Boost your immune system
ACCORDING to The National Medicines Use Survey (NMUS) 2008, antibiotics are therapeutic medicines ranked as the ninth most widely used in Malaysia.
These antibiotics are taken for various conditions, such as treating infections of the respiratory tract, followed by fever and some other health problems.
But many of us are unaware that antibiotics are not effective against viral infection, coughs and colds.
Antibiotics may disturb the balance of the intestinal microflora and cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut.
A strong immune system is important to prevent infections and illnesses. To have a strong immune system, we need to have a healthy gut, as more than 70% of immune cells are located along our gut.
For the gut to function efficiently, the balance of microflora is crucial, in which the ideal ratio of good and bad bacteria 85%:15% should not be disturbed.
Changes of diet and eating patterns, the ageing process and use of antibiotics, are among the factors that contribute to the imbalance of the gut microflora.
Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are wellresearched probiotics and are proven to confer health benefits to human.
Studies have shown that these probiotics are helpful not only for improving digestion and enhance the bio-availability of essential mineral, but also in stimulating the immune system.
Weakened immune function
The elderly are known to have a weakened immunity and a susceptibility to infections. Stress, undernutrition or chewing habits also lead to a lower immune response.
Children are also considered a high-risk population for a weakened immunity as their immune system is not fully matured.
Formula-fed children are found to have a lack of friendly bacteria compared to those breast-fed.
Prolonged usage of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Antibiotic treatments can also disrupt intestinal microbial balance that leading to bad bacteria overgrowth in the intestine.
Colostrum-immune health
Colostrum is the first milk produced after giving birth. For milk to have high-quality colostrum, milk should be collected within 16 hours after birth.
Colostrum is known to contain immune cells and many antibodies which are the major components of the adaptive immune system.
Colostrum is the richest source of bioactive components, such as immune factors. Immunoglobulins (Ig) are the most abundant immune factors in colostrum and play an important role in fighting bacteria, virus and fungi.
Immunoglobulins has the highest concentration among all the other Ig. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein with antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Besides that, colostrum contains protein-rich polypeptide that helps stimulate an underactive immune system or regulates an overactive immune system.
Growth factors in colostrum also help stimulate cell and tissue growth by stimulating DNA formation.
An Epidemiologic Study in San Valentino on children aged between three and six years revealed that supplementation of colostrum helps to reduce the number of cold incidence among the subjects more significantly compared to the placebo group.
The study showed that supplementation of colostrum is at least three times more effective than vaccination in preventing flu.
The combination of colostrum and probiotics may provide a better option in improving the body’s natural defence. Colostrum promotes the colonisation of gastrointestinal friendly bacteria and probiotics enhances the absorption of nutrients from colostrum.
This article is brought to you by in-house nutritionist at BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.
For details, e-mail health@biolife.com.my.