Fighting COVID-19, Pneumonia, and Inflammation with Medicinal Mushrooms
Fungi friends to the rescue! Evidence of the use of mushrooms for medicinal purposes dates as far back as 5,000 B.C.E.[1] Since that time, many clinical studies have confirmed and explained their clinical value. Medicinal mushrooms have been shown to help with a wide variety of ailments through a myriad of mechanisms, but they…
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: A Probiotic for All Ages
The benefits of L. rhamnosus GG for gut health and immunity Today’s probiotic story began in 1983, when Drs. Sherwood Gorbach and Barry Goldin, colleagues at Tufts University, were poring over stool specimens from healthy adults – a task few of us would envy. They managed to isolate “a strain of bacteria of a…
Combating Age-Related Immune Decline: Can Nutrition Help?
A look at nutritional factors that keep immune defenses strong, even in older adults The immune system is a critical component of health throughout life. However, on the front and back end of the years we spend on this planet, our immune defenses aren’t particularly impressive. In infancy, while the immune system is developing,…
Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Immunity, Vaccinations, and Respiratory Health (Video)
How vitamins A, D, and E help keep us safe all year long In this video, Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the important impact of fat-soluble nutrients on immune function. After explaining the difference between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, Dr. Zelfand explores the details of how vitamins A and D and different forms of vitamin…
Vaccine Efficacy, Part 2 of 2: Can a Healthy Gut Microbiome Improve It?
The influence of probiotics on the immune response Vaccines are among the greatest successes of modern medicine, helping to protect entire populations against a wide range of infectious diseases.[1] However, there is considerable variation in the efficacy of vaccines amongst individuals.[2] The magnitude of antibody titers induced in individuals receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine,…
Vaccine Efficacy, Part 1 of 2: Can a Healthy Diet Improve It?
The influence of dietary fiber, prebiotics, beta-glucan, and fucoidan Vaccines are one of the greatest successes of modern medicine, helping to protect entire populations against a wide range of infectious diseases.[1] A vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens, either viruses or bacteria. To do this, certain molecules (antigens)…
The Immune-Boosting Power of Lactoferrin
Mother’s milk — for the rest of us The highest concentrations of lactoferrin are found in colostrum, the first form of milk produced by a mother’s mammary glands immediately after she gives birth. But don’t be fooled: lactoferrin supports the health and immune function of adults and babies alike. Lactoferrin has a myriad of…
Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Video)
How the immune system fights off invaders, from splinters to vaccines Our immune systems consist of two parts: the innate (or general) immune system and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system. In this video, family physician Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the basics of these two systems, illuminating how they each fight germs (like bacteria,…
Adaptogens for Cold, Flu, and “Pandemic Season”
Herbs that kick stress and boost immunity Cold and flu season has been upstaged by a global pandemic. As we respond to the risk of COVID-19, many of us are also grappling with the social and financial strains accompanying lockdown and uncertainty. This has stress levels high, and stress tragically undermines immune function, thereby…
How Stress Hurts the Immune System – And What to Do About it (Video)
Stress: it isn’t just in your head. In this video, Dr. Erica Zelfand explains how our bodies respond to stress and how those reactions can wreak havoc on our immunological function, weight, blood sugar, heart health, and overall wellbeing. Topics covered include: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the adrenal glands, cortisol, adrenaline, and the effects…
Vitamin D in the News
COVID-19 and Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem that affects more than one billion children and adults worldwide.[1],[2] Vitamin D is essential not only for healthy bones, but also for the body’s defense against infections.[3],[4],[5],[6] Numerous studies have shown that insufficient vitamin D intakes are associated with an enhanced…
The Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Quercetin
The value of quercetin for respiratory health beyond allergies Quercetin is another well-known member of the polyphenol family. Considered a flavonoid type of polyphenol, quercetin is found in many fruits and vegetables, including onions, apples, cherries, broccoli, tomatoes, and berries, as well as green tea. We look to quercetin most often seasonally as a…
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