These are crazy times. In a matter of just a few months, the world has been completely turned upside down. But we don’t have to live in constant fear of this virus. We do, however, need to make our health our first priority. In the following guide, we’ll go over how to boost your immune system for COVID-19 and for a healthy life in general.

COVID-19: What is it?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease which is caused by a recently-discovered coronavirus. It was first found in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

Coronaviruses are RNA viruses which typically result in respiratory infections that can cause flu-like symptoms. There are hundreds of coronaviruses in total. Aside from COVID-19, other well-known ones include SARS and MERS.

In regards to COVID-19 in particular, suspicion is mounting that it may be a manmade virus that accidentally leaked from a laboratory. But regardless of who’s responsible, the fact is that it’s all over the world right now. We simply have no choice but to deal with it.

Common Symptoms

The common symptoms of COVID-19 include a dry cough, achiness, shortness of breath and fever. But the severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. In more severe cases, people may develop pneumonia. And regardless of severity, many of those infected have reported a loss of taste and smell.

It can take up to two weeks before any symptoms develop, which is why many people are unaware they have it. And oftentimes, no symptoms end up developing at all!

While this is, of course, a good thing, asymptomatic people can still spread the virus. That’s why we need to be extra mindful at all times these days – especially when around those who could be especially vulnerable to the virus.

Who’s Vulnerable?

Generally speaking, those most at risk from COVID-19 are people who are most at risk from other diseases: the elderly, the obese and the immunocompromised.

But there are also reports in the media that more and more people in their 20’s and 30’s are succumbing to this virus. These people are often described as “healthy,” but perhaps we should take such reports with a grain of salt.

Someone who eats nothing but processed foods, for example, will likely be labelled as “healthy” provided they have yet to develop cancer or diabetes. But could we call a heavy smoker healthy just because he or she is currently cancer-free?

It seems as if the Wuhan virus acts as a catalyst for potential health complications that were bound to arise eventually. This pandemic, then, should serve as a wakeup call for all of us to straighten out our diets and daily habits.

The good news is that the virus is likely less lethal than originally thought. More and more municipalities are randomly testing asymptomatic people, discovering that scores have caught the virus without getting ill whatsoever.

At the time of writing, the death rate is estimated to be around 5%. But given the lack of testing, it’s surely much lower than that in reality.

Are There Any Known Cures or Remedies?

At the moment, no. There is no cure and it doesn’t seem like there will be one in the near future.

Furthermore, the ‘cure’ could potentially be a major concern in and of itself. Are we really supposed to believe that a vaccine made by Bill Gates, an individual with 500,000 shares in Monsanto, is going to save the world?

At the time of writing, drug companies are rushing to create something that could alleviate symptoms in critical cases. An already existing antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, in particular, has shown some promise. But it also comes with plenty of side effects.

Furthermore, COVID-19 may be constantly mutating and there are probably already multiple strains. A vaccine may only work out in the very short term. Sadly, it’s probable that the Wuhan virus is here to stay.

At this point, the only reasonable and realistic solution is one that we all should’ve been doing already: eating healthy and getting enough sleep to boost our immune systems naturally.

How to Boost Your Immune System for COVID-19

None of the tips listed below are special magic tricks. When it comes to getting healthy and boosting the immune system, there’s no easy way out.

Be wary of those pushing ‘cure-all’ products, or those claiming that consuming one particular thing can save you from COVID-19. While garlic, for example, is known to be an antiviral, do not expect it to do anything for you if you’re smoking, drinking, eating junk food and getting inadequate sleep.

In order to fully boost your immune system for COVID-19, it’s vital to take a holistic approach. You need to be eating healthy AND getting enough sleep AND getting enough exercise.

But also note that boosting the immune system is not a substitute for social distancing and basic hygiene. We recommend taking all the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and repeated hand-washing. You should be doing these things not just for yourself but to prevent the virus from spreading to others.

Stop Doing THIS:

This is a stressful time for all of us. Not only is there a virus to worry about, but millions of people have lost their jobs. And even for those who are still doing OK, there’s just so much uncertainty about the future.

