New Report: Nutrients Have Never Been So Essential
According to The Council for Responsible Nutrition UK, the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus could increase the potential for deficiencies in key nutrients, supporting the immune system.
Tag: immunity
Nutritional Recommendations for COVID-19 by Chief Scientific Officer and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, Ph.
With so much information available on COVID-19 and immune health in general, it may be difficult to fully understand what is going on around us today. Here is some important immune health information and some of my nutritional recommendations to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Zinc for Immunity During The Coronavirus – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 42
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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It’s March – it should be a bit past the peak flu and virus season now, but the Coronavirus has changed all of that so I’d like to talk to you today about the mineral Zinc; it can be a quick fix for your immune system for many people.
The Importance of Zinc Today
If you’re low on zinc – deviating below the normal healthy level on your blood test – it reduces the number of immune cells you make; these are the cells that fight the infection.
Plus, to make matters worse, whatever lowered number of immune cells you do make, commonly generically called white blood cells, they’re not going to work very well for fighting off viruses and bacteria and this will increase your risk of developing an infection. This is according to a report from the the University of California Davis.
The UC Davis medical authorities also say that taking a Zinc supplement daily, reduces your rate of infection. This is extremely important – that the zinc, through it’s anti-inflammatory activity, that comes from Zinc’s powerful and well documented antioxidant activity, may help protect your tissues form the damage generated by the infection. It’s not unusual for a viral infection to damage your lungs through the generation of free radicals if the virus can get in there.
Zinc Benefits
Zinc has many brilliantly good effects on the body;
- Needed to release insulin to balance blood sugar
- Needed to make thyroid hormone
- Needed to convert collagen protein into bone
- Needed for vision and especially in the elderly to help prevent eye disease and blindness
- Needed for helping to prevent heart disease and plaque accumulation in your arteries
- “ for skin, hair and nails,
- Sense of taste and smell
- Protects the brain as SOD 1; when this runs low in your late 50’s and 60’s your brain is in trouble
And plaque can start to accumulate in your brain:
- Is needed for the function of vitamin D
- Is needed to convert Vitamin A into retinal for night vision and for releasing Vitamin A from the liver for healing and immunity
Higher doses of Zinc, well above the upper recommended level have proven to be safe and to safely shorten the length of those symptoms of the common cold by a good percentage – a third in general, according to a review of studies published by the Royal Society of Medicine.
Human Clinical Trials on Zinc
Many human clinical trials of the young, the elderly, and those in between show that Zinc is needed for your immune system and taking a bit extra during cough and cold season is very helpful for reducing the duration of symptoms and for protecting you from an infection in the first place.
In a review of studies published in the Journal BMC Family Practice of Zinc lozenges and the symptoms of a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, Zinc reduced the length of suffering with
- A cough by 46%
- Sore throat by 33%
- Stuffed nose by 37%,
- Runny nose by 34%
- And muscle soreness by 54%
There were some caveats to this review of clinical trials;
- First 24 hours
- For Lozenges you needed to have 80 to 90 mg of zinc a day
- In my opinion you are better off taking some zinc daily so there is always enough zinc in your system to protect you from all types of viruses
This is important; there are other viruses out there including two additional corona viruses that are zoonotic but have not infected people yet, you want a well-functioning immune system.
So how does Zinc work?
Zinc is required to make the cells that kill infections, known as neutrophils and macrophages, and the cells that single out specific infections or that control the immune system; your B cells which are your antibodies that recognize specific viruses and bacteria, and your all important T Cells that guide the immune system, kill infections, and turn off the immune system when the infection is over.
Viruses use proteins on the outside of their viral coating to infect us. Zinc has the ability to complex with these proteins and the more zinc in your cell the better it works. This reduces the ability of a virus to infect you. So a deficiency of Zinc increases dysfunction of the immune system and increases your susceptibility to infection.
