Elgin Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are in the news. From run-of-the-mill colds and flu to the larger one that is all over the news 24/7, infections got our interest. While an answer to “the” infection is being worked on, ensuring that Elgin immune systems are at their optimal level to deal with and ward off what infections it can is a worthy effort. Elgin chiropractic patients certainly know about the beneficial aspects of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Connected Chiropractic shares their advantages to a healthy immune system with some new medical research studies to support them.
VITAMIN C TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
When the risk of infection is elevated, we all want prevention and treatment options whose risk of side-effects is low. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant especially when taken intravenously. Its likely effect is that of decreasing inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties, too. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a familiar anti-viral agent, one of the better known ones, especially when facing the influenza virus. Taken early on in an infection, vitamin C showed anti-viral immune responses as it raised the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is really influential! Connected Chiropractic encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients states that options to reduce infection spread are in demand and presents vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D reduces the risk of respiratory tract infection. How? It makes cathelicidins and defensins which can drop replication rates of viruses, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and harm the lining of the lungs, and multiply anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be useful to decrease respiratory tract infection risk. How? Researchers recommended that persons at-risk of infection take 10,000 IU per day of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to raise the 25(OH)D concentrations first then consuming 5000 IU a day. If someone has an infection currently, higher doses of vitamin D3 may be helpful. (3) Vitamin D is quite influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is there to be influential when it comes to making recommendations for health. A lot has been published in the medical literature about the importance of nutrition and the optimal functioning of the immune system. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate (B9) along with trace elements like iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium are key contributors also to a strong immune system that can adapt to various threats. Deficiencies of many of these nutrients is global, leaving many unable to resist infections. Authors wrote particularly that Vitamin D deficiency added to increased risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers mentioned that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of such infections in adults and children. With such information, authors of a new review of the literature about vitamins and immunity and respiratory infections stated that they strongly urge public health officials to add nutritional recommendations – even consuming more than the “recommended dietary allowance” (RDA) within recommended upper safety limits for specific vitamins like C and D - to their catalog of guidelines to improve public health and curb the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Connected Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox about chiropractic care and the immune system on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Schedule your Elgin chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Having a strong immune system may be the best offense against infection as no one likes living with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! Elgin chiropractic care incorporates nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to care for our Elgin chiropractic patients, family and friends.