In stressful situations, people tend to drink lots of alcohol and eat comfort foods. But while the occasional drink or snack may be OK, now is NOT the time for indulgence. Now, more than ever, is the time to prioritize your health.

Be sure to avoid refined carbohydrates like added sugars, cake, cookies, chips and white bread. Such foods are simply not easy on the immune system, and they may tamper with the body’s natural ability to absorb important minerals. Furthermore, these foods can often become addicting.

If you have a sweet tooth, learn more here about some healthy alternatives to both sugar and artificial sweeteners. And for those struggling to handle their anxiety, meditation or yoga are much healthier alternatives to drinking.

While you shouldn’t be living in constant fear, it would be wise to eat and live as if catching this virus at some point is an inevitability. In other words, you want to be preparing your body for war.

Vital Nutrients for Boosting the Immune System

Below we’ll go over some vital nutrients that you should be including in your diet. Broadly speaking, you want to eat lots of colorful fruits and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and various minerals.

Many people are struggling financially at the moment, so you may find this guide for eating healthy on a budget helpful.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is known to strengthen the immune system and make the body less prone to getting infections. It not only stimulates white blood cells, but it also aids in the absorption of other beneficial nutrients and compounds.

Generally, people should be consuming at least 90mg of vitamin C on a daily basis. But this is the recommended lower limit of vitamin C consumption. To keep the common cold at bay, at least 200mg is recommended.

Furthermore, to experience the antioxidant effects of the vitamin, one can consume 200-1,000mg daily for as long as it takes to get the desired results.

Some of the best sources of vitamin C include oranges (82mg per fruit), red peppers (95mg per half cup), kale (80mg per cup) and broccoli (51mg per half cup). Other excellent sources are lemons, grapefruits and strawberries, just to name a few.

When supplementing with vitamin C, you generally want to look out for what are known as liposomal supplements. Liposomal technology allows the antioxidants to travel directly to the target areas – especially beneficial for those using vitamin C to fight off disease.

Learn more about supplementation options here.

Zinc

Zinc is a crucial mineral that plays a role in over 300 enzyme reactions within our bodies. It’s vital for a healthy and balanced immune system, while the mineral also works as an anti-inflammatory.

But zinc is not fat-soluble, so we need to be sure that we’re getting enough of it in our diets, or at least through supplementation.

Fortunately, the daily recommended dose is not a whole lot. It’s between 11 and 40mg for men, or between 8 and 40mg for women.

Some of the best natural sources of zinc include oysters (30mg per six oysters), pumpkin seeds (1 cup for the full RDA) and chickpeas (2.5mg per cup).

Learn more about the different varieties of zinc supplements, along with which variety is best for you, right here.

Vitamin D

When your immune system needs a boost, vitamin D can be a powerful warrior. The vitamin can influence thousands of genes and produce over two hundred antimicrobial peptides. It’s an amazing form of protection from a wide variety of viruses and infections.

Furthermore, vitamin D can also help fight against nasty autoimmune diseases. Adequate levels of vitamin D encourage the production of regulatory T cells which help the immune system remember who it’s supposed to be fighting.

And vitamin D has been shown to have positive effects on our mental wellbeing. It affects the neurotransmitter serotonin (the brain’s natural mood regulator), which helps in overcoming certain mood disorders.

The best way to get adequate vitamin D is by simply spending more time out in the sun. But due to current quarantine restrictions, this may not be possible or even advisable for everyone right now (more below).

When it comes to supplementation, go for vitamin D3, vitamin D’s naturally occurring form. Also known as cholecalciferol, this is also the type of vitamin D that’s going to help your bones and aid in many other biological functions.

Many government agencies recommend daily amounts in the 400 – 800 IU range. However, some vitamin D advocates argue that we should be getting up to 5,000 IU’s of vitamin D daily.

Some of the best natural vitamin D sources include fatty fish like salmon, sardines, tuna and herring. Unfortunately, vegans are out of luck, as mushrooms are pretty much the only vitamin D source that doesn’t come from an animal.

Probiotics

About 80% of our immune system is found in the gut. Scientists have even noted what can only be described as “crosstalk” between gut bacteria and the immune system, which is why intestinal health is considered so important to our overall wellbeing.