Children and adolescents are often low in zinc but who is typically low in Zinc focusing solely on adults;
- Older adults (65 years and older) for a number of reasons; a decreased appetite, a narrowed variety of foods, and a decreased ability to absorb zinc from foods not to mention that many drugs reduce the amount of zinc in the body and the elderly are often on many drugs;
- Examples of commonly used drugs that lower zinc include
- ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril and diuretics (aka water pills) used to treat high blood pressure
- Estrogen replacement
- Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole and H2 inhibitors such as cimetidine used for…..
- Steroids such as prednisone
- Laxatives, antacids, and even aspirin all lower your level of zinc
- Vegetarians: The requirement for dietary zinc may be as much as 50% greater for vegetarians whose major food staples are grains and legumes, because high levels of phytate in these foods reduce the absorption of zinc
- Pregnant and lactating (breast-feeding) women, especially adolescents
- Individuals with severe or persistent diarrhea
- Individuals with mal-absorption syndromes, including celiac disease and short bowel syndrome
- Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Alcoholics have increased urinary zinc excretion and low liver zinc levels
- Individuals with chronic renal disease
- Individuals with sickle cell anemia
For the elderly and HIV positive individuals Zinc supplementation is a must; HIV-infected individuals are particularly susceptible to zinc deficiency. In HIV-infected patients, low serum zinc concentrations are connected with disease progression and increased mortality.
In one study conducted in AIDS patients, 45 mg/day of zinc for one month resulted in a decreased incidence of opportunistic infections compared to placebo.
In a placebo-controlled study of 231 HIV-positive adults who were initially low in zinc, doctors found that supplementing with ZINC, 12 mg/day for women and 15 mg/day for men, for 18 months reduced the incidence of immunological failure (defined by a low CD4+ count, a type of T cell) by 76% and the rate of diarrhea by 60%.
A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials concluded that zinc supplementation was safe and efficacious in reducing opportunistic infections in HIV-positive adults. Low zinc in the elderly is fairly common and adds to the age-related decline in immune function.
In a study of nursing home residents, a low level of zinc in the blood serum lead to a higher rate of pneumonia and pneumonia-related mortality, and in fact increased all-cause mortality.
Studies examining the effects of zinc supplementation on immune function in middle-aged and elderly adults show that zinc supplementation improves immune function. For instance, a randomized, placebo-controlled study in people over 65 years of age found that zinc supplementation (25 mg/day) for three months increased blood concentrations of helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells; these are virus killers.
Additionally, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 101 older adults (aged 50-70 years) with normal blood zinc concentrations showed that zinc supplementation at 15 mg/day for six months improved the helper T-cells/cytotoxic T-cells ratio, which tends to decline with age and when low is a predictor of poor survival.
A recent study examined the effect of daily supplementation with a supplement that included 5 mg or 30 mg of zinc taken for three months in institutionalized elderly participants (mean age, >80 years) with an initially low serum concentration of zinc. Zinc status was improved with the 30 mg/day dose — but not with 5 mg/day — yet the most zinc-deficient individuals failed to achieve normal serum zinc concentrations within the intervention period; they needed more than 30mg a day. The number of circulating T-cells was also significantly increased in those who took the micronutrient supplement with the higher versus low dose of zinc (93).
The high prevalence of zinc deficiency among institutionalized elderly adults should be addressed and would likely improve the performance of their immune system.
Currently my wife and I are taking an additional 30mg of zinc a day; this is in addition to the 15mg we are already getting in our multiple vitamin. This is plenty because it has had time to build up in our systems. I choose Zinc Picolinate, but lozenges are also a great choice. If you are first developing symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection use a lozenge and take about 30mg 3 times a day (no more than that).
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.
5 Immunity Essentials to Stock Up On (Not Toilet Paper)
With the widespread of the Coronavirus, it seems that everyone is looking to stock up on products that can help them in the long run. The good news is that there are five essential immune-boosting nutrients that you should stock up on this season.
