Must-Have Nutrients We Need To Take During The Pandemic And How To Get Them Without Risking Unnecessary Exposure
As Americans, what we’re going through is unprecedented — at least within most of our lifetimes.
We’re fighting an invisible enemy and are being asked to change our daily lives to protect ourselves and others.
We’re having to change the way we interact with others. No more running out for dinner at your favorite restaurant or hanging out with your close friends, even family.
The things we used to do regularly without a second thought, like grocery shopping, now requires preparation and planning before, during, and after to avoid coming in contact with COVID-19 and carrying it home.
To say these times are stressful is a bit of an understatement, right?
You’ve read all the advice from the CDC that we, and others, have shared. But beyond handwashing and social distancing, what else can you do to get through this with your health?
We have always turned to nutrition to keep our bodies well. So, I want to tell you about a handful of nutrients that can boost your brain and your body through this time of a worldwide pandemic.
Probiotic And Prebiotics
Ample research has made one thing crystal clear about probiotics and prebiotics: They are essential for a healthy gut, and a healthy gut is critical to a robust immune system.
In fact, your gut is the one organ to fight all diseases, even cancer. That’s mainly because it’s ground zero for your immune system, and that has far-reaching effects on your total body health, even your brain, and your mood.
That’s because probiotics are flora that makes up your gut microbiome. By now, you have heard about the large quantity of research over recent years that’s shown your gut is practically “central headquarters” for your immune system.
Basically, if your gut microbiome isn’t healthy, your immune system can’t do its job and keep you well. The gut-brain connection is strong. In both animal and human studies, probiotics have been shown to help alleviate anxiety, and who isn’t experiencing a little right now? Probiotics also help with depression and even ease bipolar disease.
So, if being cooped up alone or with family is starting to wear thin, you’ve got all the more reason to consume these gut health-boosting nutrients.
Antioxidants and Polyphenols
Polyphenols are considered prebiotics because they feed the Bifidobacteria in your gut; therefore, they benefit your mind and your body.
But they are primarily known for their antioxidant activity, which is how they protect against oxidative stress and inflammation.
Inflammation is a double-edged sword when it comes to your immune system. When your T-cells, the guards at the gate, so to speak, attack an invading pathogen, inflammation is helpful in that attack. But too much inflammation can be more harmful than helpful.
When your body is fighting a virus, and you have underlying conditions like heart disease or an autoimmune condition where your immune system is overly active, COVID 19 infection can create a “blood storm” of inflammation that courses throughout a person’s body.” This has been known to cause a plaque rupture that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Eating a rainbow of deep-colored fruits and vegetables is traditionally the best way to get these inflammation-fighting nutrients into your body. Think blueberries, black currant, cherries, plums and apples, and even cacao and nuts. Some good vegetable sources include spinach, carrots, red onions, and dry legumes. Flaxseeds are also a good source, and spices are some of the most potent sources.
If you have a hard time either finding or eating the necessary polyphenols in fruits and vegetables, ask about our supplement called Polyphenol Nutrients. This supplement provides a broad-spectrum of polyphenols for additional nutritional support.
Magnesium
Deficiency of this vital mineral within the is a growing concern, perhaps more for its effect on heart health.
But magnesium deficiency is also a known cause of anxiety. No one needs anxiety from a lack of nutrients anytime, but much less with our current concerns about coronavirus.
Magnesium is essential in promoting relaxation and helping the brain to increase GABA activity. (GABA is a neurotransmitter involved in relaxation and stress relief.)
Magnesium is critical for brain, heart, and bone health and also serves as a precursor for serotonin and other brain neurotransmitters.
Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2
Even though you’re practicing social distancing, hopefully, you can get outside to soak up some vitamin D, even if it’s just from the backyard, your porch or an open window because it’s the quickest way to boost your spirits. Numerous studies show that low levels of Vitamin D are associated with depressive symptoms.
Vitamin D also modulates your immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased susceptibility to infection. The immune system defends the body from foreign, invading organisms, all the while promoting protective immunity.
Throw in some vitamin K2, and things only get better. That’s because vitamin K2, along with D3 isn’t just good for your heart, it’s good for your brain. Studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin K2 can prevent both depression and anxiety by feeding your brain the proteins and lipids it needs to function optimally.
Good food sources of vitamin D are salmon, tuna, and eggs. You can find K2 in kale, spinach, and broccoli. Our supplement, D3 5000IU, is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for bone, cardiovascular and immune health.
And don’t forget many experts believe vitamin D is a potent antiviral.
The Easiest Way To Get Nutrients During The COVID-19 Crisis
If you are like me and you’ve been to the grocery store in recent weeks, you know that toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and liquid hand soap are not the only things flying off shelves.
It’s getting increasingly hard to find either frozen or fresh produce. And that’s where my solution comes in to help you get more greens and vegetables, especially ones that include the nutrients listed above, into your diet when you need them most.
I’m talking about making a green powder supplement part of your diet. In addition to fruits and vegetables, they contain known superfoods like spirulina, chlorella, and green tea extract. Now, as a whole food enthusiast, I can’t say a green powder supplement should replace whole food nutrition. But when most Americans are not getting even their daily RDA, it can certainly help.
With so many people now needing to increase their fruit and vegetable intake right now, supplementing with green powder may be considered a viable alternative to eating whole food vegetables.
Greens powder ingredients have been linked to improved exercise endurance, diabetes management, and blood lipid levels.
Since right now is probably not the best time to get out and shop, you can have them delivered directly to your door.
One of the best products we offer is Detox Greens. Detox Greens can be mixed with water, juice, or added to a smoothie.
In each scoop of Detox Greens, you get…
Chlorella, Soy, lecithin, Royal jelly Bee Pollen, enzymes, and probiotic cultures in an easy to take pleasant tasting powder form. This formula is specifically designed to support your body’s ability to cleanse detoxify and rejuvenate. Detox Greens helps ensure those daily requirements of veggies and fruits that are sometimes so hard to fit in the daily diet. Detox Greens is the most complete green food supplement available today. All this power-packed nutrition in a great-tasting powder formula.
To get even more benefit out of a smoothie drink, consider adding A-O Reds. A-O Reds is loaded with nutrient-rich berries, fruits and potent plant extracts in combination with DMG HCI, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Phosphatidylserine, Lycopene and Lutein to support immune system function. Each serving contains a minimum of 5000 ORAC units and 2 grams of fiber for digestive tract support. A-O Reds has a delicious berry flavor enhanced by the natural sweetness of stevia.
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