A little info digging on my part came up with some interesting theories–even a little research–on how and why we give off our natural scent, before the Old Spice is applied. Seems the immune system and its state of health might play a role.

One report–which sounds pretty legit on the surface but doesn’t cite any real sources–says a poorly functioning, even overactive, immune system interacting with the bacteria it’s fighting may cause body odor.

Another article says immune system genetics create a scent that is noticed by women much more so than men. The more divergent a man’s immune genetics are from a woman’s, the more attracted she may be to him. That’s nature’s way of fortifying offspring with the most robust, diverse and adaptive immune system possible.  Hmmmm. I don’t know, especially when “sniff tests” of shirts were used to gather data. But, crazier things have happened.  Another piece also cites the immune sniff theory as well, plus gets into everything from ovulation to foods to ethnicity as contributors to body scents.

I also just read a theory that in cultures where people don’t shower every day–and hence probably have a stronger odor than us American hygiene freaks–healthier, more balanced immune systems and overall better health may prevail. Those people are not washing away bacteria every day, and therefore are giving their immune systems fuel to exercise themselves and build up better function and performance. Kind of dovetails on the hygiene hypothesis.

So hey, Old Spice guy, keep up the good work. God knows between garlic, bacteria, immune cell genes, gender-based olfactory sensitivity, we’ll need your help.

Now look at me. Now look away.

So what about gut bacteria and immune health, amid all this?  This is where inflammation comes in, which we’ve also covered here.  Begley states: “…the precise way in which gut bacteria affect weight is a matter of intense dispute. The idea that different bacteria extract more or fewer calories from the food we send their way, as Gordon’s studies suggest, is only one possibility. Another possible explanation is that gut bacteria contribute to obesity (as well as to type 2 diabetes, which often goes along with being overweight) by altering the immune system. The idea here is that gut bacteria interact with intestinal cells in a way that causes them to secrete cytokines, molecules that can cause low-grade inflammation. This inflammation can, in turn, trigger insulin resistance (the mark of type 2 diabetes) and increased appetite, which is an effective way to put on weight.”

See more on this in Wired and in a drug industry trade. Also, an interesting Q&A in the Wall Street Journal Health Blog has some additional angles.

Maybe this is the core secret on why some people can eat anything they want every day and never gain an ounce.

It’s also filled with lots of moms…and a few dads…with young children in tow. And, from hearing the coughs and seeing runny noses all year round, a number of those kids are sick. This could mean that such coffee places are more potent breeding grounds for colds and flu than home, school or work, since there is such a mix of kids and adults from wide areas that frequent Paneras and other such places.

If I were a stay-at-home parent or anyone else who regularly goes to coffee places stocked with lot of kids (here’s one in Seattle that specializes in making the coffee shop as close to a daycare center as possible), I’d do a lot to make sure my immune system was as balanced and in sync as possible.  EpiCor every day, hands down.

BTW, someone has taken coffee and immune health to the next level. They don’t have a retail chain yet, but maybe it’s coming.

I’m sure you might wonder kind of miserable life I lead when a hand dryer gets me so excited.  Let me tell you, this thing is a little marvel. The reason is that this dryer–called the Xlerator–has a motor in it that is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. You stick your hand under it and a powerful air blast comes on that almost blows you through the wall. And the air is instantly hot.

Bottom line, my hands are dry in anywhere from 7-10 seconds. The product information I’ve read says 10-15 seconds, but I think it’s faster than that.

Another benefit–at least I thought it would be a benefit–is the presumed hygiene improvement in a restroom using “jet” air dryers, as this unit would be classified. Nearly all hand dryer makers tout the notion that air dryers are healthier because you don’t have wet paper towels being used as discarded around the sink. However, one British study came to a different conclusion:

“Part C of the study shows that paper towels are likely to cause considerably less contamination of other users and the washroom environment than the jet air dryer which was shown in this study to disperse artificial hand contamination to a distance of at least 2 metres, well within the range of adjacent dryers observed in a real washroom. Paper towels were better than the warm air dryer for contamination levels directly below the device but there were no significant differences at greater distances when their performances were similar and both were significantly better than the jet air dryer. Therefore, the manufacturer’s claim that the tested JAD is the “most hygienic hand dryer” is not confirmed in this study with respect to its potential for dispersing bacteria.”

It goes on to say:  “The results of all parts of this study suggest that paper towels should be used in locations where hygiene is paramount, such as hospitals, clinics, schools,nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas. Warm air dryers and jet air dryers should be carefully considered for these types of location because of their poorer hygiene performance and the increased likelihood of transmission of bacteria, including potentially pathogenic types, via the fingerpads and palms of the hand and their air flows. The performance of both the warm air dryer and the jet air dryer was inferior to paper towels in all respects (drying efficiency, bacterial numbers on the hands, bacterial contamination of the air flow and surfaces of the devices, and transmission of bacteria in the washroom) with the one exception that the jet air dryer is equal in drying efficiency. The jet air dryer was shown to be superior to the warm air dryer in all respects except for similar bacterial contamination and greater transmission potential. Although representing a considerable improvement over warm air dryers in speed, the jet air dryer’s overall performance, with the exception of drying efficiency, was significantly poorer than that of paper towels in all other respects tested in this study.”

