Urijah Faber, a notable figure from Longridge, once expressed, “good health is true wealth,” a statement that could not be more accurate. In particular, during periods prone to illness and flu, having robust health is our most precious asset. While we can endorse practices like washing our hands, getting vaccinated, and ensuring we have ample sleep, we can also promote our immune health more directly by consuming specific vitamins and minerals.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics and prebiotics play significant roles in supporting our body’s microbiome—a vast collection of bacteria, of which an imbalance can lead to infections, poor gut health, and a weakened immune system. Probiotics act as the small guardians within our body, fighting off harmful bacteria and aiding the good ones. These beneficial probiotics can be obtained from foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, function as the nutrition for these probiotic warriors, empowering them further to stabilize our microbiome. One can obtain prebiotics from foods such as onions, artichokes, bananas, and leafy greens.
For situations where dietary intake falls short of our body’s requirement for probiotics and prebiotics, supplementation can effectively provide the necessary amounts. Supplemental sources of prebiotics are found in products like ProBionic, LiFiber, ProBionic Plus, Bios 7, Immunizen, and Hawaiian Noni. Meanwhile, for added probiotics, you can turn to ProBionic or ProBionic Plus.
Green Tea Catechins
Who doesn’t love a good tea time, especially when it’s green tea? Beyond offering a natural energy surge, green tea also helps enhance our immune system. Green tea catechins are packed with natural antioxidants that relieve the body from oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants.
Consistent green tea consumers have a lower probability of catching the flu, according to epidemiological studies. And for a healthier boost, consider incorporating matcha into your diet, with its epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECGC)—a potent antioxidant—content that triples the equivalent in regular tea leaves.
Zinc
Being the second most abundant mineral in our body, zinc is vital for immune cell development and functioning. Not only does it reduce the common cold’s duration, but it also plays a key role in protein synthesis, wound healing, normal growth and development, and potentially delaying age-related macular degeneration.
Since the body lacks a dedicated system for zinc storage, a regular consumptive routine is vital. Several products offer this elemental mineral, such as Core Health, Quadplex, Complete, Balance, Cardio Basics, Vision Essentials, Bone Mate Plus, Vegan Complete, Neigene Collagen, Hawaiian Noni, and many other Unicity products.
Vitamin C
It’s common knowledge to resort to vitamin C when the common cold comes calling. This essential vitamin supports immune defense by enhancing cellular functions. But not all sources of vitamin C are created equal: some are absorbed and broken down at different rates. To ensure a steady supply of vitamin C, a mix of various sources like Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, and Magnesium Ascorbate, proposed by experts, is encouraged.
Echinacea
Echinacea, often referred to as the purple coneflower, hails from the daisy family. This plant, used by the Plains Indians for snake bites, coughs, colds, and sore throats, is widely recognized for its immunity-strengthening properties. Echinacea, akin to green tea, houses anti-inflammatory attributes and antioxidants, fighting oxidation.
Instead of settling for brightly coloured flowers to beautify your Longridge living space, consider this powerful plant to boost your immune system. It is found in SIG and Red Clover.
Let us prioritize our immune health by consuming essential vitamins and minerals, especially during this infectious period. Let’s uphold Urijah Faber’s sentiment— good health is the real wealth—in Longridge and beyond!