Every single human being hosts an estimated 40 trillion bacteria in their body, the majority of which can be found in the intestines. And the best way to increase the number of good bacteria in your body is to consume more probiotics.

Some great probiotics are fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, coconut kefir and pickles. Dairy options, meanwhile, include yogurt, cheese and kefir.

But if you’re not a fan of fermented foods, you can also consider probiotic supplementation. Look for supplements with the following bacteria: L. acidophilus, which aids in digestion, B. longum, a powerful antioxidant, and B. bifidum, which helps with the breakdown of carbohydrates and dairy.

When shopping for probiotic supplements, make sure they contain living and not dead bacteria. Also, look out for an expiration date on the label. If you don’t see an expiration date at all, put it back on the shelf.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is vital to a healthy immune system. Furthermore, it can even help protect the skin against viruses and harmful bacteria. And the vitamin can even help the body better absorb zinc.

You can get vitamin A in the form of retinol from eggs, seafood and meat. Beta-carotene, meanwhile, is the precursor to vitamin A that’s common among fruits and vegetables (especially the yellow and orange variety). These include carrots, sweet potatoes and squash.

Men should try to get around 10,800 mcg of beta-carotene per day, while women should aim for at least 8400 mcg.

Taking vitamin A as retinol in the form of supplements comes with a number of potential side effects. Beta-carotene, on the other hand, is water-soluble, and you don’t need to worry about consuming too much. Therefore, consuming beta-carotene from a natural source and allowing your body to make its own vitamin A is a much better alternative.

Even More

Some other things to include in your diet include omega-3 fatty acids, as these promote white blood cells and a healthy immune system.

And in general, foods that are high in antioxidants will greatly boost your immune system for COVID-19. Most fruits, berries and leafy greens are rich in antioxidants and will help your body fight against harmful free radicals.

Overall, eat lighter foods to ease the stress on the digestive system. The body uses a tremendous amount of energy and resources on digestion. And an overworked digestive system prevents it from fully focusing on fighting off disease. Intermittent fasting is another method to consider.

Herbs & COVID-19

As there’s still so much we don’t know about the Wuhan virus, experts still aren’t sure what role herbs play when it comes to boosting your immune system for COVID-19.

For example, while we know that herbs like echinacea are great for strengthening one’s immune system in general, it may not be a good idea to take it after you’ve contracted the virus. The reason is that echinacea and similar herbs could further stimulate an inflammatory response and possibly overwork the immune system.

Thankfully, Dr. Weil has provided a list of herbs he considers safe to take both before and after infection. One of them is garlic, which has both antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Dr. Weil recommends consuming two cloves of raw garlic which you can either swallow whole or chop up and eat with other food. Sure, the garlic will make your breath stink, but that’s all the more reason to social distance!

Dr. Weil also recommends green tea, which is a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Lifestyle Tips

As mentioned above, in order to boost your immune system for COVID-19, you have to approach your health holistically. Eating right, of course, is one of the best things you can do. But there are also some other healthy habits you should start implementing today.

Exercise

Most of us aware that regular exercise is vital for a healthy body and mind. But how is one supposed to keep fit when all the gyms are closed, and when there are even restrictions on going outside?

Obviously, if you own some basic gym equipment, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Sadly, most people do not. But that’s no excuse for being completely sedentary during lockdown.

You can do pushups and situps just about anywhere. Furthermore, resistance bands are a great way to keep your muscles active when you don’t have access to regular weights. If you don’t own any, they can easily be ordered online.

Some people may be completely restricted from, or just weary about, running outside at this time. If you want to get some cardio training done with limited space, try shadow boxing in front of a mirror.

And this would also be a great time to take up yoga.

Get Some Sun

Natural sunlight is a vital source of vitamin D (see above) and it also enhances the mood. But in some countries, people are currently barred from going outside at all.

But it’s important to try and get some exposure to natural sunlight in any way that you can. Take walks when you’re allowed, or sit out on a balcony if you have one. Thankfully, the weather is getting warmer and nicer throughout much of the world.

Get Enough Sleep

You could eat right, exercise often and do your best to avoid harmful chemicals. But how healthy are you if you can’t get a good night’s sleep? To put it simply, if you’re not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, you’re not living up to your full potential.