Hmmmm. That kind of bummed me out. I might have to look for an independent counter study or two. Is there one out there?

My kids - Erin and Jill

So my twin daughters are winding up their senior year in high school. We just went to the last vocal jazz performance of their high school career. The same thing will be happening in all the other music ensembles they are in for the next 2 months. The last this, the last that. In a little over 5 months, my wife and I will be empty nesters…literally overnight.  

So, from a health standpoint, what are the trade-offs when facing this new living environment?  Here are some pros and cons:

Pro – More sleep. My kids are up at 5:00 a.m. during the week to get to early rehersals.  So, regardless of whether I need to be at my office or a meeting by 7:30 or 8:00, I’m awake (but not always up) with them at 5.  If I can just start getting an extra hour or so of sleep each day, that could change the world!

Pro – No more school cold and flu viruses/bacteria brought into our house. We’ve been pretty good in the past couple of years in not getting hammered by every bug that breaks out in school (thanks EpiCor). Now that we’ll have no “feeder system” coming to and from a crowded school each day, we might be in extra good shape.

Pro – No more weekend trips chaperoning band students on a bus.  Mental and physcial health takes an uptick there!

Pro – Travel.  Periodic road trips to see the kids at college means fun. Travel can be therapeutic.

Pro – I get my way now. I can watch sports…not American Idol… on the hi-def in the family room and not be banished to the basement with the crappy TV.  Sports is good for health!

Pro – The kitchen table can be used for eating, now. Gone are two laptops always running, homework binders, and assorted other school projects living on top of the table, where we squeeze in a plate of food if space can be found.  A proper dining environment–devoid of pathogen-laden books, computers and trumpet mouthpieces–may reduce risk of illness.

Con – Two outstanding, loving, accomplished young people who’ve been a huge part of your daily life for 18 years are suddenly home no more.  Stress from separation anxiety is a new companion.  Gotta work through that.

So, which scores the highest? Multiple pros, or one giant con?

But wrongful dieting can do more than just lead to erratic weigh fluctuations. It can impair your immune response as well, making you even more susceptible seasonal illness.  In a women’s study in 2004, researchers found that “long-term immune function decreases in proportion to how many times a woman reportedly intentionally loses weight. They also found that immune function — as measured by natural-killer-cell activity — was higher among women who had been fairly weight stable over several years. There are indisputable health benefits to reducing body weight among those who are overweight and obese. Our concern is really the pattern of weight cycling or yo-yo dieting that many Americans go through.”

Speaking in Heath.com, Linda Bacon, a nutrition professor at the City College of San Francisco and the author of Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight says, “Early June and January are the two times of year people do crazy, desperate things to get thin fast.  They go on fasts, yo-yo diets, detox programs, and ‘cleanses’ without realizing that there are serious consequences to weight loss and nutrient restriction.”

Sites like CrashDiets.com are really, really questionable, if not because of the name alone, because of tips like this:  “The most impressive thing about the oil is its ability to strengthen the immune system, its does this by increasing the number of lymphocytes in the body, this happens when it is absorbed directly through the skin.”

That’s right. Do a skin press of castor oil and up your immune defense that you’ll otherwise compromise by going on crash diets. Actually, some of the tips on this site are very good: lots of fruits and vegetables, reasonable exercise and consuming 6 smaller meals/snacks a day, rather than 1-2 larger meals.  Thing is, if you do this , I don’t see how it’s a crash diet where you’ll lose lots of weight in “weeks, not months or years.” Seems like you’d be likely to drop pounds the smart, non-crash way.

So, now its on to the holiday food season. And there’s plenty you can do to give your immune health a fighting chance in helping you survive the aftermath of Black Friday and head into December ready to take on those crud-inducing pathogens. One great immune support asset is food. And fresh from the site Truestar Health is a list of nutrients that can help with immune support. I’ve added a little commentary on how you might work them into your  holiday meals.

Vitamin C. Yes, it’s a good immune nutrient, but science shows overloading with C doesn’t fend off colds and flu. So don’t add two dozen orange slices to every glass of punch. But, some citrus or apples added to salads and deserts wouldn’t be a bad bet.

Vitamin E. The Alpha- (or α-) tocopherol form of Vitamin E is the best for human dietary absorption.  Nuts, seeds and vegetable oils are good food sources of E. So load up the Chex Mix with almonds, cashews, and pecans. And don’t be afraid of olive oil or cannola oil when making those Hanukkah matzo balls.

Omega 3s.  This is the essential fatty acid found in fatty fishes, flax and nuts. Break out that smoked salmon.  Albacore tuna with a little Christmas ginger glaze would also do the job.

