With 2020 behind us, the latest studies have shown us a lot of information that we didn’t know about Coronavirus, and with a vaccine that’s been approved, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And there’s some other good news - one way to lower your risk of getting a severe case of COVID might actually be in your medicine cabinet.
Dr. Peter Osborne of Origins Nutrition Center says that one of the most important ways to strengthen the immune system and lower COVID-19 severity take the proper mix of vitamins. In fact, he says that nine out of ten COVID deaths could be prevented if people had adequate levels of Vitamin D.
“A lot of doctors are now learning this and coming out and saying it! The East Virginia School of Medicine actually has a COVID protocol that includes Vitamin D. So if you're a patient who gets hospitalized for COVID, they're automatically putting you on between 20,000 and 60,000 units of Vitamin D. This is part of their standard of care protocol in that hospital system,” says Dr. Osborne.
Here are the four powerhouse vitamins suggested to lower the severity of COVID-19. (Hint: a dose of immunity contains all four of them.)
If you weren’t already convinced that Vitamin D is highly effective in supporting your immune system and fighting against Coronavirus, then the numbers can speak for themselves. A study of 216 COVID-19 patients revealed that 80 percent of the patients did not have the recommended level of Vitamin D in their blood. Those with insufficient Vitamin D levels also had longer stays at the hospital.
Another study showed that patients who did have adequate amounts of Vitamin D levels had a 50% lower risk of dying from the virus, and they also were at a reduced risk of complications if they did get it.
Vitamin D can be increased in the body by spending time outside in the sun, eating foods rich in Vitamin D like salmon and orange juice, or by taking supplements. However, when you’re looking at supplements, pay careful attention to dosing strengths. There might be a few products that you can find with all four ingredients listed that may help lower the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, but if they don’t have the proper dosing strength, they won’t be effective.
One of the main reasons that dose of immunity was formulated was to help support the effects of vaccines. When a vaccine is introduced into your body, that’s only part of the reason that we develop an immunity. The other reason we develop immunity through vaccination is because your body is strong enough to make antibodies when it meets the vaccine. Don’t risk making a vaccine less effective than it could be by buying cheap supplements that don’t give you the proper supplement dosage.
Taking Vitamin C has always been known to have a long list of potential health benefits, including:
And, now, above all, scientists are interested in Vitamin C’s role in strengthening the immune system. Vitamin C plays an important role in immune response due to its antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Vitamin C supplementation given to COVID-19 patients could help prevent inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from taking over during the fatal phase. It could also potentially reduce the length of their stay in the ICU.
Vitamin C increases the production of cortisol, which activates an anti-inflammatory response. This vitamin has long been used to treat viruses, and has been shown to reduce their severity and duration.
Zinc works by preventing a virus from entering into your cells, and putting a stop to viral replication. There is evidence that oral zinc is beneficial in helping people get over colds - many of which are coronaviruses.
Almost 50% of the patients that passed away from COVID-19 had fungal or bacterial co-infections, which highlights the importance of making sure your body has enough zinc, which fights against those infections. Zinc is a powerhouse that helps to strengthen the epithelium’s integrity, boost antivirus immunity, and reduce lung damage by providing an anti-oxidative effect. Supplementing with zinc is cost effective and most likely would benefit COVID-19 risk groups.
Lesser known on the list, quercetin also plays a part in strengthening the immune system, and it’s undergoing studies to see how it could directly help lessen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Quercetin is a flavonoid that works together with Vitamin C to create an antiviral effect in the body. It has promising properties, promoting anti-inflammatory, immunoprotective, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. One study found that quercetin bound with a protein in the novel coronavirus, and put a damper on its capacity to infect cells. It can also interfere with different stages of coronavirus entry in the body.
Aside from a dose of immunity, you’ll be hard pressed to find a supplement that contains Vitamin D and C and is also formulated with Quercetin.
At this point, there’s really no reason for you to not stock up on Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Quercetin. A dose of immunity is the one supplement that contains all four of these ingredients in one, plus echinacea, another natural cold buster. Working together in one powerful formula, your body might just thank you for giving it this carefully researched team of supplements.
