular vitamin when influenza epidemic occurs. It helps to interferon production in the body. It is also an antioxidant. Vitamin C prevents other vitamins from break-up. Do not wait the moment you get diseased. In winter when you are healthy drink tea with lemon, drink each morning fresh orange juice! Make it a rule eating every day one orange or kiwi, big pieces of spinach or cauliflower. The less time you spend on processing food the better vitamin C is kept because it is a cranky vitamin. Vitamin C is found in blacberries, green sweet pepper,, grapefruit.

Zinc, as vitamin C, is also recommended to take when do appear first signs of influenza. Sea foods and oysters are rich with zinc. Consume these products several times a week and this will help to maintain body defenses. Zinc may be found in liver and beef. Those who do not consume meat may find zinc in nuts, pea soup, wheat germs, buckwheat porridge, mushrooms, garlic.

Each clove of garlic contains several dozens of biologically active components such as phytoncids (volatile compounds who kill viruses and bacteria). Garlic activates production of immune cells and thus helps to protect the body. The decensies prevent us from eating garlic at any time in any place. However, there are many recepies that you may prepare with garlic.

Your immune system will be not only ready to meet viruses but to fight them if you consume these products:
- two big carrots or dish of spinach; one sweet pepper or two persimmons (daily carotine norm)
- bite of beef or pork liver or 100g Dutch cheese; 70g smoked eel or table-spoon of fish oil (daily norm of vitamin A);
- handful of blacberries, kiwi, orange, dish of cauliflower, 7 backed potatoes (daily norm of vitamin C);
- 110g wheat germs or 150g veal liver (daily zinc norm);

Society's perception of MS: how bad is it?

In response to your comments about the prognosis and severity of MS. There is no doubt in my mind that MS is a disabling disease and leads to disability in the majority of subjects given sufficient time. However, this statement refers to the prognosis from natural history studies done in the the pre-DMT era. I believe that in the current era with aggressive treatment early on the prognosis has improved. 

The following figure demonstrates UK Society's perspective on the disease. On the y-axis is utility an index of quality of health used by health economists; 1 is perfect quality of health and 0 is death. Your utility on the day you are born is 1 and gradually drops to 0 when you die. A value less than 0 is considered a quality of life worse than death. It is alarming that in the UK a PwMS with an EDSS of 8.0 or 9.0 (weakness in all 4 limbs and/or bed-bound) is considered to have a quality of life worse than death. I am told that no other chronic disease scores this low. Alarming?

Orme et al. The effect of disease, functional status, and relapses on the utility of people with multiple sclerosis in the UK. Value Health. 2007 Jan-Feb;10(1):54-60.

"I use this figure as the backbone of my argument to support early aggressive treatment. How can we not treat this disease aggressively? Despite the poor Societal perspective of MS, MS does not fulfill contemporary criteria for being a terminal illness. Would you agree? If not we can continue the debate."

How To Maintain Immune System With Vitamins And Minerals

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a real fortress for immune system protection. It increases infinitely immune system capabilities. Vitamin E prevents cells from harmless action of new radicals, increases work of white blood cells, increases number of Interleukin 2 (substance promoting growth of T cells). Also it prevents from formation of prostaglandin E – substance that naturally is formed in the body which suppresses immune system work.

Vitamin E being an antioxidant is found in vegetable oil, nuts and sunflower seeds. However, in order to maintain daily dose of Vitamin E it is not enough to consume just food products rich with this vitamin because it provides only 20 ME of vitamin E daily. Optimal dose of Vitamin E must be 100 ME daily.

Consume less fats. Experiments on animals showed that food containing 40% calories due to fats is harmful for the immune system. So reduce fats consumption by 25% calories. For that purpose consume fat-free dairy foods or products with low oil content. Remove skin and visible fat from meat, reduce consumption of bird, fish and red meat to 100 g daily. Include in your daily menu six dishes from groats (bread, beans, rice) and five kinds of vegetables and fruits (apples, pears, cauliflower, spinach).