When in a deep, restful sleep, our bodies balance hormones, heal injuries and repair damaged tissue. And most doctors recommend 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

With many people working from home, and without the typical daily commute, what better time to prioritize a good night’s rest?

Meditate

Daily meditation is greatly beneficial for easing anxiety and helping people stay sane in their current lockdown situations.

But of course, your neighbors are in the same quarantine situation as you are, and your building might be a lot noisier than normal. Try to find a quiet room to meditate in, or at least choose a time when your place tends to be quietest.

There are many different ways to meditate, and beginners often complain of too many thoughts rushing through their minds. But that’s OK. Over the long term, you’ll likely find that simply spending time each day alone with your thoughts can be greatly beneficial. Simply try to observe your thoughts without judging them.

Try to meditate for around 15-20 minutes a day if you can. If possible, try multiple sessions. But if it’s really hard in the beginning, start by just doing 5 minutes a day and then gradually working your way up.

What if You Start Experiencing Symptoms?

Dr. C. Norman Shealy recommends finding a holistic physician in your area in advance. That way, if you suddenly start experiencing symptoms, you’ll know who to call.

You generally do not want to visit a hospital unless your condition is critical. The virus is spreading rapidly throughout hospitals at the moment, and it’s one of the riskiest places to be.

While there’s still a lot of research to be done, Dr. Shealy suggests that vitamin therapy, or the intravenous injection of high amounts of vitamins, could be effective at curing this virus. Obviously, you don’t want to try this at home, so be sure to seek out a qualified professional.

Whether it works or not, the treatment has much fewer side effects than many of the prescription meds currently being experimented with.

Conclusion

There are many things that we cannot control right now. Governments are constantly coming up with new measures to contain the virus, implementing their plans with hardly any notice. And as hard as you may be trying to social distance or isolate, you can’t expect everyone else in your city to be doing the same.

It can be frustrating, for sure, but there’s not much use in getting too stressed out about things we can’t control. One thing that IS under our control, however, is our health. That’s why it’s vital to use this time to boost your immune system for COVID-19.

The post Boost Your Immune System for COVID-19 appeared first on Holistic Health for Life.

What Happens When the Body Lacks Enough Vitamin C?

A vitamin C deficiency manifests itself in a number of ways. The most common symptoms of deficiency include general body fatigue, bleeding gums, muscle and joint aches, weakness around the joints and rashes on the legs [1]. In severe cases, one may even experience scurvy, suffering from such symptoms as swelling, anemia, gum ulceration and the loss of teeth [3], [7].

Of course, just because you aren’t experiencing any of these symptoms doesn’t mean that you probably couldn’t use a little more vitamin C! Luckily, as we’ll go into further below, many of the best natural sources of vitamin C happen to be some of the most delicious foods on the planet.

The Main Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C’s key benefits can be categorized as preventative, curative, or enhancive in respect to the various ways our bodies benefit from it.

A regular intake of sufficient amounts of vitamin C can enhance our overall health significantly. It can improve:

Mood – When consumed, vitamin C triggers the production of norepinephrine which, in addition to its mood enhancive properties, is vital to the brain’s proper functioning [2].

Asthma – Vitamin C is said to “absorb” symptoms of asthma by improving how the body reacts to pollutants that may trigger an asthmatic attack.

Immunity – Vitamin C is known to consolidate the body’s immune system, thereby making it less prone to getting infections. It achieves this by stimulating the white blood cells [2], [3].

Vitamin C helps in the prevention of:

Heart disease – Taking enough vitamin C can help lower the blood pressure of people suffering from HBP, thereby reducing the risk of developing hypertension or a number of other dangerous cardiovascular problems. It also eradicates free radicals which have been linked to various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis [9].

Scurvy – Historically, this vitamin C deficiency mostly affected sailors who often spent long periods of time away from the land without sufficient sources of vitamin C on board. Although significantly less common these days, scurvy still affects people who are malnourished, allergic to foods rich in vitamin C, alcoholics, and people whose diets do not consist of enough leafy vegetables and fruits. Symptoms of this deficiency disease may include diarrhea, fever, hemorrhaging, loss of appetite, and unhealthy weight loss [3], [7].