A dose of immunity was formulated by a pharmacist in a lab to specifically increase your body’s natural defenses, reduce the risk of respiratory tract infection, and maximize the body’s efficiency in fighting off illness. One of the only supplements out there that contains all four of the vitamins that doctors are recommending to potentially lessen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, it’s time you grabbed a bottle of dose of immunity.
You likely already know all the tried and true methods - get some exercise, eat well, sleep enough (although all those things are easier said than done.) You’ve tried yoga, breathing exercises, and for some reason you’re still really stressed out. So, what are you supposed to do to manage stress? Vitamins to the rescue. Here are the supplements that you can take for stress.
B Vitamins
There are many different factors surrounding what makes you stressed out, but high levels of the amino acid homocysteine is one of them. B Vitamins have been linked with stress reduction because they work to decrease homocysteine levels in the body. In one twelve week study, 60 participants who took two different forms of B vitamins exhibited fewer symptoms of work-related stress than those who were taking a placebo. Those symptoms included depression, fatigue, and anger.
B Vitamins also support the heart and the brain. They can be found in many different foods, such as dairy products, meats, eggs, leafy greens, and more. If you’re not getting enough of these foods, you can supplement with B vitamins and help promote stress management.
Ashwagandha
It might be hard to pronounce, but ashwaganda is widely thought to be a vitamin you can take for stress. It’s an adaptogenic herb that’s also called winter cherry or Indian ginseng, and has been used as a stress reliever for centuries.
In a study where 60 participants who had mild stress took 240mg of ashwagandha for 60 days, they reported feeling less symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress than their counterparts who were taking a placebo. It was also shown to lead to a 23% decrease of morning cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone. When you’re looking for vitamins for stress, ashwagandha is a safe, natural option to test.
L-theanine
Also a natural option, L-theanine is a compound that’s found in tea levels. Because it’s found in green tea, it’s been thought that L-theanine combined with the calming effect of drinking tea might be what helps create stress management. However, in a study on its own, researchers discovered that drinking 200 mg of L-theanine helped to lower levels of cortisol in response to a multitasking exercise.
An average green tea bag contains about 10 to 20 mg of L-theanine, so in order to use it as a vitamin you can take for stress, you’re better off supplementing with it in capsule form.
Rhodiola
A herb grown in Russia and Asia, Chinese medicine has used Rhodiola for hundreds of years when it comes to helping with stress management. In just one week, 400mg of rhodiola extract was shown to lead to improving symptoms of stress, like short-term memory impairment and loss of sleep. After that one week, symptoms continued to improve.
The two active ingredients, salidroside and rosavin, are responsible for aiding with stress reduction. Exhaustion and irritability are likely to improve when taking rhodiola for stress - which is something we could all use.
Glycine
The amino acid glycine is a building block for protein, and has a multitude of stress-relieving effects on the body. One study showed that those who took 3g of glycine before they went to bed were more alert and less tired the next day.
There were no differences in the time it took participants to fall asleep, but it’s believed that their sleep quality was improved. They also performed better on memory recognition tests than their counterparts who were taking a placebo.
For stress, you’ve got the vitamins above to help you out. For peace of mind, you’ve got Dose + Remedy to give you the highest quality vitamins out there. Stop worrying about your immune system, and give yourself a dose of immunity. With natural, powerful immune support, you’ve got one less thing to fret about.
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Not all vitamins are created equal, and everyone’s body needs different supplements for the most effective vitamin regimen that works for them. So, for all those of you who are asking what kind of vitamins you should take daily, here’s what you need to know.
It’s important to assess your current health before starting a vitamin plan. If you are healthy and have a good diet, chances are you’re not going to need a whole cabinet full of vitamins. However, most people benefit from the intake of at least some supplements, because it’s a great way to boost your nutrients, especially if you’re finding it difficult to eat enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Look carefully at your food intake, compare it to the recommended consumption of nutrients, and get a good idea of what you might be lacking.
