Assaulting Cancer: 5 Natural Ways to Boost Natural Killer Cells

by Christina Sarich

December 4th, 2013

Natural killer cells are white blood cells (lymphocytes) that seek out and kill cancerous or otherwise mutating cells that can harm the body. Also known as NK cells or just K cells, these natural killer cells are a natural part of our immune systems. Considering that 1/3 of the population is expected to get cancer in their lifetime, it would behoove us to boost our body’s natural ability to reduce cancerous tumors and virally infected cells. Below you will learn how to boost natural killer cells naturally.

Killer cells are cytotoxic – that means that they are bad for a cancer cell, and good for us. Small granules in a killer cell cytoplasm contain proteins called perforin and protease (granzymes) that help to kill unwanted, or diseased cells.

“New findings show that natural killer (NK) cell activity is modulated by exogenous (including dietary) and endogenous ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). AHR was found to be mainly expressed by conventional splenic NK cells following cytokine stimulation.”

Numerous studies point out how various foods or substances can naturally activate our immune system’s natural killer cells to assault cancer cells.

One example is how sea cucumber, found to kill 95% of various cancer cells, can activate NK cells.

Other research points to turkey tail mushroom for increasing the number of natural killer cells and their function activity after ingestion.

(Takeaway: utilize sea cucumber or turkey tail mushroom to boost NK cells. Those are ways 1 and 2).

 

3 More Ways to Boost NK Cells

Here are a few easy ways to boost our naturally occurring killer cells so that we can fight one of the biggest diseases of all time:

• 3. Take More Vitamin C - This vitamin is not only good for fighting colds and flu, but it boosts the activation of both T-cells and NK cells so that your immune system has extra armor to protect you against a host of diseases, including cancer. The Journal of Immunology confirms that ridiculously high doses aren’t required. Just 1000 mg a day can help boost the immune system.

• 4. Get Your Daily E – In addition to boosting the production of killer cells, vitamin E also supports the making of B cells – also utilized by our immune systems to produce antibodies and kill bacteria. You can get the recommended 60 mg a day from nuts, grains, seeds and vegetable oils. Further, vitamin E intake lowers the risk of heart disease.

• 5. Eat Your Beta Carotene - As the name suggests, this important vitamin found in carrots can help boost killer cells as well as helper T-cells so that your immune system can fight a number of diseases. Foods full of beta carotene include sweet potatoes, kale, turnip greens, spinach, dried herbs, and mustard greens, just to name a few.

Preventing cancer may be as simple as eating whole, natural foods. Who knew?


Other Popular Stories:

1. Sea Cucumber Found to Kill 95% of Cancer Cells, Shrink Tumors
2. Study Finds Blueberry Compound to Kill Cancer Cells, Blasts Cancer Radiation Treatment
3. Compound in Broccoli Kills Leukemia Cancer Cells, Leaves Healthy Cells Unaffected
4. 9 Ways to Boost Your Immune System and Avoid Being a Victim of the Flu Season
5. 6 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
6. Scientists Modify Cells to Attack Cancer

http://naturalsociety.com/5-ways-boost-natural-killer-cells-assault-cancer/