Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
As the seasons change, it is a good idea to turn to nutrients that can support natural detox processes in the body. Our Colon Hx formula contains powerful constituents that can help remove toxins from foods and the environment.
It’s never too early to start making sure your immune system is working to its best ability. Learn about the nutrients you need to help defend your body this winter in Part 2 of this podcast from Jerry Hickey, Ph.
winter
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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There are concrete reasons why we get sick with a virus more frequently in the winter than in the summer. The atmosphere itself directly contributes to the risk of getting sick. The air outside in the summer is a lot heavier because it’s loaded with moisture. If somebody sneezes or coughs, the virus only goes a short distance and it crashes down to the sidewalk because the air is so laden with moisture.†
In the winter, it’s a different story. In the winter, the air is very dry, so coughs and sneezes go further. A cough can shoot a virus for 10 feet at 100 miles per hour, while a sneeze travels at about half that rate for about five feet. It’s also very cold outside, so we are more frequently clustered together inside at a pretty close proximity. Inside, the air is even drier and more arid, so that sneeze or cough can really travel further or faster.†
To make things worse, many viruses thrive in colder air. For instance, the flu and cold viruses are stronger and more infective in the winter than in the summer.†
There are some nutrients that are really key for our immune system. The problem is that there are seasonal variations in the levels of these nutrients in our body.†
These nutrients are key for the immune system to be able to fight off an infection and to survive an infection. They are Vitamin C, Vitamin D and zinc. There are seasonal variations in the body’s levels of zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D. Just when you need them the most to fight the infections that are more common in the winter, the level of these nutrients are declining. This means that there’s less to go around in the blood plasma in the fall and winter months and this is very bad news for immunity.†
IMMUNE BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C, ZINC & VITAMIN D – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 118. Listen Now>>
Zinc is needed in a number of ways for the immune system. This mineral is poisonous to viruses. Secondly, zinc is needed to create immune cells, as well as antibodies. Taking zinc in the winter is a very good strategy for helping to achieve optimal immune system function. I would shoot for about 30mg a day to help shoot up your zinc level.†
Just like zinc, our level of Vitamin C declines in the winter. Vitamin C is required for chemotaxis and respiratory burst, which are really important activities for your immune system. This occurs early on when someone sneezes on you with an infection. Chemotaxis is the ability of your immune cells to travel to the site of the infection.†
What about Vitamin D? You’re never going to get enough Vitamin D from your food. You can get some Vitamin D by getting sun exposure, but there’s not a lot of sun in the winter. Plus, you’re covered up, so you really need to take a supplement. You need Vitamin D to help fight cancer, infections and other foreign cells. Generally, take 2000 units of Vitamin D3 a day. Research shows that taking Vitamin D every day works better than one huge dose once a week or once a month.†
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph., discusses how the body can be more prone to infection during the fall and winter months. He focuses on three main nutrients that the body needs to protect itself and explains how these nutrients are impacted by the cold weather. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this podcast, coming soon.†
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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.
It’s back to school season, which means it’s time to turn to make sure your children are getting the nutrients they need to keep their immune systems active.
Overindulging in alcohol can negatively impact your immune system, leaving you at risk for developing colds, viruses or worse. Learn about how alcohol can suppress immune responses from Amanda Williams, MPH.
microbiome
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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You’ve probably heard a lot about gut health, digestive health and the microbiome, but what does this really mean? Today, we’re going to discuss what the microbiome is, what it does, why it is so important for our overall health and what you can be doing to make sure you are maintaining your gut microbiome.†
THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS: THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR GUT AND BRAIN, PART 1 – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 175. Listen Now>>
In recent years, there has been an influx of studies looking at different bacterias and how they can impact our health, either in a negative way or a positive way. The microbiome is basically this environment for or community of these microbes or bacteria that live within the human body. This is located predominantly in the intestines. There are hundreds of different strains of bacteria that exist within the individual human microbiome environment.†
The amount and type of bacteria present in the microbiome can vary from one person to the next. There are common bacteria that can be found in all people, but we can sometimes have a lot more of one and not enough of another.†
There are different factors that can impact or disturb the normal homeostasis of the microbiome. This can include how you’re born, dietary patterns, hormones and use of antibiotics.†
The good bacteria located in the microbiome are needed to help maintain our immune system. An imbalance in these bacteria can lead to seasonal allergies, obesity, mood issues and more.†
Since the microbiome is so important to the health of our entire body, it is imperative that we help support and maintain its health. We can help promote the health of our good bacteria by eating a diet that is rich in high-fiber foods, such as the Mediterranean diet. We also want to make sure that we have adequate omega-3 fatty acids.†
We also want to utilize a probiotic supplement. Studies have shown that there are certain bacterial strains that can help promote digestive health, cardiovascular health, skin health, respiratory health and immune health. A good quality probiotic supplement such as our Probiotic HxⓇ offers multiple strains of these good bacteria to help support various systems within the body. This can help to enhance the health of our airways, digestive tract, skin, ears, eyes and more, as each of these have their own unique microbial ecosystems that rely on good bacteria to function properly.†
CLINICALLY STUDIED STRAINS OF BACTERIA TO SUPPORT OVERALL HEALTH – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 288. Listen Now>>
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH explains what the microbiome actually is and why it is so important for your overall health. She details the various functions of the microbiome and also offers recommendations for how to ensure your good bacteria are working to the best of their ability.†
Key Topics:
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.
