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 and Flu Season
Herbs that kick stress and boost immunity There’s an entire class of botanicals can help us with both curbing stress and fighting microbes. Aptly known as the adaptogens, these plants help us adapt to the world around us by naturally improving our stamina, supporting our mental and emotional resilience, and boosting our ability to…
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…
The Benefits of Berry Polyphenols
The abundant polyphenols found in berries deliver numerous health benefits Of all fruits, the consumption of fresh berries is something we oft seek out more than their somewhat more boring apple or banana counterparts. Whether it be berry smoothies; berry cobblers, pies, or crisps; homemade berry wines; or simply fresh berries eaten by the…
The Berrylicious Benefits of Black Elderberry
Pleasant-tasting purple berries provide powerful immune protection Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), much like echinacea, takes its place in our botanical medicinal cabinet seasonally when the seasonal colds and flu are at large. Because of elderberry’s naturally appealing taste, it is a botanical that we commonly find as a pleasant tasting syrup or chewable. But…
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