Iron
Iron is a vital catalyzer helping the immune system to stop invasion of viruses and stop development of cancerous cells. Most people need 10 mg of iron daily. Dinner consisting of 100 g of cooked meat, grilled potatoes of average size and half cup of beans contains more than 7 mg of iron. Iron is found in oysters, chicken meat, porkmeat and green vegetables. Do not rely on special supplements with iron if they are not prescribed by your doctor. Iron overload may cause diarrhea, skin color change, liver cirrhosis and diabetes.

Magnesium
Some studies show that magnesium deficiency makes immune system “aggressive”: it fights healthy cells which causes development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Magnesium drugs are recommended for people who take diuretics and blood pressure lowering drugs because they do withrowal magnesium from the body. Excess amount of alcohol has the same effects. Healthy people need to consume 350 mg of magnesium without additional supplements. Consume regularly salads, potatoes, unmilled grains, milk and marine products.

Selenium
Selenium has antioxidant features and is known for its anticancerous effects. It maintains immune system when it needs to fight infection. Adequate nutrition helps to get enough selenium. It is required to consume 70 mcg. You get 138 mcg of selenium when you eat one sandwitch with tuna. Selenium is found in all kinds of fishes, crabs, oysters and unmilled grains. However, big dozes of selenium may damage immune system. So when you take selenium supplements do not exceed 200 mcg.

Vitamins To Maintain Immunity

Nutrition is directly related to immunity. Specific nutrients play particular role in immunity change. Here are some recommendations on taking vitamins and minerals which help to maintain immunity at any age.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A strengthens superficial layer of skin preventing fissure formation through which microbes may enter the body. This vitamin also prevents development of cancerous growths which is connected with stimulatory effects on white blood cells. However, overmuch vitamin A may be toxic for the body. It is better to get daily rate of vitamin A from food than from special drugs. It is recommended to consume 1000 micrograms of it daily For example, a half of new potato contains double daily rate of vitamin A. Also you may find vitamin A in liver, carrot, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, apricots and watermelon.

Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene transforms into vitamin A in human body. This antloxidant helps to fight free radicals and intensifies capabilities of immune system to fight cancerous diseases. Just as vitamin A, beta-carotine may be found in carrot, spinach, cauliflower and lettuce. Unlike vitamin A, beta-carotene is not toxic and it may be taken as an supplement to foods. It is recommended to take 6 – 9 mg of beta-carotine daily.

Vitamin B6
When older people consume food with low rate of vitamin B6, their immunity becomes much weaker. Dose increase helps to restore immunity to a normal level. It is necessary to consume more than 1.5 mg of vitamin B6 daily.

In order to get 2 mg of vitamin B6 you should eat big bananas daily. Other sources of vitamin B6 are chicken meat, fish, liver, rice, avocado, walnuts, wheat and sunflower seeds. Large dozes (1000 – 2000 mg daily) of vitamin B6 may be toxic.

Vitamin C

Practically vitamin C provides great aid to each part of immune system. Vitamin C prevents viruses from multiplying, increases attacking drive of cells that fight cancerous diseases. Oranges, strawberries, cauliflower, paprika are perfect sources of vitamin C. Normally it is necessary to consume 500 – 1000 mg of vitamin C daily.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is good for bones strengthening and that is its major function in the body, because immune system cells are developed in bone marrow. The recommended dose of vitamin D is 5 microgrames. One glass of pure milk contains approximately 10 ME, also it may be found in cheese. In human body vitamin D develops under action of sun rays. Ultraviolet accelerates development of vitamin D from a substance in the skin. In summer it is enough to spend 10 - 15 minutes in the sun to get necessary daily doze of vitamin D. Large dozes of vitamin D may be toxic, therefore, health care providers do not recommend it to take it in form of supplemental drugs.

Keep Your Immune System Strong

A number of scientists claim that weak immune system is a result of natural aging process. Dr. Fillips says that it is enough just to change lifestyle to make immunity much stronger. “Eventually, the way we take care of our heath determines the way our immunity system takes care of us.” Here are the ways you may keep your immune system strong.

Eliminate Stress
From the earliest times scholars suspected stress to weaken immune system. At present time, there are many proves of this theory. An experiment was made. Four hundred volunteers used nose drops with virus of catarrhal disease, and group of 26 volunteers used placebo (i.e. drops without virus). Then in both groups was measured stress level in their blood and then they got new dozes of vaccine. As a result, in people with high stress level the probability to get diseased was two times higher than in those who had low stress level. In group of 26 people no one got diseased.

