Infections are in the headlines.
From common colds and flu to the big issue
that is all over the news 24/7, infections got our interest.
While an answer to “the” infection is being sought, making sure
that La Grande immune systems are at their optimum
to fight and fight off what infections it can is a worthy effort. La Grande chiropractic patients surely
know about the beneficial aspects of
vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC shares
their benefits to a healthy immune system with
some new medical research studies to back them
up.
VITAMIN C TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
When the risk of infection is high, we
all hope for prevention
and treatment options whose risk of side-effects is small.
In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent
anti-oxidant especially when taken intravenously.
Its likely effect is that of lowering
inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties as well. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a recognized
anti-viral agent, one of the more well known ones, particularly
when facing the influenza virus. Starting it
early on in an infection, vitamin C demonstrated anti-viral immune
responses as it increased the production of the anti-viral
cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is really influential! Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients reports
that options to drop infection spread are in demand and states
vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D decreases respiratory tract infection risk. How? It makes
cathelicidins and defensins which can drop replication rates of viruses,
decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure
the lining of the lungs, and raise 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 consuming
5000 IU per day. If someone has an infection already,
higher doses of vitamin D3 may be helpful. (3) Vitamin D is really
influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is there to be influential in recommendation decision making.
A lot 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 adapt to various threats. Deficiencies of many of these nutrients
is worldwide, leaving many not capable of resisting infections. Authors wrote particularly
that Vitamin D deficiency contributed to increased
risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers noted
that vitamin D supplementation reduced 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 stated that they strongly encourage
public health officials to integrate 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 list
of guidelines to better public health and limit
the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 La Grande chiropractic appointment
with [[compayname]] today. Building a strong immune system may be the top offense against infection as no one likes living with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! La Grande
chiropractic care incorporates nutrition, exercise and
spinal manipulation to take care of our La Grande
chiropractic patients, family and friends.