Speaking of taking control of the nutrients you might be lacking, knowing your RDI is how you’re going to find out: the Recommended Daily Intake. So, if for example you’re a vegetarian, you might be lacking in vitamin B12, which is a vitamin commonly found in food sources that are not vegetarian. The RDI for B12 for adults is about 2.4mcg to 2.8mcg. Or, in another instance, the USDA recommends that you eat seafood about twice a week. If you’re not doing that, you could consider supplementing with an omega-3 fish oil.
It only makes sense that a thirty year old is going to need different vitamins than a sixty year old. Women approaching their fifties or sixties might be looking to take bone-strengthening vitamins for osteoporosis, or women who are trying to get pregnant might be looking to up their intake of iron and folate. Perhaps you have a long-term goal of being able to sleep better, and you’re considering taking magnesium or valerian root. Everyone has different goals, and taking the time to measure yours and carefully plan your routine will support your overall health in the long run.
Once you do find the supplements that you want to take, getting into the habit of remembering to take them can be more difficult than expected. To get into a good routine, try pairing up taking your vitamins with a routine you’ve already got down pat. Brushing your teeth in the morning, and in the evening? That can be your time to take your vitamins as well.
If you create the most optimized, perfect vitamin routine for yourself but use vitamins that aren’t made from quality ingredients, then you’re not doing yourself any good at all. How do you know which vitamins are quality and which ones aren’t? Check the label - see if it’s been tested. And then check out the ingredients themselves! For example, in a dose of immunity, you’ve got natural ingredients like zinc and quercetin, an antioxidant immunity stimulator that you won’t find on other, sub par supplements.
If you’re completely unsure where to begin, you can always ask a doctor or a physician how to proceed when it comes to finding a vitamin regimen that works for you. They will be able to make recommendations and streamline the process for you, giving you a custom plan.
After you’ve got your vitamin routine nailed down, make sure you’re never sacrificing on quality. That’s the dose+remedy guarantee.
]]>In fact, you probably hear about your immune system every day, and how you need to strengthen your immune system more than ever. So, how exactly does the immune system work, and how exactly do you get a stronger immune system?
There are many different elements that make up the immune system, working together to fight for our survival while we navigate through the world full of bacteria, parasites, and, of course, viruses.
As you can see, there are many different systems all at work throughout your entire body that are warding off pathogens. In a nutshell, here is how an immune system responds to threats.
The immune system needs to be able to tell what is part of itself and what is not part of itself - or what’s a threat. To do this, it detects proteins that are located on a cell’s surface. It ignores self proteins, because it recognizes the proteins that are part of your body.
If the immune system detects something that isn’t part of your body, an immune system response is triggered. The substance that is not a part of your body is an antigen, and can be anything from a virus, fungus, toxin, bacterium, or other foreign substance. Sometimes it can even be one of our own cells that has become faulty or that died.
This is where B lymphocytes come into play. They spot the antigens, and start to release antibodies. These antibodies lock onto the antigens. Each B cell is responsible for making one specific type of antibody, which are part of a larger family of chemicals called immunoglobulins.
Some of the things that immunoglobulins are responsible for are:
These antibodies do not actually kill the antigens your body is trying to get rid of. Instead, they act as a marker to tell other cells, like phagocytes and lymphocytes, to kill the antigens.
T lymphocytes can be broken down into two main categories: helper T cells and killer T cells. As the name suggests, helper T cells help to coordinate the immune response. They communicate with other cells, gather more T cells, tell cell-eating phagocytes to gather, or tell B cells to produce more antibodies.
Killer T cells also are aptly named - they attack other cells and recognize when a virus is present on cells that are infected, killing the infected cells.
So, how do you strengthen your immune system, now that you know how it works?
To help your immune system perform all these functions, it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle. While that sounds simple, it’s one of the most important and effective ways to strengthen your immune response. These actions include
You might also consider boosting your immune system by supplementing with vitamins. A dose of immunity will literally give you a dose of immunity, supporting the functions of your immune system and increasing your body’s defenses with natural ingredients.
Knowing just how your body fights off antigens and just what you can do to help it are key factors in helping to support your immune system, and living a healthy, balanced life.