Other than its preventative benefits, vitamin C is also known to be useful in the treatment of:

Open wounds – Vitamin C’s antioxidant qualities make it essential in the production of collagen at a cellular level and consequently in the repair of damaged muscle and connective tissue. It therefore shortens the time it takes for our bodies to recover from open wounds [3].

Flu (common cold) – Pathogens such as the influenza virus can be fought off using food sources rich in vitamin C [2].

Vasodilation – Vitamin C has been touted to be just as beneficial to heart health as walking. It treats vasodilation, a condition characterized by the dilation of blood vessels which leads to low blood pressure, and keeps the vascular network relaxed to avoid any constrictions [10].

Lead toxicity – Research has shown that low levels of vitamin C in the body can directly be linked to high lead levels in the blood. The intake of lead, a highly toxic metal, into our bodies can be prevented by vitamin C at a cellular level [6].

Cataracts – The formation of cataracts in the eyes of the elderly has been linked to a significant vitamin C deficiency. Taking supplements that contain ascorbic acid can help correct this disorder.

Diabetes – Vitamin C supplements can be used in the treatment of diabetes. Ascorbic acid assists insulin to process sugars better, making it a viable cure for diabetes, according to studies [2].

Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of other beneficial nutrients and compounds. Here are just a few examples:

Green tea –  Vitamin C triggers the increased absorption of catechins (the antioxidants found in green tea) by up to five times!

Echinacea – Vitamin C combined with the immune-boosting herb echinacea can reduce the odds of catching a cold by up to 86 percent.

Iron – Vitamin C can also increase the absorption rate of iron (of which 80% of the world is deficient) by up to five times.

How Much You Need

The recommended amounts of vitamin C to be consumed on a daily basis vary based on age, sex, and health status of an individual:

• Healthy people should consume at least 90mg of vitamin C (75mg for women) on a daily basis. This is the recommended lower limit of vitamin C consumption. 200mg is often enough for keeping the common cold at bay [5].
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consume at least 120mg daily.
• Cigarette smokers should consume not less than 125mg (105mg for women) daily.
• For the treatment of scurvy, 100-250mg of vitamin C should be administered orally for at least four days.
• To experience the antioxidant effects of the vitamin, one can consume 200-1,000mg daily for as long as it takes to get the desired results.
• In cancer prevention and treatment, the recommended dosage is between 120mg and 2,000mg taken orally in the form of supplements for up to 8 years.

A word of caution: Consuming more than 2,000mg of vitamin C on a daily basis may lead to side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and gastric distress [1]. Supplementation may also cause an adverse reaction when taken together with anticoagulant medications.

As we’ll go over below, getting vitamin C through natural sources is always best. That’s the way intended by nature, and vitamin C in fruits and vegetables come combined with other vital nutrients and compounds in the perfect and balanced package. Supplementation, however, is recommended if you don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables or need to take a very specific amount of the nutrient.

The Best Natural Sources of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be found in many different plant-based foods. Here are just a few examples of where you can find it:

1. Oranges – One large orange contains an average of 82mg of vitamin C.
2. Red peppers – Half a cup of chopped red peppers has even more of the vitamin than the average orange fruit does: 95mg.
3. Guava – One average-sized guava fruit has about 125mg of vitamin C.
4. Kale – A cup of this green leafy vegetable will provide you with about 80mg.
5. Kiwi Fruit – A relatively small piece of kiwi fruit will give you 64mg of the nutrient.
6. Green peppers – Half a cup of chopped green peppers contains 60mg.
7. Broccoli – Consuming half a cup of cooked broccoli gives your body about 51mg of vitamin C.
8. Brussels sprouts – On the other hand, eating half a cup of these green vegetables provides you with about 48mg [3], [4].

Other excellent sources are lemons, grapefruit and strawberries, just to name a few.

Choosing The Best Vitamin C Supplement For You

Vitamin C vs Ascorbic Acid

Before trying to determine what the “best” vitamin C supplement for you might be, it’s important to note that vitamin C in supplement form is not even real vitamin C. Instead, it’s a compound known as ascorbic acid. And contrary to popular belief, vitamin C and ascorbic acid are not entirely one and the same thing.

