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LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET
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05 Jul: Immune boosters – meditation

So far I have been exploring different nutrients that have positive effects on the immune system. I have also heard that meditation can have such effects, and so wanted to find out more and look at some recent research on the topic. I know that meditation does a lot of good for the body and mind, and was excited to see what the research has to say about it when it comes to immunity. The first study I found was a systematic review on all randomized controlled trials between 1966 and 2015 that were studying the effects of mindfulness meditation on immune system markers. The authors reported that mindfulness meditation had at least trend-level positive effects on four immune system related parameters (for example reduced C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation). They concluded that while the data is promising, much more research is needed to confirm these findings. (1) Another…

07 May: Immune boosters – Echinacea

The first time I became aware of Echinacea, was at a grocery store tea isle. The packaging of Echinacea tea promised improved immunity for the person drinking the tea. I never thought to check the validity of this claim until now with the novel coronavirus pandemic, and I found some interesting information. Echinacea is an extract derived from a perennial flowering plant Echinacea purpurea. It is unclear what the active ingredients of Echinacea are exactly, but it contains many substances with potential medicinal effects. (3) I found a relatively recent article discussing the effects of Echinacea on immunity, and more specifically on the components of physical barrier function (think skin, lining of the lungs), innate immunity (mechanisms that are in place against all invaders) and adaptive immunity (mechanisms that attack specific pathogens). The authors compiled multiple studies, and found mostly promising results. One study saw that Echinacea could help promote the…

20 Apr: Immune Boosters – Vitamin D

Vitamin D is another nutrient that the body needs for proper immune system function. Just like vitamin C, vitamin D plays a role in both the body’s innate and adaptive immune responses, but it’s also needed for bone health (which I won’t talk about in this post). Basics A few things to know about vitamin D in general before I dive into its effects on immunity. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, and it is unique in that your body can make it. This is nice because natural food sources of Vitamin D are not that easy to find. Ultraviolet light triggers the production of vitamin D from a molecule derived from cholesterol, which then has to be converted by your liver to 25 hydroxy vitamin D, the storage form of this vitamin, and then activated by your kidneys to the active form. Similarly, Vitamin D from food has to…

13 Dec: The power of Yoga

From experience I know how good it feels to practice yoga (postures, in this case – yoga includes many other things also, such as meditation). Doing yoga invigorates me, calms me, and makes my body stronger. The feeling of well-being after practicing yoga is often quite extraordinary. What’s more, and what I didn’t fully realize, is that there is also lots of scientific research done on the benefits of yoga. Yoga is actually being considered as alternative medicine(!). The list is long! Here are some examples: It releases stress Reduces depression, anxiety, insomnia Promotes cardiovascular health through lower resting heart rate, increased blood flow to tissues, lower blood pressure, increased hemoglobin levels, blood thinning effect to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, improved blood oxygenation etc… Reduces chronic pain Strengthens muscles, improves flexibility Has antioxidant effects (increases glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E blood levels) Some studies suggest…