St Peters Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are in the news. From common 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 sought, working to make sure that St Peters immune systems are at their optimal level to deal with and ward off what infections it can is worth the effort. St Peters chiropractic patients surely grasp the beneficial aspects of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Old Mill Chiropractic shares their benefits 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 high, we all look for options for prevention and treatment whose risk of side-effects is small. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant especially when taken intravenously. Its likely effect is that of lowering inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties, too. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a recognized anti-viral agent, one of the better known ones, especially when dealing with the influenza virus. Starting it early on in an infection, vitamin C showed anti-viral immune responses as it increased the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is quite influential! Old Mill Chiropractic encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients states that options to drop infection spread are in demand and presents vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D decreases the risk of respiratory tract infection. How? It produces cathelicidins and defensins which can lower replication rates of viruses, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure the lining of the lungs, and multiply anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be useful to reduce 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 initially then taking 5000 IU per day. If someone has an infection already, higher doses of vitamin D3 may be useful. (3) Vitamin D is quite influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is there to be influential in recommendation decision making. Much 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 also are important contributors to a strong immune system that can adapt to various threats. Deficiencies of many of these nutrients is global, leaving many not capable of resisting infections. Authors wrote particularly that Vitamin D deficiency contributed to heightened 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 recent review of the literature about vitamins and immunity and respiratory infections stated that they strongly encourage public health officials to incorporate nutritional recommendations – even taking more than the “recommended dietary allowance” (RDA) within recommended upper safety limits for specific vitamins like C and D - to their list of guidelines to improve public health and curb the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Old Mill 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 St Peters chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Building a strong immune system may be the top offense against infection as no one wants to live with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! St Peters chiropractic care includes nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to care for our St Peters chiropractic patients, family and friends.
