Infections are in the news. From common colds and flu to the big one that is all over the news 24/7, infections have our interest. While a resolution to “the” infection is being worked on, working to make sure that Southern New Hampshire immune systems are at their optimal level to fight and fight off what infections it can is worth the effort. Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patients certainly grasp the benefits of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. New Hampshire Spine and Sport presents their benefits to a healthy immune system and some notable medical research studies to back them up.
VITAMIN C TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
When the risk of infection is high, we all want options for prevention and treatment whose risk of side-effects is low. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant particularly when taken intravenously. Its potential effect is that of lowering inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties, too. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a recognized anti-viral agent, one of the more well known ones, especially when facing the influenza virus. Taken early on in an infection, vitamin C showed anti-viral immune responses as it increased the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is quite influential! New Hampshire Spine and Sport 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 presents 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, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure the lining of the lungs, and raise anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be useful to decrease respiratory tract infection risk. How? Researchers suggested that persons at-risk of infection ingest 10,000 IU a day of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to raise the 25(OH)D concentrations first then taking 5000 IU per day. If someone has an infection currently, 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. 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 iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium also are important contributors to a robust immune system that can adapt 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 increased risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers mentioned that vitamin D supplementation decreased the risk of such infections in kids and adults. With such information, authors of a recent review of the literature about vitamins and immunity and respiratory infections said that they strongly encourage public health officials to add nutritional recommendations – even taking 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 enrich public health and limit the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Having 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! Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care includes nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to take care of our Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patients, family and friends.