Should You Take Vitamins to Boost Immunity? | Truth Revealed!

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski March 10, 2023

Have you ever heard someone say they never take vitamins and that it’s a total waste of money to buy them? Yeah, we’ve heard that, too. Many people like to talk about how supplements are not necessary and that they don’t help anyway. When it comes to a lot of what you see at grocery stores and discount outlets, these naysayers are absolutely right . Many of these products are loaded with fillers and chemicals that you not only don’t need but don’t want in your body. Here’s the rub about vitamins, though. Each day, we get exposed to harmful toxins that can truly wreck our immune systems. If we don’t get a steady supply of the nutrients we need, our bodies won’t be able to fight off viruses and bacterial infections.

The truth is - even if you eat a clean diet, it’s almost impossible to get all the nutrients you need from food alone.

So how do you know what to take with so many sellers promoting their vitamins? The breakdown of supplements isn’t as complicated as you may think. Since your first line of defense is your immune function, there are some powerful nutrients you need that protect you against those invasive pathogens. We’re going to discuss which vitamins boost immunity and how much you need. We’ll also show you the most convenient way to get these so that you’re not out shopping for multiple bottles of supplements. 

What Dr. Zyrowski Uses Clinically 

In my clinic, I see hundreds of patients a week. I encourage my patients to come to see me, even when sick, so that I can help them quickly recover from their illnesses. So I'm exposed to copious amounts of germs.  To keep my immune system strong, I take Immune Essentials.

Immune Essentials is specifically designed to support your immune system with the best nutritional immune boosters to help you stay healthy and overcome illnesses faster. Each dose of Immune Essentials includes:

  • N-Acetyl Cysteine
  • Zinc
  • Quercetin
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D3

Why take Immune Essentials?

Your first line of defense to ward off infections and fight diseases is your immune system. The immune system protects against invading pathogens such as bacteria and viruses by recognizing them as foreign bodies and destroying them once they enter the body.

However, your body can only fight off and destroy microorganisms that cause diseases if your immune system is robust. The immune system, as the words imply, is composed of many cells and organs that work together to defend the body when a foreign entity is encountered. The immune system recognizes these pathogens as invaders and releases antibodies that attach to antigens of the pathogen and kills them. Your best chance of beating infections is by building a strong immune system so that you have a chance of fighting off infections whenever you are exposed to them. A healthy lifestyle such as exercising regularly, minimizing stress, practicing general good hygiene and consuming a nutritious diet are beneficial to immune health. Some nutrients are especially known to help build and maintain your immune system.  If you feel you are not getting sufficient amounts of the essential nutrients that naturally boost immunity from your diet, Immune Essentials can help.

The Immune Essentials is designed to improve your immune health and contains immune boosting nutrients  that can give you a good chance of fighting infections. Each dose in the Immune Essentials contains doctor recommended daily doses of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), and Quercetin to boost your immune health. 

Benefits of Immune Essentials

  • Promotes immune health*
  • Supports antioxidant activity*
  • Maintains healthy respiratory function*
  • Supports cardiovascular health*
  • Detoxifies many environmental toxins*
  • Promotes reproductive health*
  • Maintains healthy skin and mucous membranes*

Vitamins to Boost Immunity

NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine)

NAC is a supplemental form of the amino acid, cysteine, which is a semi-essential amino acid that can be produced in your body from other sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and serine. Although readily available in many foods, you may choose NAC supplements to increase intake of cysteine. Supplemental forms of cysteine such as NAC are used in the body to promote production of glutathione, which is incorporated into antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase and detoxification enzymes, glutahione S-tranferases. These enzymes help neutralize free radicals by enhancing antioxidant activity, detoxification and breakdown of toxins and other metabolites in the body. NAC supplements may increase immune function by restoring the body's natural killer cells and may reduce symptoms and duration of the flu. (10,11)

Key Benefits of NAC

  • Enhances glutathione production*
  • Detoxifies toxins and pollutants*
  • Supports respiratory, immune and hepatic health through production of glutathione*

Zinc

Even though zinc is a trace mineral, meaning it is required in very small amounts, it is essential for maintaining good health. Zinc is required as a cofactor for optimal activity of over 300 enzymes in the human body and plays a crucial role in metabolism of carbohydrates and protein. Zinc plays an important role in supporting immune function by regulating T lymphocytes, decreasing oxidative stress and fighting inflammation. Zinc deficiency decreases natural killer (NK) cell activity as well as interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Zinc is also involved in DNA synthesis and wound healing, and is also required during periods of growth and development due to its role in cell growth and division. (8,9)

Key Benefits of Zinc

  • Maintains healthy immune function*
  • Promotes wound healing*
  • Supports normal growth and development*
  • Essential for maintaining cell membrane structure and function*

Quercetin

Quercetin comes from a group of plant pigments called flavonoids. Flavonoids give fruits, vegetables, and flowers their vibrant, rich colors. Quercetin is also one of the most abundant antioxidants in the diet. Antioxidants search out free radicals in the body that damage cell membranes. Free radicals can tamper with DNA structure and even kill cells. These antioxidants are crucial because they can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or prevent the damage they can cause throughout the body. Free radical damage has been linked to many chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Key Benefits of Quercetin

  • Supports immune function
  • Relieves allergy symptoms
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Has antiviral benefits
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Helps control blood sugar
  • May prevent heart disease
  • Lowers risk of brain disorders
  • Provides anticancer effects
  • Manages prostate infections

Vitamin A

Vitamin A stimulates the production and activity of white blood cells and regulates cell growth. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, naturally found in many foods. Vitamin A is crucial for normal vision, immune function, reproduction, development, and growth. In addition, Vitamin A helps organs like the heart, liver, and lungs work properly. It also has antioxidant properties and has been shown to help prevent some forms of cancer. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system and reducing inflammatory skin disorders. Vitamin A is necessary for bone growth and maintaining healthy bones and teeth.

