Healthy Fyxxation — Food as Medicine

Concerns and desire for supporting our immunity is all around us right now. Are you looking to boost up your defenses through some good old Vitamin C? That’s a great idea! Perhaps Vitamin C’s best known benefit is immune support and in 2020 it sure deserves this spotlight! Let’s take a closer look: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect our cells from damaging free radicals, that can diminish our immunity. Studies indicate that adequate intakes of vitamin C reduce symptoms and shorten the duration and severity of respiratory tract infections including the common cold.1 We also know that...

This essential mineral is a multitasker with many benefits, and one vital role is to strengthen your immune system. Zinc is a requirement for our immune cells to properly form and function, and without enough, their activity slows down. That means we lack our full potential to protect the body from viruses and bacteria. Some of our primary defenders, like specialized white blood cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages), that help heal damaged tissues, destroy harmful organisms like bacteria, and resolve infections, depend on zinc.6 How does zinc keep us healthy in addition to supporting our immune system? It has several other important health benefits, such as supporting: Wound...

Selenium (Se) may be a lesser-known mineral for many, but that doesn't diminish its incredible benefits. It's a vital nutrient that helps support your body's immune response. In fact, selenium is the star of at least 25 selenoproteins; compounds that regulate human immune cell function. Scientists have discovered that inadequate selenium and the ability to create these selenoproteins, can lead to immune and inflammation-based diseases.1   Summary of selenium and immune responses.  Figure 1:  Nutrients. 2018 Sep; 10(9): 1203. But this antioxidant does a lot more than protecting our cells from oxidative damage, like helping repair DNA and supporting thyroid hormone metabolism.2,3 Selenium’s Role in...