As extracting ascorbic acid from organic sources can be costly, most ascorbic acid products are entirely created by scientists in a lab. This is done by combining hydrochloric acid and corn syrup, which is often sourced from GMO corn. (11)

Furthermore, isolated or synthesized ascorbic acid is simply not as effective as it is when found organically as part of a larger whole. On top of that, long-term consumption of ascorbic acid has been shown to cause health issues like arterial plaque buildup or the appearance of gallstones. (12)

There are vitamin C supplements on the market which are not ascorbic acid and which are labelled as “natural.” However, the fruits (often cherries) used to make these formulas undergo much processing and are also exposed to oxidation. As a result, they’re not going to be great vitamin C sources, as the vitamin should ideally be derived from fresh, ripe fruit that you cut open just before consuming. (13)

With all that taken into consideration, you might as well take the ascorbic acid variety of vitamin C supplements when you simply have no other option.

(As a side note, it’s not just supplements that contain ascorbic acid, but seemingly “natural” food products as well. Juice, apple sauce or other products might contain added ascorbic acid in addition to their natural amount of vitamin C. The food companies do this to artificially boost that product’s “vitamin C” content in an attempt to dupe consumers.)

A Quick Vitamin C (or Ascorbic Acid) Supplement Checklist

When supplementing with vitamin C, you generally want to look out for what are known as liposomal supplements. Liposomal vitamin C supplements are touted as superior because they have better absorption rates.

The technology allows the antioxidants to travel directly to the target areas, which is especially beneficial for those using vitamin C to fight off disease. And supposedly, they also come with less of the GI distress side-effects commonly associated with high amounts of regular vitamin C supplements.

*Note: these supplements may also be branded as “lypo-spheric”

You should also make sure that the ascorbic acid is non-GMO. As mentioned above, much of the corn syrup used to create ascorbic acid comes from GMO corn. If the label doesn’t explicitly mention ‘non-GMO,’ it’s probably GMO.

And lastly, you generally want to look out for supplements that are soy free. This is because of all the hormone-disrupting compounds associated with soy. If the supplement is sourced in the US, the soy is also likely GMO. (14)

Now let’s check out a few vitamin C supplements which meet these requirements:

Vitamin C Capsules

• Here is a liposomal vitamin C formula developed by Dr. Mercola. It ticks all the boxes in the checklist, and it’s relatively affordable compared with similar products.
• Here is another highly reviewed product by Core Med Science that is also liposomal, GMO and soy free.
• This product may not be liposomal, but it is at least GMO free as well as soy free. You might be more likely to find this brand, Doctor’s Best, in your average supermarket.

Vitamin C Powder

The advantage of vitamin C powder over other forms is that it has a longer shelf life and can easily be mixed with whatever beverage you’re drinking. Furthermore, with vitamin C powder, you’re able to take as much or as little as you need. This is in contrast with other forms, which always have a predetermined minimum dosage.

If you live in a colder or seasonal climate and have difficulty getting access to vitamin C-rich fruits in the winter, vitamin C powder could be a great alternative. As mentioned above, vitamin C greatly enhances the efficacy of green tea and a variety of herbs, so you could try adding the powder to a warm herbal tea on a cold night.

• This vitamin C powder by LipoNaturals has all the qualities you want to look out for when shopping for ascorbic acid. It also markets itself as “Chinese ingredient free.” While perhaps an unfair generalization of such a large country, there have been numerous problems with Chinese-sourced supplements in the past.
• This product by LivOn appears to be more of a gooey formula than a powder. However, you still get the freedom of being able to add it to any beverage you like as with powder. It is liposomal (lypo-spheric) and 100% non-GMO.

Vitamin C IV’s?

Yes, some people even take vitamin C intravenously. However, this is only really necessary in extreme cases. People suffering from deficiency-related diseases or recovering addicts, for example, may benefit from this method. Take a look at this article to learn more.

Conclusion

It’s no wonder why a food’s high vitamin C content is often the first thing people mention when talking about its nutritional content. As shown by the facts listed above, vitamin C is an extremely important nutrient that’s very difficult to get too much of. On top of that, it works well with so many other nutrients and even compounds from medicinal herbs. So grab an orange or squeeze some lemon juice, and relax thinking about all the good you’ve just done your body!