]]>These days, you might feel like you want to take as many vitamins as you can get your hands on. If they help you fight off viruses, bacteria, and stay strong and healthy, the more the merrier, right? Or is there such a thing as too much when it comes to taking vitamins and minerals.
At dose and remedy, we know our supplements. And yes, there is an optimum amount of vitamins and minerals that you should be taking. Here’s how to know what it is.
The reason that the answer to this question doesn’t have a one hundred percent straight forward answer is because the supplements a person should be taking are all specific to gender, age group, and personal health. However, supplements do have guidelines to let you know several rules of thumb for how to gauge what your intake should be.
The RDA, or Recommended Dietary Allowance, lets you know the amount of a supplement you should be taking to each day. The UL, or Tolerable Upper Intake Level, is as it sounds - it shows you the highest amount of the supplement you should be taking before you’re putting yourself at risk for negative side effects.
If your Vitamin A pills say that their IU is 10,000mg, you might get 5,000mg from the pills themselves. Then, by eating a balanced diet of vegetables and fish, you could be getting your other 5,000mg. Pairing up a good diet with your vitamins is just as important - or even more important - than taking the supplements themselves.
When you’re shopping for vitamins, always make sure that you’re paying attention to the label. The supplements facts panel is going to tell you the information you need to know about how many vitamins you should take. If you see a Vitamin A pill that claims it gives you 15,000mg when the UI is actually 10,000mg, you’ll know that’s a bottle you should put back on the shelf.
Yes, you can take too many vitamins and minerals in one day. It’s incorrect to assume you can simply take as many vitamins and minerals as you want, because you could actually be getting a toxic dose.
For example, the UI for vitamin C is around 2,000, but some people could be mistakenly taking up to 10,000mg through an overdose in vitamins and in the food they’re consuming. Too much vitamin C in the system at once can cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, and more severe consequences in people who are at risk for kidney stones. An overdose of vitamin D can even cause the blood vessels to harden.
One multivitamin, an immune supplement, and a few other personalized vitamins like magnesium, omega 3, or vitamin C, should be about enough to make up a reasonable daily dose. If you’re thinking you’re going to have to take a handful of thirty vitamins a day to stay healthy, then you can rest easy.
If you’re ever uncertain about any of the supplements that you’re using, consult with a doctor to ask for their recommendations.
At dose and remedy, we believe in supplementing lives for the better. A dose of immunity’s proprietary blend of herbal ingredients does just that, and is proven to help keep you strong during tough times.
]]>Your immune system - made up of white blood cells, antibodies, the lymphatic system, and more - is your body’s defense against infection. When you get sick, essentially, your immune system has failed. And especially in 2020, that’s not what we want. So what can you do to fight off infection?
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Half the battle of having a well-functioning immune system is one that you’ve heard before. Following healthy-living strategies is one of the most surefire ways to ensure your entire body is functioning properly. These include:
Easier said than done, right? Still, there is no more simple to way to ward off germs and infections than keeping up your health during the day to day.
The Immune System Diet
There’s a reason mom and dad always told you to eat your fruits and vegetables. The nutrients have a major effect on your health and the function of your immune system. Eating less than the optimal amount can lead not only to a weak immune system, but also type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and more.
You’re going to want to choose foods high in micronutrients in order to give your immune system a boost. Here are a few options for you to choose from:
Try Not to Stress
When we’re feeling stressed out, our immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is compromised. Ongoing stress can take a toll on your immune system in a variety of different ways. Your lowered defenses might lead to a common cold, upset stomach, hives, or even heart disease. All those facts probably stress you out - so how do you get less stressed?
One way to beat the vicious cycle is to know that you’re taking other steps to fight off the germs. When you’re eating vitamin rich foods, exercising, and getting enough sleep, you can rest assured that your immune system is getting the care it needs. If you can’t control your outside stressors, the work you’re doing in other areas should help ease some tension.
Literally, Give Yourself a Dose of Immunity
You can strengthen your immune system in many ways, but this way is all bottled up and ready to go. A dose of immunity contains herbal supplements scientifically proven to help your immune system fight off infection. Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Zinc, and Echinacea are all in the mix, fortifying your body and increasing your natural defenses. Micronutrient deficiencies have been shown to lead to infectious disease. That’s why you want to support a healthy diet with all the supplements you can get, and there’s nothing easier than taking a dose of immunity every day.
