Top Immunity Boosters: Vitamins and Supplements That Work

What is the traditional approach to immunity in Chinese Medicine? Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on restoring the body's balance of Qi's harmony, specifically yin and yang. Acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massages target the body's vital Qi energy that flows along meridians channels.   Medicinal herbs are used to support the immune system, along with other forms of traditional care. Due to constitutional differences, it is crucial to identify your body constituent type as it transitions from one season to another.  Some herbs should be consumed and taken with caution, while other ingredients are very safe and can be eaten freely as food.  Aside from stand-alone applications, herbs are also widely used to apply to food therapy and paired with complementary and seasonal ingredients to support and nourish the body and mind. Common immunity remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine Tremella fuciformis Mushroom Adaptogen herbal medicine uses natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect on bodily processes. A well-known example is the Tremella fuciformis mushroom.  This dried fungus is used to help tonifiy Yin deficiencies. It is believed to promote meridian affinity by moistening the stomach, kidney and lungs. In beauty, Tremella Fuciformis is said to enhance skin hydration, and has been shown to have antioxidant effects, which generally prevent cell damage by free radicals, reduce inflammation and increase vitality.  Tremella fuciformis is typically is used in nourishing soups, desserts and beauty elixirs. Organika offers organic tremella in powder form – a great addition to a beautiful morning routine! Cordyceps Mushroom Chinese Medicine has used Cordyceps sinensis for centuries. In recent years, it has experienced a surge in demand in the West. This "magic mushroom" native to northern provinces in China is believed to have a wide range of health benefits like increasing virility and energy levels, regulating blood sugar, strengthening the immune system, detoxing kidneys, removing dampness, providing antioxidant and treating hemorrhoids. Chinese Medicinal Food Therapy also uses cordyceps in recipes such as steamed chicken and seasonal nourishing soups. Cordyceps sinensis wild harvesting is unsustainable and very expensive. It is only suitable from late April to June and is dependent on how many caterpillars get infected by a fungus called Ophiocordyceps Sinensis.  Instead of harvesting "caterpillar parasite zombies," Organika's Cordyceps Mushroom Extract is a potent vegan-friendly strain made from the fermentation of the Paecilomyces hepiali strain on organic brown rice. This process preserves the active ingredients that possess pharmacological and nutritional properties compared to the naturally occurring Cordyceps sinensis. Plus, it is packaged in vegetarian capsules.  Reishi Mushroom Perhaps one of the most well-known ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine, due to its association with immortality, longevity and the miracle of life, is Reishi (also known as Ling Zhi). Reishi is believed to target the meridians of the heart, lung, liver, kidney and spleen. It is also considered a protector from chronic illnesses. Reishi is said to be an excellent herb to consider for times of stress when the body and mind is overworked and require enhanced immunity support, reduced anxiety, anti-allergenic effects, etc.  Traditional preparation of wild-harvested reishi, like many other herbal remedies, is often complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, modern science has made the extraction of beneficial compounds and the breakdown of indigestible cell walls possible. Modern techniques allow access to the beneficial compounds found in reishi through a process of steam extraction, which breaks down the fungi' indigestible cell walls, aka chitin. Delivery is also convenient and easy – Organika offers both reishi capsules and an organic reishi powder for increased digestibility and absorption.  If you are interested in supporting your health with the help of Traditional Chinese Medicine, please consult a professional TCM practitioner. They will be best able to guide you.

In the last decade or more, vitamin D deficiency is becoming more prevalent among Canadians. As more people avoid the sun for fear of premature aging and other health concerns, we find we are covering up our skin more than ever, whether it be with clothing that blocks the sun or by applying layers of sunscreen every day. 70 – 90 % of North Americans do not get enough vitamin D daily, and this includes sunshine, food sources and supplements. We must test our vitamin D levels annually because if we are not getting it naturally, from the sun, we must supplement to keep healthy. The big question is what is vitamin D – the sunshine vitamin and are you getting enough? Shop Vitamin D3 Vitamin D is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to stay healthy. Vitamin D combines with calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. It is found naturally in foods such as oysters, liver, egg yolks, red meat, and oily fish. Like all fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin D is best absorbed with fats. Skin exposed to sunshine can also make vitamin D and it is the best source. 10-20 minutes per day between 10 am – 2 pm is the best way to safely absorb the sunshine. With under 20 minutes a day, skin won’t burn, and your body will naturally absorb the sunshine and you can manufacture vitamin D in the body. “We each have vitamin D receptor cells that, through a chain of reactions starting with conversion of cholesterol in the skin, produce vitamin D3 when they're exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) from the sun,”  Some experts recommend avoiding the sun by seeking shade between 10am – 4pm or by wearing UV protective clothing and using sunscreen that is 30 SPF or higher. The problem with this is that it causes our absorption to go down. If we are not getting those 10-20 minutes of healthy sun exposure to naturally produce vitamin D in the body, it affects our health. In the summer our biggest surface area, the back and chest, can safely absorb the sun for under 20 minutes daily. Because we have phobias that the sun is aging us prematurely and causing other health concerns like cancer, we are lathering sunscreen on and affecting our natural absorption of vitamin D. Studies show that safe amounts of sun exposure help us to manufacture vitamin D naturally and it helps to prevent cancer. For longer periods in the sun, be sure to apply natural and chemical free sunscreens that will provide protection and keep you from burning. What is surprising is that research done in northern California, which has more sunnier days than we do, found that the normal adult is deficient and 70-80% of the adults tested were deficient. We cannot know for sure where we are at without getting tested. In Canada, the normal range for vitamin D is between 75-250. The ideal range you want to be between is 125-175. You should be able to go into a lab and get your blood tested and get your results online the next day. Getting tested is important because it’s not just about exposure. It has to do with how you process it in your skin, liver, and kidneys. Recently, Health Canada increased the maximum amount of vitamin D supplements sold over the counter to 2,5000 IU for adults “As of February 24, 2021, Health Canada increased the maximum amount for vitamin D supplements sold over-the-counter to 2,500 IU per dose for adults. The previous maximum was set at 1,000 IU per adult dose” Health Canada increases non-prescription limit for Vitamin D. Genuine Wellness.  When supplementing with vitamin D, the best form of vitamin D is D3. Vitamin D2 is a synthetic form of vitamin D, and it is not absorbed well in the body. Vitamin D3 is naturally sourced from sheep lanolin. Wondering how much vitamin D should be given to children? The minimum is 400IU every day up until age one. Because vitamin D is a storing vitamin, you could give it daily or a few times a week at larger doses. Until we have the test to see where we are at, we stick with the recommended dose for children. For those of us living in Canada, because of our geographic location, the rays of the sun are too weak in the winter to generate the reaction that leads to the creation of vitamin D and supplementing with food and D3 supplement drops is a great way to keep your levels optimum to stay healthy. Shop Vitamin D3