Sources

1. https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/vitamins/vitamin-c-benefits/

2. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vitamins/health-benefits-of-vitamin-c-or-ascorbic-acid.html

3. https://draxe.com/top-10-vitamin-c-foods/

4. https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20745689,00.html

5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/vitamin-c/dosing/hrb-20060322

6. https://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n2/lanv10n2-2.html

7. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155758.php

8. https://smartypantsvitamins.com/vitamin-c-natural-vs-synthetic/

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12566961

10. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/09/21/vitamin-c-heart-health.aspx

11. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/beware-of-ascorbic-acid-synthetic/

12. https://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/whats_wrong_with_ascorbic_acid

13. https://www.healthaid.co.uk/healthaid-blog/truth-about-vitamin-c-supplements

14. https://products.mercola.com/vitamin-c/

The post Vitamin C: An Essential Nutrient for a Healthy Body appeared first on Holistic Health for Life.

Multiple Ways to Take Your Vitamins

Most people grew up hearing that they should take their vitamins. These essential nutrients contribute in countless ways to an individual’s overall health. Everything from metabolism to circulation relies on nutrient absorption. Health benefits include a stronger immune system, faster healing wounds, and clear, healthy skin.

While it is usually always best to consume your vitamins in food form (by way of eating nutritious and well-balanced meals), taking vitamin supplements or undergoing vitamin therapy may be ideal for your lifestyle. For example, having limited accessibility to certain nutrients in your culture’s diet may mean that taking the vitamins in pill form is better than none.

Intravenous vitamin therapy is an increasingly popular health application, and involves delivering vitamins and minerals to the bloodstream through an IV drip. It is used to treat conditions like cancer, high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, and even jetlag. Physicians try to formulate a personalized blend to improve energy, boost immunity and fight insomnia.

What Exactly Is Vitamin Therapy?

Vitamin therapy, or vitamin infusions, is gaining popularity in the media, and is beloved by many celebrities. Some individuals call it a “hangover cure” and use a vitamin-infused drip directly into their veins the day after a long night of drinking. Because the nutrients from the vitamins are sent directly into one’s bloodstream, the effects can take place faster than if one ingested the vitamins through their gastrointestinal tract.

Physicians prescribe vitamin therapy to treat a wide range of diseases by rapidly replacing key nutrients in the body. Vitamin therapy may be used during times the body requires additional nutrients, like pregnancy and breast feeding.

Who Are Candidates for IV Vitamin Therapy?

While many celebrities have touted the benefits of intravenous vitamin therapy, it’s definitely not a procedure that should be prescribed carelessly. The benefits of vitamins can easily be obtained by proper nutrition, or taking supplements in pill or capsule form. While the ingestion of vitamins via these methods are slow acting, they are simply more convenient for the everyday individual. After all, proper IV therapy requires the use of a trained professional who can expertly handle needles without harming the patient, and it’s much easier to go into a grocery store and shop for vitamin-enriched foods than it is to make a doctor’s appointment and schedule a vitamin drip.

That being said, there are certain candidates for which undergoing an IV vitamin therapy procedure would be especially advantageous.

• Individuals who are sick and already take dozens of medications for their illness daily may want to cut down the number of pills by using a vitamin-enriched IV drip, so they do not need to ingest vitamin supplements alongside their medication.
• Those suffering from substance abuse withdrawals may find faster relief from IV vitamin therapy.
• Individuals who suffer from issues with digestion and/or their gastrointestinal tract, and need an alternative method for absorbing nutrients.
• Magnesium treatment has been shown to be helpful for those suffering from severe acute asthma.

The majority of the population can and will benefit by taking vitamins daily, and it is definitely more convenient and recommended to take them the old fashioned way – that is, by adopting a well-balanced diet full of nutritious and healthy meals. It is no secret that vitamins are known to help your body with the tools it needs to combat illnesses and stay healthy.

Are Vitamins Good Medicine?

