Chapter 7
STRENGTHENING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

In the course of a single day, the average American is typically exposed to a multitude of potentially harmful toxins. This exposure takes place while driving to and from work, inside the office or factory, when eating meals or shopping, and while carrying out simple household chores. In the home alone, there are hundreds of toxins in the walls, floors, building materials, carpets, paints, cleaning materials, drinking water, and even in the food.

Some people are exposed to high levels of these toxins and rarely get sick. Yet their friends or neighbors may be exposed to the same toxins at much lower levels and become ill far more frequently. What accounts for the difference in the way our bodies fight off the toxins that can cause infection and illness?

The answer to this question has a great deal to do with how each person's immune system eliminates toxins. It is the immune system that prevents infectious and chronic diseases and is most responsible for guaranteeing optimal holistic health. However, a balanced natural diet and adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and exercise–which all play a critical role in maintaining the health of the immune system–may not necessarily protect everyone from dangerous toxins in the air, food, and water. And, depending on the amount of toxins absorbed, it may be necessary for some people to regularly eliminate dangerous toxins from their bodies. This chapter discusses the major toxins as well as how the body's immune system attempts to eliminate them, and outlines the components of a basic, gentle detoxification program.