Why do so many people suffer from seasonal allergies? Some cough and wheeze, others fight joint pain and stiffness. Is it due to just too much pollen in the air? Or is it also the result of a badly stressed and depleted immune system? Studies show that a natural remedy, Immuno-Care, that contains plant sterols, can be the answer to seasonal allergies and other disorders when the immune system is running out of gas.

Years ago, in my teens, I knew the exact day that watery itchy eyes, runny nose, and fatigue of hay fever would plague me. It was also the time that my summer job of picking peaches started. I had no idea at the time that my immune system, faced with this bothersome work, was in a ‘flight or fight mode’.

But I knew I could not flee from work until five o’clock or I’d lose my job. Yet, I was nevertheless lucky that over time my immune response defeated the troublesome hay fever and didn’t allow it to progress into adult asthma.

Today, others are not so fortunate. Often their immune response has to cope with more than just seasonal allergies and short-term stress. Rather, large numbers of people are daily faced with stressful situations. The result? An imbalance in their auto-immune system resulting in constant aches, pain in the neck and shoulder muscles that radiates down the spine, fibromyalgia and constant fatigue.

Studies show that these auto-immune problems trigger an inflammatory reaction related to years of untreated allergy symptoms. This ends in the immune system producing too many inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. The adrenal glands also become exhausted. Adrenaline production decreases as does the amount of sterols.

Endurance athletes have been extensively studied to learn how the immune response works as the stress of these athletes mimics other forms of stress. These studies show that, when athletes are treated with sterols, this causes a significant drop in interleukin-6 — the cause of inflammation and pain.

So what are sterols, and how do they help strengthen the immune system? Sterols are plant fats found in all plant-based foods. Studies show that most North Americans are deficient in sterols due to the way foods are processed today.

For instance, unprocessed plant foods have sizeable amounts of sterols. Three ounces of whole wheat berries contain 4,200 milligrams (mg) of sterols. But convert this same amount into flour and 90% of the sterol is lost! Even some vegetarians consume only 100 mg. Moreover, slimming diets, ill health and aging also significantly reduce the intake of sterols.

The University of Guelph carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study of sterols using the remedy “Immuno-Care”. Researchers concluded that this product had a positive effect on the immune system. For instance, the clinical study showed a decrease in basophil blood cells. These release histamine that is normally responsible for allergic reactions. There was also a reduction of interleukin-6, the cause of inflammation and pain.

Immuno-Care consists of 300 mg of plant sterols, beta-sitosterol 117 mg, Cellasate 50 mg and Enzogenol 20 mg, a potent antioxidant and anti-arthritic derived from the bark of New Zealand pine trees. The ingredients are also products of non-genetically modified soy, proanthocyanidins, fruit and essential fatty acids from oil producing seeds. All are contained in a 100% vegetable derived capsule.

The dosage for this dietary supplement is one capsule daily 30 minutes before a meal, on an empty stomach with water or fruit juice, but not with milk or drinks containing fat. Women who are pregnant, nursing or are diabetic should consult their doctor before taking this supplement.

Taking Immuno-Care prior to a meal also helps to block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Recent studies have shown that both phytosterols and Enzogenol can decrease low density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol, and increase high density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol.

Unfortunately Immuno-Care wasn’t available when I was covered with peach fuzz and rubbing itchy runny eyes. Hopefully this natural remedy will help others with the same seasonal problem, but also those suffering from chronic colds, fibromyalgia and stiff painful joints. Immuno-Care, by adding gas to the immune system, may be the answer.

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