La vitamine C est un micronutriment essentiel. Sans elle, nous risquons d'avoir une mauvaise fonction immunitaire, des problèmes de santé de la peau et des problèmes articulaires. Les nombreux bienfaits de la consommation de vitamine C sont bien connus et font l'objet d'études continues, et ses effets sur le système immunitaire sont au premier plan, surtout depuis un an. Dans cet article, nous allons examiner quelques-unes des façons dont la vitamine C est bénéfique pour votre immunité. Acheter de la vitamine C Qu'est-ce que notre système immunitaire ? Notre système immunitaire est un vaste réseau dans notre corps, composé d'organes, de globules blancs et de protéines qui nous protègent contre les virus, les infections et les agents pathogènes. Il existe également deux types d'immunité que nous possédons, et il est important de le préciser. Le système immunitaire inné : il comprend les défenses physiques, chimiques ou cellulaires contre les agents pathogènes, comme nos larmes, l'acide gastrique et les muqueuses. Système immunitaire adaptatif : également connu sous le nom d'immunité acquise, il est marqué par l'expansion des lymphocytes T et B (alias notre armée immunitaire) qui se mettent à détruire l'envahisseur. En d'autres termes, lorsque nous tombons malades une fois, notre organisme apprend à quoi ressemblent ces agents pathogènes et peut se préparer pour la prochaine fois. La vitamine C améliore-t-elle l'immunité ? La vitamine C agit de diverses manières sur notre système immunitaire pour le soutenir, le renforcer et le stimuler. En fait, la vitamine C agit à la fois sur notre système immunitaire inné et adaptatif. (1) Voici quelques façons dont la vitamine C peut vous aider. 1. La vitamine C aide à réduire la durée du rhume et de la grippe. La vitamine C est couramment utilisée pendant la saison du rhume et de la grippe pour aider à prévenir ou à réduire les symptômes de ces affections courantes. Une étude a montré qu'une supplémentation en vitamine C, en plus du régime alimentaire seul, réduisait le nombre de rhumes ainsi que leur durée chez les personnes prenant le supplément (2). La réduction des symptômes a été attribuée aux propriétés antioxydantes de la vitamine C et à sa capacité à réduire l'inflammation globale (3). 2. La vitamine C peut aider à la cicatrisation des plaies Il est important de se rappeler que notre système immunitaire n'est pas à l'œuvre uniquement lorsque nous tombons malades. Notre système immunitaire nous aide également à nous remettre de blessures et de plaies. La vitamine C peut aider à tout faire, des coupures et des éraflures aux blessures sportives et aux opérations chirurgicales. Des études ont montré qu'une dose supérieure à l'apport journalier recommandé (AJR), de 500 à 3 000 mg, peut accélérer la guérison (4). 3. La vitamine C aide à réduire les symptômes des allergies saisonnières En tant qu'antioxydant, la vitamine C peut aider à lutter contre l'inflammation générale de l'organisme, comme c'est le cas pour les allergies saisonnières. En outre, des études ont montré qu'une supplémentation en vitamine C peut être utile pour réduire les symptômes du rhume des foins (7). Une étude montre qu'une supplémentation quotidienne en vitamine C à forte dose (2 000 mg) peut réduire le taux d'histamine dans le sang. L'histamine est généralement connue pour son impact sur les allergies saisonnières, d'où la raison pour laquelle nous prenons des médicaments antihistaminiques lorsque nous sentons le nez qui renifle et les yeux qui pleurent commencer ! 4. La vitamine C réduit le stress oxydatif On parle de stress oxydatif lorsqu'il y a un déséquilibre entre les radicaux libres et les antioxydants. Cela provoque généralement des dommages aux cellules et aux tissus, entraînant un vieillissement plus rapide et des maladies, notamment des affections comme le diabète, le cancer et les maladies cardiaques. Il a été démontré que la vitamine C réduit le stress oxydatif global dans l'organisme (8). Dans l'ensemble, la vitamine C est un élément essentiel de notre quotidien, que ce soit par l'alimentation ou par des suppléments. Il est important de se rappeler qu'en période de stress, si vous prenez certains médicaments ou si vous vous sentez mal, il peut être utile de prendre de la vitamine C à des doses plus élevées. De nombreuses personnes peuvent tolérer 1 000 mg de vitamine C sans effet négatif sur leurs intestins. Si votre consommation de vitamine C vous fait courir aux toilettes, essayez de réduire votre dose de moitié ! Acheter de la vitamine C