Scientists say that stress contributes to steroid hormones production in atrabiliary capsules which suppress activity of immune system. It is up to you to choose how to fight stress. You should begin with next activities: play with your children, pets, work in the garden, etc. Also you may meditate, practice yoga or read an interesting book.

Have Enough Sleep
“Sleep is a repair shop of immune system” - says Dr. Fillips. During sleep you rest with your body and mind but your immune system keeps working. It must guard your health but it requires less energy to strengthen defense mechanisms. Insufficient sleep has negative effects on your immune system. Scientists have stated that when people lose 3 or 4 hours of their sleep, their immune system activity reduces by 30%.  The conclusion is that you must sleep not less than 6 – 8 hours a day.

Quit Smoking
Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde, a substance that paralyzes macrophages in lungs. This makes human more vulnerable to the diseases of upper respiratory tract including influenza. So you should give up smoking if you smoke.

Make Regular Exercises
Moderate physical activity prevents from microbes assembly in lungs and strengthens immune system which helps to accelerating of antibodies circulation in blood. In order to keep your immune system strong you should practice aerobics, walk, jog, swim or ride a bike 20 minutes a day.

ARVI Treatment

Patient with ARVI is treated at home. In case of fever it is recommended bed regimen, dairy and vegetative diet rich in vitamins, plenty of warm liquids (fruit drinks, tea with lemon).  Are prescribed symptomatic drugs: nasal vasomotorial drugs, mucolytics, anti-tussive medications, antihistamine drugs, ascorbic acid, polyvitamins.

In case of causal treatment (directed on fight with causative agent) within 48 hours from the onset of the disease it is necessary to start taking antiviral medications, for example, Tamiflu. In case of complications development and occasional temperature rise after its normalization, start using antibiotics (penicillins, aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase, cephalosporins).

For the specific prevention of influenza, vaccination  is recommended. It should be done before the epidemic rise. However, vaccination is useless in other ARVI cases which are registered all year round.

ARVI prevention:
- common health improvement
- body strengthening
- immunity promotion with exercises
- consumption of food rich in vitamins
Additionally, when pandemic, your doctor may advice you to take vegetative adaptogens and immunomodifiers.

Complications after ARVI
Past viral infection makes body more vulnerable to bacterial infection which results in bacterial complications especially in cases of late diagnostics and untimely ARVI treatment. Past ARVI frequently results in chronic pathology in respiratory ways such as bronchial asthma, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis.

Major Types Of ARVI

1) Influenza starts suddenly with severe intoxication, high temperature, photophobia, severe headache, body pain. By the end of first day appears dry cough. In most favorable course of the disease patient's common condition and temperature get normalized during five days.

2) Infection caused by parainfluenza virus starts gradually, with no intoxication, temperature never goes beyond 38C. Parainfluenza viruses mainly affect throat. The disease shows with symptoms of acute laryngitis (hoarseness of voice, dry cough).

3) Rhinovirus infection is characterized with nose hydrorrhea on the back of slightly frank symptoms of intoxication. Also patients suffer from tearing, frequent sneezing, no signs of affecting of trachea and bronchi. Temperature of the body is usually normal, in some cases it rises to 37-37,4°С.

4) Adenovirus infection is caused by viruses that affect not just epithelium of respiratory tract  but also lymphoid tissue. That is why besides symptoms of musous affection (nose hydrorrhea, unsymmetrical conjunctivitis, moderate cough on third day, fever on 8 – 12 day) are noticed increase of lymph glands, increased liver and spleen, abdomen pains. Despite high temperature, intoxication is not noticed.

5) Respiratory syncytial infection is characterized with affection of lower respiratory tract and has the same symptoms as bronchitis. Catarrhal syndrome is not significantly frank.

6) Coronaviral infection often affects upper respiratory tract. Clinical picture is similar to rhinovirus infection. Most frequently it affects children.

How to diagnose ARVI?
In order to make diagnosis it is necessary to make analysis of epidemical situation, symptoms, nature of cough, spit and nose mucus. To detect the agent it is necessary to make analysis that helps to detect viruses antigens due to immunofluorescence test.