Lockdowns Ending - How to Stay Healthy
Now that the lockdowns related to the Covid 19 virus are coming to an end, it is a good idea to make sure your health and immunity is at an all-time high. There are some simple things you can do to boost your immunity in these uncertain times...
Get Enough Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an immune booster and you can get plenty just by spending some time in the sun each day! I recommend sunbathing and working up to about 15-20 minutes of sun exposure on each side of your body daily. The good news, this is free! The bad news, if you have had problems with skin cancer or if you are taking certain medications, this option may not be available to you. Instead, you can take supplements. I recommend 2,000 IU/day as a basic dose. The best thing you can do is have a vitamin D test to then decide on the best dosage depending on whether you have high levels of vitamin D, moderate levels or are vitamin D deficient.
Eat healthy
What on earth does that mean now anyway? Well, be very moderate in your sugar intake. After a person takes in a large dose of refined sugar, their immune system drops to a very low level of function for 4-8 hours while their body is busy processing those carbohydrates.
Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit. It's important to keep the fruit at a somewhat low level if you are suffering from diabetes and your glucose numbers are not under good control.
Don't forget sufficient amounts of protein! Your immune system is basically a protein system, and your body is constantly building new immune cells that are made from, you guessed it, protein. Now notice, I did not say you needed a high protein diet. Moderate is fine - just make sure you're getting enough. If you are not sure what the balance of nutrients should be in your diet, let’s have a consultation and discuss your health and concerns so that we can help design a dietary program that should support you at your very best.
Take Nutritional Supplements
We already talked a bit about Vitamin D above, so what else should you be making a daily habit? I like to recommend digestive enzymes, Zinc and an herbal supplement called Berberine.
Your immune system is an enzyme system. Enzymes are protein particles which help break down substances in your body. While your body actually produces enzymes, you can also additionally take them for their immune boosting properties. For this particular function, I recommend as a basic minimum proteolytic enzymes (also called proteases. In English these are simply "enzymes that break down proteins") for their immune boosting activity. We have a product called TRMA in the office that does a very good job in this regard. Proteases have also been found to reduce inflammation in your body.
I also recommend taking lipase ( enzymes that break down fats) and amylase/carbohydrase/disaccharidases (enzymes that break down sugars and starches.) Our product that has an abundance of these is called VSCLR. Taking TRMA and VSCLR together should have a very positive immune-boosting effect for you.
What about zinc supplements? Zinc has been shown to slow and interfere with the replication of virus particles in your body and can reduce the severity and length of symptoms in the event of getting a virus. That's important with new variants of the coronavirus coming into play in recent news.
Finally let's talk about Berberine. If you're a current patient of mine you may be very familiar with this supplement. Berberine is an herbal supplement that has been shown to have antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is also effective in lowering blood glucose - so don’t overdo it!
Get Chiropractic Adjustments
Did you know chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost immunity? A study by Dr. Ronald Pero at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute in 1989 showed a dramatic increase in immune function in people who received consistent Chiropractic adjustments. The key is consistency. I'll be speaking more about the immunity benefits of chiropractic care in my next newsletter, so stay tuned!
Anything Else?
Just some other simple basics: get outside a bit each day, get some exercise each day (even a gentle walk stimulates circulation and supports a better nutritional status), avoid toxic people, focus on gratitude and find reasons to smile - which shouldn't be too hard with our newfound freedoms. As always we wish you nothing but the best in health and wellness. For any clarification, questions you have on this article or to book your next appointment please reach out.
