by Matt Vidler
Every Cold and Flu Season, and especially this challenging year, everyone wants to make sure their immune system is strong and fully optimal. To help support healthy immunity, we’ve stocked up on a variety of the highest quality immune supporting vitamins and supplements.
You could win your own immune support gift pack (pictured below) by entering the social media contest detailed at the bottom of this blog.
But first, lets learn about these natural immune boosting products.
English Ivy Cough and Cold is a great-tasting combination of herbs traditionally used to help relieve symptoms associated with coughs and colds. It provides English ivy, which has been demonstrated in clinical trials to help relieve coughs, promote expectoration and improve respiratory function in patients with chronic bronchitis. A mucilaginous herb, marshmallow contains polysaccharides that coat the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract. Clinical research supports its traditional use in Herbal Medicine as a demulcent to relieve the irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa and associated dry cough. English Ivy Cough and Cold also includes European elder, an herb well-recognized for its high anthocyanin content. Available in a delicious natural raspberry flavour, English Ivy Cough and Cold is a convenient way to provide soothing relief of cough and cold symptoms.
Zinc Glycinate Liquid is a great-tasting mineral formula that provides zinc in the bioavailable form of zinc bisglycinate. Zinc is an important trace element in the body. It plays a key role in maintaining immune health by stimulating the production of immune cells, regulating natural killer cell activity and mediating cytokine production. Clinical research has demonstrated that daily supplementation with zinc helps to maintain immune function in adults and adolescents, as well as in the airways of children. Zinc also has a long history of use in dermatological health. It helps to maintain immune function in the skin, while promoting collagen synthesis to help maintain skin structure. Additionally, zinc has a role in maintaining hair and nail health, and maintains bone health by regulating bone formation and resorption. This mineral is also involved in a key buffer system that helps to maintain normal acid-base balance. Zinc Glycinate Liquid provides a bioavailable source of zinc to help meet daily zinc requirements. In one randomized crossover trial, zinc bisglycinate was demonstrated to have 43{a38adfb64250551cd5ff34942abfc3e60fe8f10064d6371ecb7135ab9fb7a008} higher bioavailability than zinc gluconate.
Berberine Immune Support is designed to maintain immune health by supporting healthy activation of Th1 cells, thereby promoting innate immunity and cell-mediated immune defences. Th1 responses are affected by stress, aging and cytokine changes resulting from metabolic, hormonal, physiological, and environmental factors. This product helps balance cytokine production in order to promote Th1 differentiation. Support for Th1 may be indicated for enhancement of natural defences. Berberine is a natural plant alkaloid that has been researched in clinical and preclinical studies, while ginger is a traditionally used and clinically studied herb. Zinc plays an important role in supporting the body’s defence system, promoting healthy neutrophil, natural killer cell, and T-lymphocyte function. This formula also offers skullcap and broccoli, which are primarily recognized for their bioactive constituents baicalin and sulforaphane, respectively.
Innate Immune Support is designed to promote cell-mediated immune response, including NK cell and macrophage activity, and may be indicated for enhancement of natural defenses and mucosal health. Astragalus contains a variety of active constituents, including saponins and flavonoids, that contribute to its long tradition of use in Herbal Medicine to provide immune and cytokine balance support. In vitro and animal studies suggest that astragalus supports NK cell activity, as well as IgA and IgG levels in serum, key antibodies that play a critical role in mucosal immune defence. Reishi mushroom offers a rich source of polysaccharides to promote cell-mediated immunity. This formula includes both reishi mushroom fruiting body extract and reishi cultured mycelia extract, providing the unique and highly purified polysaccharide beta-1,3/1,6-glucan. This formula also includes a clinically researched extract of andrographis, an herb primarily known for its bioactive compound andrographolide and other diterpene lactones.
Antioxidant Complex Enhanced supports antioxidant defence with a comprehensive combination of vitamins and minerals, plus lutein and zeaxanthin. Antioxidants play an important role in the body by reducing the production and propagation of free radicals. Vitamin C is the most effective water-soluble antioxidant in the plasma and cellular fluid, while vitamin E is known to support antioxidant defence in cell membranes. Selenium provides further support as a component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and plays an important role in supporting thyroid health by reducing oxidative damage generated during the production of thyroid hormones. Antioxidant Complex Enhanced also offers lutein and zeaxanthin, the primary carotenoids in the macula and retina. Lutein provides unique antioxidant support to maintain eye health by protecting against oxidative damage from metabolic activity and light exposure. Beta-carotene is included as a source of provitamin A to help maintain eyesight, skin, membranes and immune function, while zinc further contributes to immune and skin health by stimulating the production of immune cells and supporting the repair and maintenance of skin structure. As the body’s natural defence mechanisms against oxidative stress can become overwhelmed, individuals may benefit from increasing external antioxidant intakes.
