Richmond Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are on the news. From common colds and flu to the larger issue that is all over the news 24/7, infections have our attention. While an answer to “the” infection is being worked on, working to ensure that Richmond immune systems are at their optimum to fight and fight off what infections it can is worth the effort. Richmond chiropractic patients certainly understand the beneficial aspects of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Johnson Chiropractic presents their advantages 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 elevated, we all want prevention and treatment options whose risk of side-effects is small. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent anti-oxidant particularly when taken intravenously. Its likely effect is that of decreasing 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 dealing with the influenza virus. Starting it 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 really influential! Johnson Chiropractic encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients reports that options to reduce infection spread are in demand and states vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D decreases the risk of respiratory tract infection. How? It makes cathelicidins and defensins which can lower replication rates of viruses, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and harm the lining of the lungs, and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be helpful to reduce 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 get the 25(OH)D concentrations up 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 meant 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 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 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 new review of the literature about vitamins and immunity and respiratory infections stated that they strongly urge public health officials to incorporate 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 restrict the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 Richmond 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! Richmond chiropractic care includes nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to care for our Richmond chiropractic patients, family and friends.
