Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
On today’s episode, we are going to be discussing Vitamin C and its benefit for vision health and the common cold, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Let’s talk science.
We’re right in the middle of cold and flu season. Be sure you have the tool you need to protect your body and avoid getting sick this winter. Here’s what you need, according to Chief Scientific Officer and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, Ph.
Subscribe Today!
Drink green tea and swallow Vitamin D and you have a better chance of not getting a cold or flu infection this winter. Today, I am going to discuss how to improve the odds of not getting sick this winter and what you can do nutritionally for your immune system. Let’s get started.
What Happens When You Get The Flu
When someone has the flu and they sneeze, that sneeze can travel at a 100 miles an hour for ten feet; try and duck this in a packed train or room. Coughs travel at 50 miles an hour for about 5 feet; lots of luck ducking that one also. When the virus hits you, it uses enzymes to latch onto your cells, enter them, and then multiply leading to that typical week-long infection. The enzymes are viral and allow the infection to attach to the mucus membranes in your nose, mouth, and the tear ducts of the eyes. The virus is then able to enter and exit your cells; this is how the flu infects you.
The virus also uses polymerase acidic proteins to increase in number. Drugs have been developed to block these viral enzymes, including Relenza and Tamiflu in the 1990s and Xofluza in 2018.
Flu viruses are developing resistance to the earlier drugs but, interestingly, not to the ingredients in Green Tea which can help protect you by inhibiting all three families of viral enzymes.†
Studies on Green Tea and Immunity
Many different studies show that green tea weakens the flu virus by inhibiting the enzymes the virus uses to infect us. Additionally, according to a study from the University of Florida at Gainesville, Green tea also stimulates a particular type of immune cell called a gamma-delta T cell which helps govern the ability of your immune system to fight viruses. The research shows that Green Tea also stimulates the release of interferon-gamma, further helping contain viruses.†
The flu shot stimulates the production of antibodies specific to the flu which help kill it, while green tea weakens it directly, so this is a good combination for many.†
Key Studies
Results of a study published in the Journal of Nutrition from the University of Shizouka School of Pharmacy showed drinking Green Tea six times a week decreased a diagnosis of the flu by a pediatrician by 40%. Drinking Green Tea multiple times a day cut the risk by 46%.
In a separate study of healthcare professionals by the same pharmacy school, taking a green tea capsule along with it’s component L-Theanine lowered the risk of the flu by 75%.
Research from the University of Florida shows that taking a concentrated Green Tea capsule two times daily throughout the flu season strongly cut the incidence of the flu. However, if a person did get sick, the infection was much milder, and lasted for a much shorter amount of days.
Green Tea has even been shown to protect the elderly. Elderly people have a weaker immune system and the classic flu shot works less effectively in them. In a study of 124 elderly residents of a nursing home – all of whom received a flu shot – gargling with green tea cut the risk of developing the flu versus placebo.
Other Nutrients for Protection
Green Tea isn’t the only source of protection from the flu; Vitamin D can help also if you are initially low on it.
Vitamin D blood levels drop over the fall and winter months and a study from the University of Colorado that included 19,000 adults and children shows that having a low level of Vitamin D increases your risk of developing the flu by 40%. It was much worse for subjects with respiratory diseases such as asthma; these people had 5 times a higher risk of catching the flu.†
For a healthy immune system, you should aim at getting your blood level of Vitamin D over 35.
Other nutritional aids to help curb winter time infections include;
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
During the winter months, it becomes harder to obtain the essential vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. Our newest nutritionist, Matthew Gines, MS, CNS, recommends safe and effective nutrients that have been studied to support immunity and respiratory health.
In Episode 3, Jerry Hickey, Ph. discusses which specific strains of probiotics have been proven to help protect you from winter time infections, helping you boost your immunity.
Winter can be harsh on your body and overall health. The cold, harsh weather can make your skin dull, your hair brittle, and can lead to sniffles and colds. Other than bundling up, it’s important to take some preventative measures to maintain optimal health. Winter supplements can be an excellent way to ensure you can make it through the winter happy and healthy.
With cold and flu season upon us, it’s important to know what we can do to keep our immune system balanced and healthy in order to avoid infections. You’ll want to eat a balanced diet with whole foods, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that support your immune system. Avoid processed foods and sugar, are too much can actually suppress your immune system. You’ll also want to drink plenty of water and get enough sleep, as staying hydrated and following a healthy sleep routine are some of the best things you can do for your health.
Looking for an immune-boost? Nucleotides are considered nutritional building blocks, found naturally in fish and poultry, that provide energy to the body to keep it performing at its best. They offer excellent immune support, as it boosts antibody production and increases your body’s ability to fight off infection. A superior non-GMO Nucleotide Complex provides a specialized blend of nuceotides, nucleic acids and nucleosides to not only support immune health, but to help increase endurance and recovery rate after exercise.
Having trouble with dry skin this season? Hyaluronic Acid may be able to help! Read More >>
Cold weather, particularly cold air, can wreak havoc on your lungs and overall health. This is because cold air, according to the American Lung Association, is often dry air that can irritate the airways of individuals with respiratory conditions. This can cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. To protect yourself from the cold, dry air be sure to “cover your nose and mouth” when you are heading outside and to “avoid exercising outdoors” in severe weather.
For a superior respiratory-boost, you may want to turn to Blackseed. When paired with Rosemary and Cordyceps in an herbal supplement, Blackseed can help benefit the immune system and promote respiratory health. Rosemary helps to further support the function of vital organs, like the lungs. Coredyceps is a medical mushroom that supports healthy immune system function.
When it starts to get dark earlier and the days become colder, it’s easy to find yourself nestled up with comfort foods. But common comfort foods are unhealthy, like processed, fried foods or sweats. To keep your digestive system working at its best, be sure to consume the right foods. Turn to vegetables like squashes, beets, carrots and potatoes, which are rich in Vitamin C, herbs and spices like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger and nutmeg, and of course protein, found in nuts and seeds, lentils and meat.
To further boost your digestive system, you may want to turn to a Probiotic supplement. Our bodies are loaded with bacteria, but a non-GMO probiotic supplement can support a balance of the good and bad bacteria that make up our gut. A probiotic supplement can support healthy digestion, regularity, and even weight management.
The days get shorter and the temperature drops. And, it seems, you’re energy levels follow suit. During the winter, you body produces increased levels of melatonin, the hormone for controlling how sleepy you feel. Melatonin production is linked to light and dark, so less sunlight actually means more melatonin. This could be a major reason why you feel more tired than ever during the winter. In order to combat this, there are a few things you can do – be sure to regularly exercise, practice stress relief and get a good night’s sleep.
To further boost your energy levels, you may want to turn to an herbal supplement. Rhodiola is an adaptogen, or an herb that helps the body adapt to stress and fatigue. Rhodiola has been shown to increase energy and helps you to handle stress, while improving your mood and reducing mental fatigue. It may also support endurance and healthy immune function in the winter.
Prepare your body for winter with winter supplements that target healthy energy levels, good digestion, and healthy immune and respiratory systems. Your body will thank you later!