High-dose vitamin C and flavonoid combination
• Provides 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid per tablet plus rose hips, hesperidin, quercetin and rutin
• Helps in the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums
• Supports fat and protein metabolism, wound healing and connective tissue formation
• Helps to prevent vitamin C deficiency
C1000 contains a combination of high-dose vitamin C, rosehips, and flavanoids from hesperidin, quercetin and rutin. Vitamin C is essential for a number of key physiological functions, including scavenging free radicals and maintaining healthy bones, cartilage and connective tissue.
And of course we cannot omit the most vital supplement of all: VITAMIN D3.
The immune system defends the body from foreign, invading organisms, promoting protective immunity while maintaining tolerance to self. The implications of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system have become clearer in recent years and in the context of vitamin D deficiency, there appears to be an increased susceptibility to infection and a diathesis, in a genetically susceptible host to autoimmunity.
It is now clear that vitamin D has important roles in addition to its classic effects on calcium and bone homeostasis. As the vitamin D receptor is expressed on immune cells (B cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells) and these immunologic cells are all are capable of synthesizing the active vitamin D metabolite, vitamin D has the capability of acting in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic milieu. Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection. As immune cells in autoimmune diseases are responsive to the ameliorative effects of vitamin D, the beneficial effects of supplementing vitamin D deficient individuals with autoimmune disease may extend beyond the effects on bone and calcium homeostasis.
Vitamin D3 enhances calcium absorption and retention, a key nutritional function in supporting healthy bones and teeth. Decreased exposure to sunlight, a vegetarian diet and a low intake of vitamin D-fortified foods often contribute to inadequate vitamin D levels. Clinical studies involving vitamin D supplementation suggest the importance of both vitamin D and calcium for bone health. Calcium intake, when combined with sufficient vitamin D, a healthy diet and regular exercise, may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. Vitamin D supplementation alone also supports bone health. It promotes intestinal calcium and phosphorous absorption, and reduces urinary calcium loss, essential mechanisms for maintaining proper calcium levels in the body and healthy bone composition. You can read the science here.
Stress
No discussion about supporting your immune system would be complete without acknowledging the role of stress. There is significant study and science regarding the effects of stress on the immune system and on disease. You can read some of the meta-analysis of 30 years of research here, and other science here.
The linkages between stress and immunity may be mediated by specific health behaviors, psychosocial factors, or both. For instance, stress has been linked to being in troubled relationships, having negative or competitive social interactions, and feeling lonely, which have each in turn been linked to increases in pro-inflammatory responses to stress. Other potential mediators, like getting good sleep, are increasingly being recognized as important pieces of the stress-immunity puzzle. Even one night of total sleep deprivation was recently found to significantly increase neutrophil counts and decrease neutrophil function in healthy men.
We’ll have a blog post coming in the new year all about stress and health, but we want to draw your attention to these two supplements to help improve calmness and quality of sleep:
Brain Calm is an effective blend of critical amino acids and herbs that promote relaxation and sleep. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Most neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine and noradrenaline, promote a feeling of wakefulness and alertness, however GABA acts by blocking these –excitatory” neurotransmitters to promote relaxation in the brain. By promoting relaxation, GABA has been shown to help sleep irregularities such as the inability to fall asleep or waking during the night. Additionally, Brain Calm contains Passion flower, which is used traditionally in Herbal Medicine as a sleep aid, especially in times of restlessness or sleeplessness due to mental stress. Plant compounds of Passion flower exert effects in the brain by binding to GABA receptors, promoting a relaxation effect similar to GABA itself. By reducing feelings of anxiousness and stress, randomized control trials have found that Passion flower improves overall sleep quality.
Brain Mood is a blend of several ingredients, including L-5-Hydroxytrytophan (5-HTP), used to aid in sleep. 5-HTP modulates the formation of the key neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, which is used as a precursor to form melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. In the body, 5-HTP is synthesized from the amino acid L-tryptophan. The formation of serotonin is completely dependent on the amount of L-tryptophan and 5-HTP available in the central nervous system. Once inside the brain, L-tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP, which is then used to synthesize serotonin.
L-tryptophan is dependent on an enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase, to cross the blood brain barrier, however this enzyme can be inhibited by a number of different factors. 5-HTP, the metabolite of L-tryptophan, is well absorbed from the diet and is able to freely cross the blood brain barrier without requiring a transport molecule. Supplementation with 5-HTP has been shown to increase sleep quality, particularly by increasing Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and regulating sleep patterns.
St. John’s Wort has been used in Herbal Medicine for hundreds of years and is known to have a variety of traditional-type uses. As co-enzymes, the B vitamins thiamine, niacinamide, folic acid, vitamin B12, and pantothenic acid are essential components in most major metabolic reactions. They play an important role in energy production, including the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. Vitamin B12 and folate are also important for the formation of red blood cells.
Social Media Contest: Enter to win the entire Immune Support Family of Supplements–worth over $290!
Step 1: Like our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Step 2: Like the Immune supplement post on FB & Instagram
Step 3: Tag 3 friends in the comments
Step 4: Extra entry to win if you repost this to your story!
Giveaway ends on November 30th! Good luck!