Blood : Red, White, and Immunity   ○ Basically, red blood cells travel through blood.   ○ Hemoglobin, an iron-based protein found in red blood cells, helps oxygen travel to muscle cells, tissues, and organs. The oxygen travels in the arteries and capillaries. Hemoglobin also picks up carbon dioxide from those same areas. Carbon dioxide, which is released during every exhaled breath, travels in the veins.   ○ About four to five million red blood cells are made in bone marrow every hour. They die about every four months, but a healthy body just keeps making them.   ○ Hemoglobin is the pigment that makes blood red.   ○ Folate, found in dark green leafy vegetables, oranges, legumes, and folic acid, found in fortified foods, is important in the production of red blood cells and in the prevention of anemia.   ○ Iron is a mineral that comes from food. Heme iron comes from animal sources and is easily absorbed. Non-heme iron is found in whole grains, enriched cereals, dried beans, eggs, raisins, prunes, dried apricots, and some green vegetables. It is not as easily absorbed as heme iron.   ○ Vegetarians may need to eat more iron and Vitamin B12 every day than non-vegetarians. Vitamin C helps in the absorption of non-heme iron. Consuming enough Vitamin B12 is important to red blood cell health.    ○ Daily iron needs vary. Women, from 19 to post menstruation, needs the highest amount (18mg/day). Men, from 19 to 50s, need 8 mg per day.   ○ Infants under two years of age, teenage girls, pregnant women, female athletes, people with eating disorders, and the elderly are the groups at high risk for iron deficiency.   ○ Excessive zinc, calcium, long term antacid use, prolonged menstruation, and Vitamin E can interfere with iron absorption.   ○ Phytates in some vegetables, nuts, roots may also cause interference.

○ The body has fewer white than red blood cells, but they are extremely important.   ○ White blood cells fight infections caused by cuts, scrapes, colds, flues, disease, illness, viruses, and any perceived "invader".   ○ The immune system gets its antibodies from white blood cells.   ○ There are different kinds of white blood cells. Leukocytes help fight infection. Lymphocytes  identify germs (bacteria and viruses) and produce antibodies and cells in order to fight a good fight. Neutrophils, the warriors, move into infected tissue areas and attack the bacteria and viruses.   ○ Decreasing the consumption of Omega 6 fats, which are found in many foods, and replacing them with fish and fish oils is recommended. Omega 6 fats are found in meat, polyunsaturated oils and processed foods. Tip: Live culture yogurt, dark turkey meat, pumpkin and squash seeds, oysters, shitake mushrooms, garlic, dark green and orange vegetables are immune boosting foods.   Tip: If liver, high in iron, is part of your regular diet, it is important not to over-consume other Vitamin A rich foods.