*Note: Lifestyle modification and supplements have not been proven to protect you from developing COVID-19.
If you’re like me, and lack the enzyme ALDH2 thanks to a genetic mutation, you’ve been there. Flushed after a sip of your drink.
Hello, my name is Dr. Tri Tran. I am Asian American, and I work my day job as a pharmacist. I also have a condition typically referred to as alcohol flush. All it takes is one happy hour cocktail or beer. I get insanely red. My temperature starts to rise. I start to get tired. All from one drink.
In social settings, this was devastating. One drink and people would stare at me for all the wrong reasons. Happy hour sounded less and less like something happy, and more and more likely something I was dreading. Why couldn’t I just get through a few sips without burning red?
I knew this had to change. At work, I was used to giving people recommendations on how to cure their own conditions. I realized that I, too, had a condition. So it was time to tackle it.
I had a lot of questions. Why was I getting red? Was I allergic to alcohol? Was I just weak? Not able to handle my alcohol?
I set out to do some research and uncover what was really causing this issue. The first thing that I found out: I was not alone. About one third of Asians suffer from what is called alcohol flush - or Asian glow. Genetically, Asians are more predisposed to be born without the enzyme needed to process alcohol. But the condition isn’t just limited to Asian people - anyone can get it.
As a pharmacist, I’m used to asking myself: what’s going on at a deeper level? What’s going on inside the body?
So. We drink alcohol (ETOH). It's broken down into your body and turned into a byproduct, acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is the bad guy here - it’s the culprit behind all of your bad experiences with alcohol. Acetaldehyde has been shown in studies to be a factor in hangovers, headaches, nausea, lethargy, and of course, alcohol flush. And acetaldehyde is broken down by an enzyme called ALDH2.
Acetaldehyde in itself is extremely toxic. Once your body makes it, ALDH2 steps in to help. It metabolizes the toxic acetaldehyde, and turns it into a nontoxic product - acetate.
But what if that enzyme, ALDH2, wasn’t there to do its work?
This is where genetics play a huge role. Many of use are genetically predisposed to NOT have the gene that makes the enzyme ALDH2. No enzyme. No metabolism of acetaldehyde. And thus, you get a toixic buildup of acetaldehyde in your body.
The more you drink, the more your body can't keep up with the metabolism of the acetaldehyde. That’s why hangovers occur with excessive drinking.
So, I do not have the enzyme to process alcohol correctly. No ALDH2 for me. That means I get a buildup of acetaldehyde until it turns into toxic levels, and my body tries to get rid of it toxin in another way.
Cue: Asian glow!
Asian glow is actually your body's new way of trying to rid your insides of the acetaldehyde. When acetaldehyde builds up, your blood vessels dilate to allow the acetaldehyde to be sent out of your body quicker. However, this dilation causes your skin to turn red or flushed.
The release of histamines causes your blood vessels to dilate. Yes - these are the same histamines that are released when you come into contact with poison ivy, change to a cheap detergent, or are allergic to something. And what happens with all those things? You can turn red.
Here’s the bottom line. Acetaldehyde is what’s causing the flush. To remedy your redness, you have to get rid of the acetaldehyde in your body. But people without ALDH2 can’t do that.
That’s where a dose of recovery comes in.
After all my research, I found the solution. It’s called a dose of recovery, and I bottled it up.
It’s an all-natural blend of nutraceuticals that uses a synergistic formulation to cure your redness. The ingredients all work together to help your body metabolize acetaldehyde. That means: decreasing the alcoholic flush, hangovers, and other negative effects of alcohol.
With a dose of recovery, I can actually go out and have a drink without suffering from the alcoholic flush I used to. So, I’m inviting you to...
TAKE BACK HAPPY HOUR!
Please feel free to contact me anytime at hello@doseandremedy.com if you have any questions about our product!
Dr. Tri Tran Pharm.D
Co-founder Dose+Remedy
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