Back to School Immune Support
Michael Ventresca • September 20, 2022
As students head back to school, you can count on immune challenges almost as much as you can report cards. In addition to building a solid immune foundation with probiotics and vitamin D-3, Mother Nature has provided a variety of scientifically validated options when the need arises. In this article, we’ll focus on two of the most universally beneficial options.
Elderberry
Elderberry has long been used to support immune and respiratory challenges. According to studies, one of the ways elderberry works is by interrupting viral replication. Unlike bacteria, viruses don’t reproduce on their own, but need to enter healthy host cells to multiply. The naturally occurring plant chemicals in elderberry have been shown to inhibit this process by interrupting a virus’ ability to enter a healthy cell. This interruption allows immune cells to more quickly react and target the virus. The end result can be shorter duration and severity of illness.
Elderberry can be taken as needed or as a daily prevention strategy. As with all herbs, it’s very important to ensure you are getting a potent product. Like buying any fruit or vegetable, the quality and care of the ingredients determine the potency. After all, a rotten apple scooped up off the ground is still an apple, even though we all know the better option is one picked from an organic tree when perfectly ripened. Some of my favorite brands of elderberry products are from New Chapter, Gaia Herbs and of course, our own Vital Choice Health Store brand.
Functional mushrooms
Over the last several years, many people have become much more familiar with functional, or medicinal, mushrooms. While you may have just begun to hear of them, these nutritional superheroes have been helping adults and children stay healthy for centuries. In fact, functional mushrooms are believed to have approximately 125 therapeutic effects, including immunomodulating, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, and antibacterial, to name a few. Some of the most powerful immune supporting mushrooms include maitake, reishi, turkey tail, and chaga.
Like elderberry, functional mushrooms can be taken daily to support a healthy immune response or as needed to combat a specific challenge. You can find functional mushrooms as capsules and liquid extracts and even as instant beverages. Because mushrooms will incorporate whatever they are grown on, be sure to look for organic options whenever possible.
Some of our most popular products include Stamets 7 and MyCommunity from Host Defense as well as Mushroom Immune from Vital Choice.
If you’re looking for something beyond the usual capsule or liquid extracts (which can be a problem for younger children), Host Defense now offers MycoBrews – instant hot cocoa and coffee products with added organic functional mushrooms. These can be mixed instantly with water, milk or milk-substitute to create a tasty nutritious treat.
Of course, Mother Nature has far more than elderberry and mushrooms in her immune health toolkit. To discuss other options like echinacea, oregano, umcka, vitamin C, and more please stop into Vital Choice Health Store.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References:
Krawitz C, Mraheil MA, Stein M, Imirzalioglu C, Domann E, Pleschka S, Hain T. Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Feb 25;11:16. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-16. PMID: 21352539; PMCID: PMC3056848.
Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014 Feb;13(1):32-44. PMID: 26770080; PMCID: PMC4684115.
