Commonly found in the lungs, Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that can spread through bloodstream and lymph nodes to almost any organ in the body.  TB has been infecting people for centuries, and is the most common cause for infectious disease-related mortality worldwide.  An estimated one third of the world's population has Latent TB, meaning that the bacteria is inactive in the body.  If the immune system weakens, due to HIV or malnutrition, the bacteria can become active.  

A lot of people who have Latent TB will not experience any symptoms.  TB tends to affect the lungs, if the person has it, but it can also affect other areas of the body and people will experience those symptoms differently.  If the immune system becomes compromised or weakened, people with TB can experience the following symptoms. 

• Coughing (sometimes with mucus or blood)
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Fever
• Night Sweats
• Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Joint Pain (if the bones are infected)
• Meningitis (if the brain is infected)
• Blood in Urine (if kidneys or liver are infected)

TB infects human tissue and it is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium.  These microbacteria grow slowly within the body's cells and their cell structure protects them from the body's defense mechanisms.  TB is contagious, but it is not easy to catch.  The bacterium spreads through the air when people, whose lungs are affected by TB, cough, sneeze, spit, laugh, or talk.  To catch TB, one has to be in close quarters with an infected TB patient for a long time (e.g. at work or in living spaces).  Common causes are:

• Weakened Immune System
• Alcoholism
• Excessive smoking
• Crowded living conditions
• Diseases that weaken the immune system
• Homelessness
• HIV infection 
• Asthma
• Long period of ill health
• Metabolic diseases like Diabetes

• Getting you regular dose of vitamin D can be greatly beneficial for the body because of its amazing health properties.  Spending an hour in the sun or eating vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamin D can help combat the TB bacterium.  You can eat mushrooms and drink freshly squeezed orange juice to help get your daily dose of vitamin D.  
• If you have the infection, it is a good idea to eat raw foods to provide your body with essential nutrients. Cooking vegetables and fruit can deplete the nutrients and you essentially rob your body of the nutrients it could be getting from those foods in their raw form.  To promote better, overall health, it can be beneficial to eliminate meat, processed foods, fried foods, genetically engineered foods, dairy products, sugar, and salty foods from your diet.  
• Make sure to get enough sleep if you have TB.  Sleep helps the body regenerate, and it can't do that if it isn't rested.  Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night to help your body fight the infection. 
• Because TB is a bacterial infection, you may want to consider participating in a cleanse to help naturally rid your body of waste, toxins, and bacteria.  Our Full Body Cleanse can help you clean out your system, and you can furthe help yourself by following that cleanse with the Respiratory Cleanse to help clean out the lungs, where the infection commonly occurs.  
• Garlic is rich in sulfuric acid, which can help fight TB bacteria.  It also has anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, all of which help to inhibit bacterial growth.  Plus, it can help to boost the immune system, which is essential for those with TB.  You can juice garlic with other vegetables to reap its benefits. You can also boil 1/2 teaspoon of chopped garlic in 1 cup of boiling water.  Boil it until it reduces to 1/4th of the volume and take a tablespoon of this solution three times a day. 
• Green tea is abundant in antioxidants, which help boost immunity.  The polyephenol in green tea helps combat the the TB-causing bacterium.  
• Make sure you hydrate with water to promote proper circulation.  A good rule of thumb, when it comes to drinking water, is to drink eight 8oz glasses of water every day.  You can also use your body weight to keep track of how much water to drink.  Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water can help keep you hydrated.  If you weigh 150lbs then you should drink 75oz of water each day. 

• Oranges (also freshly squeezed orange juice)
• Bananas
• Pineapple
• Mint
• Black Pepper
• Raw Walnuts
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Green Tea
• Dried Fruits (as long as they don't have sulfur dioxide)
• Indian Gooseberry
• Berries
• Dark Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, & chard)
• Grapes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Lentils
• Lima Beans