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Take
Control of Your Immunity with Vitamin E
Your
immune system protects your body in many ways, but
a certain subset of the immune system, known as T
cells, gradually declines as you grow older. This
decline begins in your 30s and accelerates through
your 40s and beyond.
T
cells have a major role in helping another subset,
known as B cells, to produce antibodies that fight
off common infections and kill viruses, bacteria,
and tumors. As with T cells, the immune system also
produces fewer and fewer antibodies as you age. Unfortunately,
along with this decline of T cells and antibodies,
there is an increase in the bad kind of antibodies
called autoantibodies that attack certain parts of
the body, which lead to disease.
THE
GOOD NEWS: This decline in function of your immune
system is not inevitable! Exciting research shows
that it can actually be reversed and immunity can
be boosted with certain supplements. Among these supplements
is vitamin E.
Older
people who are given vitamin E supplements actually
improve their T cell function. Apparently, vitamin
E decreases the production of free radicals and another
chemical known as prostaglandins. As a result, T cell
function increases and additional antibodies develop
to fight disease.
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