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Vitamins to boost your immune system from the book ‘Total Immune Defence’ by Beran Parry | See Part One: Diets to Boost Immune System During Coronavirus Lockdown: Beran Parry
Staying indoors and out of the fresh air and sunlight can weaken our immune systems and make us prone to viral infection. Gibraltar based Holistic Wellness Therapist Beran Parry provides sensible tips in this time of Covid19 lockdown.
The following is an excerpt from Beran Parry’s latest book ‘Total Immune Defence’…
Vitamins & Supplements to Boost Your Immune System
Eating well is critical to your health and so is taking the right vitamins and supplements. During various stages of our life we all need high quality supplementation. You should always talk with your healthcare provider before you use any over-the-counter supplements.
This is especially true if you take prescription medications regularly, because some supplements or vitamins may negatively interact with each other. Some supplements may reduce or increase the side effects of prescription medications, as can some foods.
So be sure you talk to your doctor before you try any of these. That’s just being smart.
A qualified healthcare provider can also guide you by telling you how much of a vitamin or supplement you need to take to support better health or to enhance your immune system.
Below is a list of some of some of the more common supplements that are typically recommended to people for boosting the immune system.
Probiotics – Sometimes referred to as “acidophilus” or other related substances, probiotics help balance the natural flora or good bacteria that reside in the body. Often when someone takes antibiotics, the antibiotic kills off all bacteria in the body, both the beneficial and the harmful. As you may be aware, good bacteria are essential for proper digestion and the efficient elimination of toxins and waste material. Some studies suggest the use of probiotics in children and in adults may reduce digestive disease risk, improve immunity to common ailments and may even reduce the number of infectious diseases that cause fever in people that take them regularly.
Omega-3 fatty acids – a supplement containing omega-3 like fish oil or flax seed oil can improve your overall health and wellness. Essential fatty acids like this also help reduce inflammation in the body. Doctors often recommend patients with arthritis or related illnesses to take an anti-inflammatory agent like essential fatty acids.
Vitamin C – vitamin C is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get your daily serving of immune-boosting ingredients. There is much controversy in the health community about how much vitamin C constitutes enough vitamin C to protect the body. One way to gauge this is to take one tablet a day and increase your dose until you feel abdominal discomfort. However, this may not work for all people. It is best for you to speak with your healthcare professional about the proper dose of vitamin C for you, based on an objective analysis of your health and body weight.
Echinacea – this herb has been promoted as a virtual panacea for all ailments. If taken regularly when you develop cold symptoms, it may help reduce the length or severity of the condition. You can buy it as an herb or in capsule and tincture formulations. Most healthcare providers recommend you do not take this all year round, because it may lose its ability to fight disease if taken daily. If you are ill, you might consider taking it for a week and then taking a week off to see how well you do. Studies about Echinacea are controversial; some people swear by its effectiveness and others doubt it helps at all. Keep in mind that all bodies are different. If you take it and it seems to help, then use it. If you find it doesn’t, then feel free to try something else.
Goldenseal – this is a powerful herb that you should use with caution. Manufacturers note it has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It can cause digestive upset and should not be taken during pregnancy as it can promote contractions or early labour. Goldenseal is a species that is dying out, so it is important to take it when needed, and to only take as much as you need to feel well. A trained herbalist can work with you to find out what the best dose is for your body type.
Zinc – many people have zinc deficiencies which may cause fatigue and lethargy. Many cold formulas at stores now offer zinc as a primary ingredient. This is true of many tablets used to soothe a sore throat. It is sometimes difficult to get enough zinc from the food you eat so, if you are sick, you may find it helps to take a little extra zinc. Often you can find a zinc lozenge that tastes pretty good too.
If you want to learn more about the supplements and herbs that may help bolster your immune system you should consider finding a qualified natural healthcare provider or consult with an herbalist before you buy anything.
You can also ask what herbs or foods you can use to help prevent disease (like shitake mushrooms and seaweed). Some foods and supplements (including garlic) are sometimes better taken as a preventive medicine than as a cure for any illness.
Vitamins to boost your immune system from the book ‘Total Immune Defence’ by Beran Parry
NEXT: Diets to Boost Immune System During Coronavirus Lockdown: Beran Parry
Expert Nutritionist and Award-Winning Author of 40 books talks to Reach Alcance about dietary habits on the Rock and gives us a fascinating excerpt from her latest book ‘Total Immune Defence’…