Important Immunity Spotlight: Keeping You Healthy This Season
Immune system supplements with specially formulated, clinically studied non-GMO ingredients can support a strong and powerful immune system. Here are the top four immunity products you need this season, from our degreed healthcare professionals.
The Best Practices to Support Healthy Immunity
With so many viruses going around today – from the common cold, to influenza and the Coronavirus – it is more important than ever to make sure you are practicing the most effective methods to support healthy immunity. According to our degreed healthcare professionals, here are the top best practices to keep your body running effectively.
Listen to our latest podcast episode on the Coronavirus and Immunity by clicking here! >>
Wash your hands correctly.
According to a study from the US Department of Agriculture, 97% of hand washing is done incorrectly, leading to contamination of food and surfaces and resulting in illness. Most consumers failed to wash their hands and rub with soap for 20 seconds (the amount of time the CDC recommends to remove as much bacteria as possible), in the study. Poor hand-washing practices led to cross-contamination, the study found.
A separate study released this month by researchers from the University of Mauritis and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, found 49 of 100 towels tested showed growth of bacteria normally found in or on the human body. That included E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as “staph.”
An healthy tip? InVite Fitness offers a touch-less soap dispenser from Kohler™! It promotes better hygiene, as you simply hold your hand under the spout and a 20 second lighted timer lets you know how long to lather. It takes the guesswork out of washing your hands correctly and is great for a home with kids! Click here to purchase your Kohler™ Touch Foaming Soap Dispenser now!
Boost your immune system with clinically studied nutrients
In our latest podcast episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. discussed the evidence that links green tea and other important nutrients to a healthy immune system.
Listen to our latest podcast episode on the Coronavirus and Immunity by clicking here! >>
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 in general. The research shows that Green Tea also stimulates the release of interferon-gamma further helping contain viruses.†
In the Journal of Nutrition, the University of Shizouka School of Pharmacy, looked at 2663 school kids from different parts of Japan over 2 winters and found that drinking Green Tea 6 times a week decreased a diagnosis of the flu by a pediatrician by 40%. But if they drank green tea more frequently, it cut the risk by 46%. In a 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 in healthcare professionals by 75%.†
Other supportive nutrients, according to Jerry Hickey, Ph., include:
- Nucleotides†
- Zinc Lozenges†
- Vitamin A (from animal products) or Beta-Carotene (from vegetables)†
- Vitamin D†
- Probiotic (especially Bifidobacteria animalis subspecies lactis)†
Follow a healthy diet
A healthy immune system is needed to support overall health and wellness. The good news is there are plenty of foods that can help support and boost your immune system. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your diet should be composed of:
- Leafy green vegetables, like spinach and kale
- Almonds, peanuts, chickpeas, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds
- Bananas, oranges, grape fruits, carrots
- Fatty fish, lean chicken breast, turkey, sardines
- Sweet potatoes, squash, whole grains
Other Best Practices for a Healthy Immune System
According to numerous studies, the most physically fit you are, the less likely you are to suffer from colds in the winter months. Researchers from the Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina have published their results online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. They followed a group of 1002 healthy adults aged from 18 to 85 years, over a 12 week period during the US autumn and winter seasons in 2008. Over the 12 weeks, the subjects reported experiencing symptoms of an upper respiratory tract illness (URTI) on average for 13 days in the winter and 8 days in the autumn. But those who were fit and exercised frequently were much less likely to develop a cold, and when they did, it was much less severe.
While sleeping doesn’t prevent you from getting sick, unhealthy sleeping patterns could adversely impact your immune system. The Sleep Foundation reports, “Without sufficient sleep, your body makes fewer cytokines, a type of protein that targets infection and inflammation, effectively creating an immune response. Cytokines are both produced and released during sleep, causing a double whammy if you skimp on shut-eye. Chronic sleep loss even makes the flu vaccine less effective by reducing your body’s ability to respond.”