Key Benefits of Vitamin A

  • May prevent cancer
  • Reduces skin inflammation
  • Decreases the risk of macular degeneration
  • Preserves normal vision
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Supports reproductive health
  • Keeps bones and teeth strong

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential water-soluble vitamin that needs to be part of your diet even though most mammals can synthesize it in their body. One of the key functions of  Vitamin C in the body is to increase production of infection-fighting white blood cells, known as phagocytes and lymphocytes, which increase the body's ability to fight infection. Vitamin C also boosts immune health by increasing immune cell activity, especially function of T-cells and phagocytosis.  Additionally, vitamin C is an antioxidant agent that prevents damage of white blood cells from free radicals by acting as a free radical scavenger, thereby strengthening and protecting the body's defense system. (4,5)

Key Benefits of Vitamin C

  • Boosts immunity*
  • Synthesizes collagen, an integral protein present in connective tissue, bones, teeth, blood vessels, gums, joints, ligaments and tendons*
  • Improves iron absorption*
  • Aids production of neurotransmitters and hormones*

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol is a fat soluble vitamin that your body can synthesize naturally from 7-dehydrocholesterol when skin is exposed to sunlight. In spite of the ease of vitamin D availability, vitamin D deficiency is fairly prevalent. This is because several factors such as location, season, time of day, skin color, clothing, use of sunscreen and age can influence amount of vitamin D formed. It is important to get daily recommended amounts of vitamin D as it plays several important roles in your body.  One of its role is in the functioning of the immune system. Frequent colds or bouts of flu may be caused by low levels of vitamin D in your system as it interacts directly with cells that fight infection. Deficiency of vitamin D has also been linked respiratory tract infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.(6, 7)

Key Benefits of Vitamin D

  • Improves absorption of calcium and maintains bone health*
  • Maintains normal immune function*
  • Reduces risk of osteoporosis*
  • Supports normal cardiovascular health*

The Take Away

If you want the benefits of nutrients that will keep your immune system in fighting shape, Immune Essentials will have you covered. Each supplement is formulated to support your immune system with proven immune boosters. You’ve likely walked into one of the vitamin shops and been completely overwhelmed. You know the ones where there’s a bodybuilder working in the store trying to sell you everything they offer, and if you’re not careful, you leave with an armful of junk. 

When you need to keep your immune system working as designed, you want to know your supplements are going to work for you. The Immune Essentials are loaded with quality nutrients to help you stay healthy and overcome nasty illnesses that come your way. The unique combination includes immune-supporting supplements that guard against viral and bacterial infections. 

You can stay well this year and live a healthy, active life. We want to help you feel great while keeping your immune system the strongest it has ever been. 

References

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  3. Shi Z, Puyo CA. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020;16:1047-1055. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S273700
  4. De Flora S, Grassi C, Carati L. Eur Respir J. 1997;10(7):1535-1541. doi:10.1183/09031936.97.10071535
  5. Yang D, Wang T, Long M, et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020;2020:8825387. doi:10.1155/2020/88253
  6. Batiha GE, Beshbishy AM, Ikram M, et al. Foods. 2020;9(3):374. doi:10.3390/foods9030374
  7. Jafarinia M, Sadat Hosseini M, Kasiri N, et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020;16:36. doi:10.1186/s13223-020-00434-0
  8. Colunga Biancatelli RML, Berrill M, Catravas JD, et al. Front Immunol. 2020;11:1451. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451
  9. Weng Z, Zhang B, Asadi S, et al. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e33805. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033805
  10. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1286. doi:10.3390/nu9121286
  11. Skalny AV, Rink L, Ajsuvakova OP, et al. Int J Mol Med. 2020;46(1):17-26. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2020.4575
  12. Marreiro DD, Cruz KJ, Morais JB, et al. Antioxidants (Basel). 2017;6(2):24. doi:10.3390/antiox6020024
  13. Gandia P, Bour D, Maurette JM, et al. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2007;77(4):243-248. doi:10.1024/0300-9831.77.4.243
  14. DiSilvestro RA, Swan M. FASEB J. 2008;22(S1). doi:10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.693.3
  15. DiSilvestro RA, Koch E, Rakes L. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2015;168(1):11-14. doi:10.1007/s12011-015-0334-3
  16. Huang Z, Liu Y, Qi G, et al. J Clin Med. 2018;7(9):258. doi:10.3390/jcm7090258
  17. Mora JR, Iwata M, von Andrian UH. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008;8(9):685-698. doi:10.1038/nri2378
  18. Carr AC, Maggini S. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211
  19. Hunt C, Chakravorty NK, Annan G, et al. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1994;64(3):212-219.
  20. Mitra S, Paul S, Roy S, et al. Molecules. 2022;27(2):555. doi:10.3390/molecules27020555
  21. Taha R, Abureesh S, Alghamdi S, et al. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:3849-3870. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S317421 22. Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, et al. BMJ. 2017;356:i6583. doi:10.1136/bmj.i6583

** Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

Dr. Nick Zyrowski
Dr. Nick Zyrowski



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