McHenry Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are in the news. From run-of-the-mill colds and flu to the larger issue that is all over the news 24/7, infections have our attention. While an answer to “the” infection is being worked on, ensuring that McHenry immune systems are at their optimal level to fight and fight off what infections it can is worth the effort. McHenry chiropractic patients certainly know about the benefits of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic presents their benefits to a healthy immune system as well as some notable medical research studies to support them.
VITAMIN C TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
When the risk of infection is great, we all look for prevention and treatment options whose risk of side-effects is small. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant particularly 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 recognized anti-viral agent, one of the more well known ones, especially when dealing with the influenza virus. Taken early on in an infection, vitamin C demonstrated anti-viral immune responses as it raised the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is quite influential! OrthoIllinois Chiropractic encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients reports that options to reduce infection spread are in demand and presents vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D decreases respiratory tract infection risk. How? It makes cathelicidins and defensins which can lower replication rates of viruses, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure the lining of the lungs, and multiply anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be useful to decrease respiratory tract infection risk. How? Researchers suggested that persons at-risk of infection ingest 10,000 IU per day of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to raise the 25(OH)D concentrations first then taking 5000 IU per day. If someone has an infection currently, higher doses of vitamin D3 may be useful. (3) Vitamin D is quite influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is meant 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 change as needed 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 added to heightened risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers mentioned that vitamin D supplementation decreased 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 said that they strongly encourage public health officials to integrate 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 catalog of guidelines to better public health and curb the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT OrthoIllinois 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 McHenry chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Having a strong immune system may be the best offense against infection as no one wants to live with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! McHenry chiropractic care features nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to care for our McHenry chiropractic patients, family and friends.
