West Des Moines Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are on the news. From run-of-the-mill colds and flu to the big issue that is all over the news 24/7, infections got our interest. While a solution to “the” infection is being worked on, working to make sure that West Des Moines immune systems are at their optimum to deal with and ward off what infections it can is a worthy effort. West Des Moines chiropractic patients surely know about the beneficial aspects of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa presents 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 want prevention and treatment options whose risk of side-effects is low. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant particularly when acquired intravenously. Its likely effect is that of decreasing inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties as well. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a familiar anti-viral agent, one of the better known ones, especially when dealing with the influenza virus. Taken early on in an infection, vitamin C showed anti-viral immune responses as it raised the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is quite influential! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients states that options to reduce infection spread are in demand and states vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D reduces the risk of respiratory tract infection. How? It produces cathelicidins and defensins which can drop replication rates of viruses, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure the lining of the lungs, and increase 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 a day of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to get the 25(OH)D concentrations up initially then taking 5000 IU a day. If someone has an infection currently, higher doses of vitamin D3 may be helpful. (3) Vitamin D is quite influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is there to be influential when it comes to making recommendations for health. Much has been published in the medical literature about the importance of nutrition and the immune system’s optimal function. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate (B9) along with trace elements like zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, and selenium are key contributors also to a robust immune system that can change as needed to various threats. Deficiencies of many of these nutrients is global, leaving many unable to resist infections. Authors wrote particularly that Vitamin D deficiency added to heightened risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers noted 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 urge public health officials to add nutritional recommendations – even consuming 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 enhance public health and curb the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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 West Des Moines chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Having a strong immune system may be the best offense against infection as no one likes living with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! West Des Moines chiropractic care features nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to take care of our West Des Moines chiropractic patients, family and friends.
