Looking after our health is not only necessary to live a full and vital life, but it is essential to build, strengthen and maintain our immune system. Diet and lifestyle are major factors affecting our health (and our immunity) by providing essential nutrients our body needs to function optimally. The quantity, variety and quality of the nutrients we consume on a daily basis is of utmost importance because they provide our cells, including digestive and antioxidant enzymes and immune cells, the building blocks they need to be strong and effective. Many enzymatic functions require cofactors, without which enzymes capabilities may be reduced or completely destabilised. The body relies heavily on antioxidant enzymes like glutathione to prevent free radical damage and catastrophic chains of events that may occur as a result of compromised enzymatic activity and/or severe infection.
Glutathione for example is essential to protect the liver from the highly toxic substances released by phase one liver detoxification. Our cells also have detoxification pathways in place that require glutathione and other antioxidant enzymes to protect them from the oxidative stress generated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase are the main enzymatic antioxidants.
A nutrient-dense plant-based whole food diet -- along with an optional intake of wild fatty fish (such as sockeye salmon, sardines, mackerel, herrings and anchovies), and/or free-range organic and/or bIodynamic (Demeter-certified) unprocessed meats -- should provide the essentials nutrients that our body requires. (Vegans need to still supplement with Vitamin B12.) With our modern lifestyle and current shopping habits, it may not be possible to meet our optimal nutritional requirement, and so we may benefit by adding a multi-vitamin and mineral complex to our diets, preferably derived from food sources or in natural form as much as possible (as opposed to synthetic products).
This is also important during infections (viral, bacterial or parasitic), during which the body expends a lot of energy trying to deal with the “attack”, diverting energy from the digestive system to maintain more immediate life-support systems. This may explain why we lack energy and the desire to eat when we have these infections. (During such times warm vegetable broths (and optional bone broths), as well as other warming foods can help the body to deal with infections by increasing our temperature and providing easily absorbed nutrients.
Protection
For the best protection, aromatherapy and essential oils are often recommended when we suffer infections. These oils have been the focus of great interest in recent years and for good reason. Plants are known to contain antimicrobial and antiviral compounds, and these can be extremely useful when looking to protect ourselves from viruses. At The Really Healthy Company, we have an effective product to help the body protect itself from pathogenic microbes and their potentially devastating effect on the body. It is called Front Line and it is a unique blend of essential oils developed to create a shield against the environment. Just put a few drops in your mask for easy breathing and nasal hygiene. Recent investigations have even revealed that some particular cells found in the nasal cavity have been identified as a likely initial infection point, making it important to focus on the nasal area as the primary point of entry.
Another very useful nutrient for protecting our systems is vitamin D. This vitamin can make an enormous difference to immunity and is especially important to supplement during the darker winter months or for those who do not spend a lot of time outside. Topping stores up with supplementation may thus be required.
And finally, a full spectrum of vitamin and mineral supplements may also provide a wide array of nutrients the body may desperately need, including vitamin C and antioxidants. We would recommend 30 millilitres a day of Eniva Vibe, a liquid multi-nutrient supplement that is clinically tested. This dose is divided into two doses of 15 ml, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon...
Support
To continue supplying the body with easily absorbed nutrients, Eniva Vibe again is a good option, providing the Recommended Daily Intake for most key nutrients, like vitamin A, C, D, E and B vitamins, as well as essential minerals and trace minerals. It will also help quench the body with free-radical scavenging antioxidants and provide immune cells with the building blocks they require to be fully operational.
Klamath Blue Green Algae® is a wholefood supplement providing the body with vital nutrients, including chlorophyll (to help oxygenate the bloodstream), proteins, essential fatty acids, and pigments which display antioxidant capacity. Klamath algae also assists the immune system and detoxification pathways, which is essential for the body to get rid of toxins. Algae is also particularly rich in phenylethylamine also known as PEA (synthesised from phenylalanine), which is not found in other types of algae. PEA is known as the ‘molecule of love’. It improves attention and mood, and our resistance to stress (remember that infections are huge stressors for the body).
The recommended dosage for this algae is one gram per day. It is best to start slow and build up to maximum dosage over the period of a week, or two, depending on your sensitivity. Your health practitioner may suggest an increase in the dose, but you should not exceed the recommended dose unsupervised.
A stronger immunomodulator for support would be BioBran, which helps support the immune system and is proven to strengthen weak immune systems. It does this by increasing the activity of NK cells -- white blood cells that specialise in destroying infected cells. Read more.
Curcumin is another support nutrient that has also been identified as an immunorestorer and so it should be part of any protocol aiming to restore or support immune function. It is recommended to take 2 x AlphaCurcumin per day.
Depending on your vitamin D levels, it may be useful to optimise body stores. Eniva vibe already contains 125% of the RNI (1000 IU), however, it may not be sufficient to provide support for the immune system during a severe infection and it may be possible to increase the dosage. Note that NHS UK recommends not to take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day, as it could be harmful.
Maintenance
Finally, maintaining our health is important. And in this regard, it is advisable to continue taking BioBran. We would recommend BioBran 1000, 1 sachet per day, and another sachet of Pro-Knox, a unique, purely natural antioxidant complex. These products will help support the immune system and make sure you are on the road to recovery.
We would also recommend you continue taking Eniva vibe daily to quench the body with essential nutrients, including vitamin D and vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants, to allow for quicker recovery time and ward off a secondary infection. Continue for a month, or until necessary.
Severe infection may destabilise the gut (kill or displace ‘healthy’ bacteria) and for this reason, you may benefit from a powerful probiotic solution. Micromax (15 ml twice per day) will help to recondition the gut with healthy bacteria.