The ability of the immune system to fight disease is dependent upon the level of general health and physical fitness. However, even a. healthy body will have its immunocompetence severely reduced by excessive stress or fatigue. The reason for this is that, amongst other things, stress increases the viscosity of the blood.

The blood is an all-important factor in the promotion of effective immune responses. A high blood viscosity brought about by stress, or lack of physical fitness, results in a breakdown of efficiency in the components of the immune system. When a person is physically unfit, overweight or stressed, the blood becomes clogged with cholesterol, triglycerides (fats), and various waste products. The fat causes the red cells to stick together with tiny particles called platelets, whose function is to clot the blood in the event of injury. As a result, the blood becomes sludgy and sticky and its oxygen carrying capacity is reduced. This factor, plus the narrowing of arteries by cholesterol deposits, means that it can no longer flow freely.

When these circumstances occur, the white cells and antibodies cannot function properly, resulting in impairment of the immune system. It is vital therefore, in the treatment of chronic allergy conditions, to achieve and maintain low blood viscosity. This can be done by shedding excess weight, regular exercise and the reduction of dietary cholesterol and fats.

The newborn baby does not have a fully functioning immune system or digestive system. These develop during the first twelve months of life. During this critical period, the child is dependent on the mother's milk to provide immunoglobulins for protection and enzymes for digestion. Breast milk contains substances which give the infant immunity, as well as nutrients and enzymes in the exact proportion necessary for the baby's needs. For this reason, a baby should be breast-fed for at least the first six months of life. If the child is introduced to foreign substances, such as cow's milk and cereals too early, permanent damage to the developing immune system and lifelong allergy problems can result.

During the first few months of life a child does not produce enough enzymes to break down introduced foods sufficiently. A baby's gut is very porous and relies on a secretion from the mother's breast, called colostrum, which acts as a coating, thus preventing harmful protein molecules passing through the gut wall into the blood.

If the child is denied this protection, undigested food particles will enter the bloodstream and confuse the developing immune system, which then accepts them as normal. This causes immunological havoc and instead of being digested by enzymes and white cells, the substances may be ignored by the immune system and left to cause allergy reactions. The problem may continue into adult life, causing further damage to the body and increasing illness.

Immunotherapy is one method of attempting to help or stimulate the immune system to overcome a disease condition. With respect to complex allergy problems, especially those concerning food and chemicals, this approach is rarely successful. Apart from the difficulty in obtaining accurate diagnosis, the process seeks to stimulate something which is often too overloaded to respond.

The most effective method of helping the immune system is by diet and exercise. Abstinence from allergenic foods, together with additional nutrients and a common sense approach to regular exercise, will cleanse the blood, reduce stored toxins and encourage the immune system to rebuild its efficiency.