This past year, health has been at the forefront of our minds more than ever before. Many people are reconsidering their daily habits and what they’re putting into their bodies. Aside from safety precautions like quarantining and wearing the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) when going out, people are also taking other measures to protect themselves by improving their overall health. While things like masks and hand sanitizer are essential, one of the most important defenses against sicknesses like COVID-19 is an invisible fighter, the immune system. Immune health is not a new priority by any means, but is crucial now more than ever. Many are realizing the importance of taking supplements they may not have in their normal diets, and reassessing their overall lifestyles and habits. You might be wondering, what are the best ways to boost my immune system?
1. A Healthy and Restful Sleep Schedule
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to make you feel great throughout the next day. An unhealthy sleep-wake cycle can actually be very detrimental to the body and immune system. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can actually inhibit the production and transportation of T-cells and cytokines, as well as lowering white blood cell count, which are crucial to warding off disease. There’s many practices that promote good sleep, such as exercising regularly, sticking to a schedule, and no electronics, alcohol, or caffeine before bed. But a helpful addition to these routines are calming agents such as melatonin, natural extracts and essential oils.
Melatonin & L-Theanine
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body, but it can also be produced synthetically. It regulates the body’s circadian rhythm, which is closely related to sleep patterns, and works with your biological clock to tell your brain when it’s time to slow down. Using melatonin properly can ease your body into a restful calm when you might’ve had a long, stressful day that has left you wired. Many people take melatonin in a capsule or gummy form, but did you know you can inhale it? For a more soothing and fast acting experience, taking melatonin can be as easy as a few breaths in before bed. The LUVV Air CALM has 157 mg of melatonin to lull you into a peaceful night, coming in either disposable form or pods.
An amino acid found in tea leaves, L-Theanine is another component that is helpful for sleep. Promoting a healthy calmness without drowsiness, it is thought to reduce blood pressure and relieve stress, an anxiolytic that works to reduce anxiety. It’s been described as inducing a state of “wakeful relaxation” through enhancing alpha brain waves. L-Theanine can also be inhaled, found in the LUVV Air CALM, RISE, and ZEN.
Natural Extracts
Three natural remedies to stress that can facilitate falling and staying asleep include chamomile, valerian root, and passionflower. These extracts are calming herbal remedies that, especially with their powers combined, can help to melt anxiety that can be detrimental to both the immune system and your sleep. Chamomile has been used for thousands of years to help people relax, fall asleep and settle upset stomachs. Passionflower also is thought to soothe stomach problems that can impact sleep, and also boosts GABA in the brain to relieve anxiety before bed. Valerian root also affects GABA receptors to have the same effect, and is also thought to relieve headaches. These extracts can be found in both the LUVV Air CALM and ZEN.
Lavender
Essential oils are awesome for improving sleep quality, with lavender being one of the best because of its anxiety relieving capabilities. It’s known to be one of the most effective natural remedies for stress, great for relaxation. For a nightcap or just for a calm feeling during a stressful day, LUVV Essentials Relax is a quick and easy way to smell and/or breathe the sweet aromas of lavender essential oil.
2. Taking Advantage of Elderberry
For all of human history, people have used the earth and its abundant resources for their healing properties. A perfect example of this is the Elderberry plant. to An underrated supplement that has recently become more popular, elderberry is packed with antioxidants and vitamins to bolster the body in its fight against different invaders. Elderberry extract has been used medicinally for centuries to fight infections and boost overall immunity. While it is mostly known as an assistant in remedying colds and the flu, people have also considered elderberry supplements in helping to treat chronic fatigue, headaches, high cholesterol, sinus and upper respiratory infections, along with tons of other conditions.
Nutritive Benefits
During the pandemic, many people have realized the usefulness of elderberry as a supplement in their quest to protect themselves. For example, one company in Indiana saw orders triple after COVID hit, just one of many demonstrations of people looking towards natural remedies as preventative measures. Despite this mighty plant gaining more awareness and a solid standing in modern medicine, the extract found in various products on the shelves, many still aren’t aware of its potential benefits.
Elderberries are packed with vitamin C, a tried and true immune booster, but also dietary fiber and antioxidants. The antioxidants come in the form of phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins, which reduce oxidative stress and are anti-inflammatory. These anthocyanins actually have 3.5 times the antioxidant power of vitamin E, one of the most well known antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because we consume high calorie foods that result in free radicals (molecules with unattached electrons) that oxidize our cells. Their accumulation can result in health problems, but antioxidants neutralize them, thus inhibiting oxidation.
