God's Protection: Our Immune System

God, in his infinite wisdom, realized that this human physical body He created, would come in contact with “bad guys,” while on its earthly journey germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In order to protect His human creation from these “bad guys,” God built into the physical body something to protect it: the immune system. Our immune system is comprised of a unique grouping of cells, designed by God, and given the task of identifying and destroying these foreign invaders (“bad guys”) before they can do significant harm to the body. Disease-causing organisms such as those listed above are detected by the immune system, tagged for destruction, and then annihilated by these hungry immune system cells when it is kept strong and healthy and functioning at optimal levels. The immune system God placed into this physical body He created was also designed to recognize cancer cells, also “bad guys,” as abnormal and unwelcome. A strong, healthy immune system will seek out cancer cells and destroy them before they can multiply. The specific cells assigned with the task of destroying cancer cells are called “T” cells. After God had created the human physical body, with a self-protecting system, God had done His part in providing us with a body that would efficiently handle these harmful germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, cancers, etc. But now we come to man's part! It is the responsibility of every man, woman, and child (the child is the parents responsibility until old enough to take control, of course) to so nourish that immune system that it remains strong and healthy, so that it is capable of fulfilling the task of protecting each of our physical bodies from the “bad guys.” Our daily diet and lifestyle determines whether our immune system is strong and healthy, working at optimal levels, or weak and ineffective, and thus unable to fulfill the intended function God gave it. When functioning at optimal levels, the immune system can recognize, seek out, and destroy all of the “bad guys” in our body. But if our diet and lifestyle is poor, then our immune system will become weak and compromised, and thus unable to fulfill its God given task of protecting us from the “bad guys”.

Cell Environment

Something else that is important to understand in all of this is cell environment. Louis Pasteur found that germs, viruses and bacteria, if they have nothing to feed on, could not proliferate. In other words, if our diet is a healthy one, one comprised primarily of living plant-sourced foods, similar to the Hallelujah Diet, there is very little toxic waste left behind in the body for these “bad guys” to feed and multiply on. While a diet, similar to the Standard American Diet (SAD), a diet comprised primarily of cooked animal source foods, refined sugar, refined grains, refined table salt and caffeine, leaves so much toxic debris behind, the body becomes a fertile feeding and breeding ground, ripe for these “bad guys” to proliferate. We each have the duty and responsibility of maintaining a diet and lifestyle that will not provide toxic debris on which these “bad guys” can proliferate. We also have the duty and responsibility of maintaining a diet and lifestyle that will keep the immune system strong and healthy so that it can fulfill its function of protecting us against any “bad guys” that may come along. How we live and what we eat and drink each and every day determines whether our body becomes a toxic waste dump or not. Also, how we live and what we eat and drink determines whether our immune system works at peak levels or is inhibited by our neglect and abuse.

Primary Ingredients For A Healthy Body and Immune System

The three most important ingredients of a healthy, well functioning immune system are: (1) Diet; (2) Exercise; and (3) Stress Management:

1. Diet – God, in the Bible, in His infinite wisdom, in Genesis 1:29, gave us the diet He designed to keep our physical bodies, as well as our immune systems strong and healthy, and functioning at optimal levels. When we eat a diet comprised primarily of raw fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts, especially when supplemented with lots of fresh vegetable juices, we provide our bodies with the building materials it needs to keep the body, as well at the immune system functioning at optimal levels.

When we consume the Standard American Diet (SAD), comprised of mostly cooked foods loaded with poisons, our body, including our immune system, becomes weak and incapable of fulfilling its task of protecting us from the “bad guys.”

2. Exercise – Exercise is also necessary if we are going to develop and maintain an immune system strong and healthy enough to resist the “bad guys,” as well as one that will help move any toxins that do enter, out of the body quickly. Exercise stimulates white blood cells; doubles blood plasma interferon levels; and increases natural killer cells. Natural killer cells are certain white blood cells that have a natural instinct to detect abnormal cells and destroy them. If we are serious about maintaining a healthy body and an immune system capable of protecting us against the “bad guys,” exercise must be a part of our daily routine.
3. Stress Management – If we are going to maintain a strong and healthy immune system, we must manage the stress in our lives in such a way that it does not weaken or compromise this system. The two most important ingredients in stress management are eating a primarily raw, plant-based diet and daily, vigorous, physical exercise. These two ingredients are not only necessary for a healthy and strong immune system, but also necessary for maintaining a strong and healthy body capable of handling stress.