Your body is continually renewing itself. Bone is living tissue that continually rebuilds. Your skin produces fresh cells and sheds the old ones. Blood cells serve out their lifetime and die, to be replaced by new ones that nourish nerves, tissues and organs. Hormone and neurochemical production are also ongoing processes.

In order to constantly create these new materials, your body needs basic nutritional building blocks. There are at least 30 vitamins and minerals your body cannot make on its own, and must receive from an outside source.

Doctors recognize the benefits of vitamins and anti-oxidants for a wide range of diseases, either in conjunction with other treatment or on their own.

Ailments Treated

When individuals have a nutritional deficiency, the lack of micronutrients often results in disease. Primary vitamin deficiencies occur when people don’t get the necessary nutrients from their diet, and must be treated by supplements or making dietary changes.

Secondary deficiencies result from either disease or lifestyle choices. For example, smoking robs the body of vitamin C, so even if they consume the daily requirement, smokers can become deficient. People who spend all their time indoors may not absorb enough sunlight to produce vitamin D, a nutrient necessary for calcium absorption.

Low fat diets make it harder for the body to absorb vitamin E. Alcohol consumption affects folic acid levels and can result in anemia. Certain medications and antibiotics can also keep the body from absorbing nutrients. Left untreated, vitamin deficiency can result in serious disease. Here are four of the most common:

• Scurvy – Vitamin C deficiency results in tooth loss, dental decay, slowly healing wounds and fatigue. Left untreated, scurvy can be fatal.

• Rickets – The United States began fortifying milk with vitamin D in the 1930s because the lack of this critical nutrient resulted in soft, weak bones, skeletal deformities and fractures.

• Beriberi – When the body lacks vitamin B1, the resulting nerve and brain dysfunction causes numbness, memory loss, troubled respiration, confusion and difficulty speaking. Heavy drinking can exacerbate problems in those who are deficient.

• Pellagra – Malnutrition creates severe deficiencies that cause the appearance of red, blotchy spots all over the body along with constipation, vomiting and mouth sores.

Vitamin therapy is often helpful for people recovering from the effects of alcohol and dehydration, because it addresses the damage alcohol has done to body systems and helps restore balance. It can help with the anxiety, depression and dehydration that often occur during detox.

Essential Nutrients

Some of the most important vitamins are water-soluble. They are contained in food and absorbed into the bloodstream as the body digests meals or supplements. Because much of your body is water, these vitamins circulate easily throughout, and then your body releases what it doesn’t use in waste. Because they are continually shed, they must be continually replaced. Most vitamins only stay in the body a few days. These vitamins are water soluble:

• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
• Folic Acid
• Niacin
• Pantothenic acid
• Riboflavin
• Thiamin
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C

Fat soluble vitamins enter the blood through your lymphatic system and can only be absorbed in the intestines. Vitamins A, D, E, and K keep your eyes, nervous, skeletal and digestive system functioning properly.

The body also needs a number of minerals. Magnesium helps with energy production and bone development. Calcium contributes to healthy teeth and bones. Potassium contributes to a range of body processes.

Potential Dangers and Drawbacks

While vitamins and minerals are fundamental to overall health, you can have too much of a good thing. One controversial treatment associated with IV vitamin therapy involves megavitamin therapy, in which people take doses much higher than the recommended dietary allowance. Taking too much of some nutrients can result in toxicity.

You can still take a healthy and beneficial amount of vitamins without having to undergo the vitamin transfusion process. For example, if you are eating an ample amount of nutritious and well-balanced meals regularly, you are most likely not a candidate for vitamin therapy.

Extremely high doses of vitamin C over time can cause intestinal irritation, kidney stones and interference with other mineral absorption, so injecting vitamin C should only occur under the supervision of a medical professional. A high dose of B6 can damage nerves and weaken muscles. Mega-doses of vitamin E can elevate blood fat, interfere with clotting and damage muscles.

Before individuals consider vitamin therapy to treat or prevent disease, it’s always important to consult with a doctor.

About Reflections Recovery Center

Reflections Recovery Center in Prescott, AZ helps men recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Our holistic recovery programs help in addiction treatment and assist individuals in staying sober after detox.

The post A Closer Look At Vitamin Therapy appeared first on Holistic Health for Life.