Healthcare professionals in the natural health field write a great deal about stimulating immunity. However, while immune deficiency is indeed harmful, I worry about excessive immune stimulation as well.

As we age, our immune systems’ efficiency begins to decline, especially the most critical part: cellular immunity. This decline in immunity can have many causes, but the most important cause is dietary deficiency of nutrients.

Studies have shown that even a single critical vitamin and/or mineral deficiency can impair immunity.

Environmental toxins can also impair immunity. These include:

• Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides

• Mercury

• Aluminum

• Fluoroaluminum

• Cadmium

• Lead

• Industrial chemicals

Chronic stress, excess exercise, constant worry, and what was once called battle fatigue also devastate immunity.

One of the often overlooked causes of immune deficiency is a condition called dysbiosis, which is an abnormal growth of bacteria in the colon and an absence of sufficient beneficial forms of bacteria in the colon.

“Good bacteria” play a major role in immune health by continually stimulating immune cells located in the wall of the GI tract, thus keeping them in top fighting form.

Think of it like it is an exercise for the immune cells.

Meanwhile, the “bad bacteria” secrete poisons that damage immune cells and impair overall immunity.

Dysbiosis is very common because of the overuse of antibiotics and the common use of antibiotics in animal feed. Antibiotics and other prescription medications have also found their way into our drinking water.