As we focus our attention on nutrition, we asked our Nutritional Therapist for Marlow, Kristina Carman, to share her tops tips on how to easily boost our IMMUNITY through supplements and simple lifestyle changes.
- Water, water and more water! Ok not a supplement, but as our bodies are made up of oil and WATER it’s an essential one. Water is essential on a cellular level for electrolyte balance. Keeping the cells well hydrated means pathogens are less able to invade. Aim for at least 1.5L a day if you can. Stress is a big cause of dehydration, along with tea, coffee & alcohol – so keep drinking that H2O to stay hydrated & to help you fight off those nasties and support your immunity. You can also load up on fruit and veg that also hydrates.
- Vitamin D is vital for immunity and unfortunately 1 in 5 of us is deficient. It’s very difficult to get enough from our food and we simply don’t have enough sunlight in the UK. Plus as soon as the sun comes out we often cover ourselves in sun cream. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is stored in the body. So it’s REALLY important to get your levels checked first if you want to supplement with higher (recommended) doses then the RDI of 400iu per day (which to be honest is nothing, most of us need way more). Note: The more body fat you have the more Vitamin D you need. There has been a link to Vitamin D, obesity and Covid 19 recently in the press and this is why.
The test for your Vitamin D levels is simple, inexpensive and just a quick finger prick (I am happy to arrange for you but lots of companies offer home kits now) The test will tell you your levels and then you’ll know if you need to supplement and how to do it (again I can help here ) Bottom line- we need Vitamin D as it supports all the cells in the body and aids calcium absorption – which is not only essential for bone health but also our all-important blood sugar balance.
- Vitamin C. An Incredibly powerful antioxidant and a natural anti-histamine. Dose little and often as too much at once will mean you’ll just pee it out! About a 1000mg a day in a spray sublingually (under tongue) or food state supplement is great. It’s great for kids too. Small and often – the spay is handy for this.
- Zinc: Another fab immune support. But another one that is stored in the body so it’s good to know your levels. However, a lot of us are actually zinc deficient. Up to about 15mg (more can be taken but only under guidance of practitioner) zinc lozenges are a great way to supplement and super easy for kids too.
- CO10Q: resets or rehabilitates the mitochondria on a cellular level and really great to take post viral, but also during the cold and flu season to keep the immune response strong. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Coenzyme10 if you’re taking other medication.
- Black Elderberry: Packed with antioxidants and a great immune booster. It comes in a spray and wonderful for both children and adults. Note: It’s a no to anyone with auto-immune issues and pregnant/lactating women.
- Movement: Walking in the fresh air, swimming, cycling, yoga, Pilates, HIIT or anything that gets you moving- but isn’t too crazy or hard core that it’s tough on the adrenals. Like everything, it’s about balance. If you love running mix it up with a couple of yoga or body combo classes to keep the balance and diversity of movement.
- Sleep: Our bodies need sleep and good quality sleep! Sleep is so important to our immunity and our health in general. It resets everything and give our immune system the fighting chance we need – especially at the moment.
Find out more about what Kristina offers at www.seedwellness.co.uk/kristinacarman or contact 07472418511 / kristinacarman@seedwellness.co.uk
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