Multiple studies show a positive effect of elderberry on people with the flu, which could be promising evidence for combatting other viruses such as COVID-19. One study involved 60 people with influenza, and the results showed that those who took elderberry syrup four times a day showed symptom improvement in just two to four days, while the placebo group took seven to eight days to improve. A similar study found that taking elderberry extract lozenges for two days resulted in significant improvement in flu symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and nasal congestion, after just 24 hours. More specific to immune function, a study on rats showed that elderberry polyphenols were found to support immune defense by increasing their white blood cell count. Interestingly, both European and American elderberries have been found to have some cancer-inhibiting properties in test-tube studies.
How To Take It
LUVV Labs has come up with the perfect way to reap the benefits of elderberry daily. With 60 in each bottle, the Immunity Boost capsules feature a fortifying blend of natural ingredients and probiotics formulated to equip your body for any obstacle, fighting off free radicals that can damage cells and impact immune health. Our clean formula is rich in vitamins and minerals that can help to strengthen your immune system, including powerful trace mineral zinc and antioxidant vitamin C. There is also a healthy dose of herbal remedy echinacea, which has been shown to increase white blood cell count, thus fighting infection. Another ingredient, garlic, also serves this purpose-- working as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent. All these powerful fruits of nature work together, with their combined properties common colds, fever, flu, allergies, and help joints heal and function properly; It also Supports healthy brain function, cognition, adrenal and heart health, blood circulation, mood, bone density, helps decrease muscle soreness, and increase absorption of calcium & iron.
Summary
Studies are not yet extensive enough to determine with absolute certainty that elderberry reduces particular symptoms or risk of any specific health issue, including COVID-19. While we can’t promise anything with certainty, there is much promising evidence, and as research continues, it never hurts to boost your body’s supply of antioxidants and use a supplement that has stood the test of time as a medicinal powerhouse!
3. Keeping Up With Your Vitamin Intake
Vitamins are an essential factor in maintaining holistic body health and resulting immune function. Many people have a hard time getting the right vitamins on a daily basis in their diets, or don’t want to buy a bunch of different bottles and have to keep up with taking them. The best way to have your daily dose of essential vitamins at your fingertips is the LUVV Air VITA. It eliminates the expenses and hassles of the traditional way of taking vitamins, while providing a rapid and invigorating delivery and absorption. Here we’ll go through the selection of inhalable vitamins and how they can boost the immune system.
Vitamin C
The most prominent and famous for immune boosting, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that your body cannot produce itself, so it’s important to supply it. Aside from its overall immune support, it’s been linked to preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, lowering high blood pressure, and preventing iron deficiencies. It’s been assumed that low levels of vitamin C can actually increase your risk of memory and thinking disorders such as dementia.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D is one of the most important immune-strengthening nutrients, thought to reduce the risk of colds and the flu. This vitamin is especially important during the pandemic because working from home and spending more time indoors to quarantine can result in a dangerous depletion of Vitamin D. Research has shown people with low vitamin D levels may be more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections, and related Harvard health studies report evidence to suggest that vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with and developing serious symptoms of COVID-19. Participants who took vitamin D supplements were less likely to develop acute respiratory tract infections than those who didn't. Aside from vitamin D’s potential for fighting viruses and bacteria, it also helps prevent an exaggerated inflammatory response, which has been shown to contribute to severe illness in some suffering from COVID-19.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the proper functioning of the immune system, supporting proper function of your nerve cells and helping your body produce red blood cells. Several studies with humans and animals alike have reported the function of vitamin B12 in the immune response, methionine synthase as essential for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines in all cells, including fast-dividing immune cells.
Vitamin A
Aside from immune function, Vitamin A is important for vision, cell reproduction and growth. It also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly. Vitamin A plays regulatory roles in cellular immune responses as well as humoral immune processes, and has been scientifically shown to be therapeutic in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound made by the body and stored in the mitochondria of your cells. It supports the immune system by helping produce energy in your cells and serving as an antioxidant to protect your cells from oxidative damage and disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Summary
This combination of vitamins and compounds is a sure fire way to boost your health and support your immune system during this time. With so much uncertainty in our daily lives, the one thing you can be certain of is that you’re on top of your vitamin intake!