Other ingredients necessary for a strong and healthy immune system as well as a strong and healthy body include maintaining proper weight; adequate rest; moderate sunlight, pure water, fresh air, and positive thoughts.

Destroyers of The Immune System

The most destructive thing we can place into our body, with regard to the immune system, is refined sugar. Refined sugar is an immune system suppressant! It literally knocks out or compromises the very system God gave us to protect us from those “bad guys.” And yet, the average American, consumes approximately 50 teaspoons of refined sugar each and every day. It takes approximately 3 feet of sugar cane to produce 1 teaspoon of refined sugar. Thus, to get 50 teaspoons of sugar into the body from a natural source, a person would have to chew, digest, and assimilate 150 feet of sugar cane. Dr. Agatha Thrasher (M.D.), writes:

“Another important fact about sugar has to do with disease resistance. The white blood cells with segmented nuclei increase in numbers in the blood stream when the body has a bacterial infection. These cells destroy bacteria. They are the body’s soldiers. However, when the blood sugar level goes up, these cells get sluggish and cannot destroy as many bacteria.”

Following that paragraph, Dr. Thrasher provides a chart showing how much sugar it takes to affect the ability of the white blood cells to destroy bacteria:

“Six teaspoons of sugar (the amount of sugar in a single candy bar) reduces the ability of these white blood cells to destroy unfriendly bacteria by 25%; Twelve teaspoons (the amount of sugar in a single can of soda pop) reduces the ability of these white blood cells to destroy unfriendly bacteria by 60%; and twenty-four teaspoons (just half the average daily intake of refined sugar), reduces the ability of these white blood cells to destroy unfriendly bacteria by 92%.”

Every time a person drinks a soda pop or other beverage containing refined sugar, eats a piece of candy or a breakfast cereal containing sugar, has a piece of cake or a donut or a cookie, they are placing a poisonous, addictive drug into their body that will compromise the very immune system God gave to protect them from the “bad guys.” Refined sugar does more than compromise the immune system: Refined sugar impacts quality of life as it increases the severity of PMS; decreases cognitive or intellectual function, especially in children; sugar also contributes to our current epidemic of heart disease, and so much more. Following is just a partial list of other health problems related to the intake of refined sugar:

• Acne
• Addiction to drugs and caffeine
• Alcoholism
• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Behavioral problems
• Binge eating
• Bloating
• Bone loss
• Candidiasis
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Eczema
• Edema
• Emotional problems
• Fatigue
• Food cravings
• Hormonal problems
• Hyperactivity
• Insomnia
• Menstrual difficulties
• Mental illness
• Mood swings
• Premature aging
• Psoriasis
• ... and the list goes on and on!

Drugs, whether doctor prescribed, or over-the-counter, are also compromisers and destroyers of the immune system, as is the chlorine and fluoride found in municipal water supplies. Prior to my adopting the Hallelujah Diet in 1976, I experienced severe head colds each and every year; the flu almost every winter, as well as seasonal allergies, sore throats, headaches, upset stomach, fevers, etc. Since adopting Hallelujah Diet 40 years ago, I have not experienced a single cold, sore throat, upset stomach, the flu or allergy. Rhonda (my wife) also experienced frequent colds, along with the flu annually prior to adopting the Hallelujah Diet, but since making the diet change has been totally free of these problems for 24 years. Olin, my personal assistant hasn’t been sick in the 20 years he has been with me and on the Hallelujah Diet, and you will find this to be true of most Health Ministers who are faithful to the Hallelujah Diet. People who are faithful to the Hallelujah Diet rarely if ever get sick.

“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

The innate wisdom God programmed into our bodies, is always working toward survival. Our body is constantly trying to keep us alive despite our foolish practice of placing harmful substances into it. Our body is also trying to correct any imbalances it finds within and sends us warning signals when it can’t fix the problem without our help. Next week, the good Lord willing and if the creeks don’t rise too high we will return with another exciting issue of the Hallelujah Health Tip. Trust you will join us and that you will share these Health Tips with friends and loved ones.