And, if you consume alcohol over the holidays (naaahhh, never) red wine might be the better bet. A lof of research shows that alcohol intake hampers immune response. Red wine, however, has been shown to not suppress immune response, at least in mouse studies. It doesn’t necessarily help, but a Univ. of Florida study showed red wine did not suppress production of white blood cells in mice, compared to the same amount of alcohol consumed as ethanol.

Your 21st Century immune system

The next-gen iPhone. The new Droid. The technology continues to bedazzle. We all know how the cell phone has evolved. First it was a clunky box you installed in the trunk of your car, wired to a hand set holstered in your center console. You could only use the phone to make and receive phone calls. Period. Now, many people use their mobile phones more than they use their laptop or desktop (do they still make those??) computers. And making phone calls may rank third or fourth in function usage.

This cell phone evolution might be analogous to the immune system. Much like the cellular transmission technology that is the heart of numerous mobile information features,  the immune “operating system” can be the fulcrum for many health experiences and conditions beyond the conventional cold and flu cycles. While the immune “technology” hasn’t changed per say, our understanding of the technology and how how to “deploy” it has change  markedly over the years

Take obesity, for example. We are now understanding how immune health can be hindered by obesity.  Anyone involved in obesity or body fat reduction can now presume that any improvement in BMI and weight may likely improve immune function as well.

Heart health is another immune connection. Research is now showing atherosclerosis may be influenced by immune response and its role in arterial inflammation rather than just build up of plaque in arteries.  And diabetes connects directly with immune function. Out-of-balance immune response may lead to immune cells attacking insulin producing cells in the pancreas.

And these are just a few examples. The entire field of stress and the immune system is almost another world unto itself.  Just as smart phone application builders are transforming the core of mobile technology, health science is transforming how we manage and enhance the core of our bio-engine:  the immune system.

The balance thing.

The story went on to say that healthy people who live the right lifestyle have no need for immune boosting supplements. They’re immune system is as strong as it will ever get, and no supplement will improve it.

Now, rewind to last week. I went on a tour of Embria Health Sciences’ manufacturing facility in Iowa last week.  I had requested a tour for a social media colleague of mine who happens to run Smarty Pig, one of the great social media success stories  to date.  He was interested in the story behind Embria’s immune balance ingredient made at the plant, EpiCor (which I have taken for two years now and which supports this blog). Every time I hear a presentation from the Embria executive and technical staff during these kinds of meetings, I learn something new.

One question that was asked of Embria senior scientist, Dr. Stuart Reeves, during the presentation was: “Is there any one is this day and age who wouldn’t need or benefit from immune supplementation or some form of additional immune health support? ” Stuart had an interesting answer. He said if someone were born today on a farm or in a rural area where there was a good dose of dust and pollen present in the air, where they were living with a variety of animals–in the house, with a dirt floor–from birth on and exposed to diverse mix of animal dander always floating around, if they drank well water with a nice brew of microbial matter, and if they ate lots of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, preferably raw, and if they got 9 to 10 hours of sleep every night, and also lived a pretty stress-free life with lots of outdoor sunshine exposure each day, their immune system would most likely function just fine with no help needed.

But, who lives like that? Moreover, who is born in that environment?  For decades now, people in the western world have been born in sterile hospitals (which most certainly is a good thing for both mom and baby), and have come home to relatively clean households with modern hygienic conditions. While the modern environment may reduce germ and virus exposure, it also prevents exposure to common pathogens and harmless airborne particulates such as pollen that can train the immune system at an early age to produce an appropriate, proportional response to something that enters a person’s system. With nearly all people in developed countries now not born into this more primitive lifestyle, immune systems don’t get tested early in life, and therefore are likely to function erratically when the body does call on its immune defense against a microbial threat years down the road.

So, with that, the point is that our modern environment means we live cleaner, but we also are, in general, much more susceptible to troubling health conditions because our immune systems don’t know how to respond when the first threats arrive.  I truly believe supplementation, along with healthy diet, exercise and sleep, can make a big impact on correcting this imbalance.

Wow. That would be like living on Planet Vulcan. Spock would love it. (If he could love).

Also included is a list of supplements:

54. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is crucial to helping your immune system and preventing colds and the flu.
55. Garlic: Garlic is an age-old supplement used to prevent sickness.
56. Grapefruit seed extract: Grapefruit seed extract is a natural antiviral and antibiotic.
57. Zinc: Zinc is another supplement that can help prevent illness when taken regularly.
58. Emergen-C: While the benefits of taking Emergen-C after you start feeling rundown are still unknown,
taking a regular Vitamin C supplement can keep your immune system strong.
59. Ginger: Add ginger to recipes or tea to boost your immune system.

I would also add: supplements containing the ingredient EpiCor. If nothing else, EpiCor has among the deepest well of science supporting its immune balancing function. Let’s get some “balance” in there and get beyond all the boost, boost boost.