Immune Boosting Resources

Are you ready to end 2020?  What a crazy and challenging time for everyone in the world!  We are back in lock-down in most cities as the government tries to slow the spread – but I would like to remind to everyone that social distancing is only one part of the solution.  We also need to take ownership for our own health and build up our immune system so it is ready to fight the virus when the day arrives that you are exposed to it.  We need to take action now and prepare our troops and weapons for the big day- preventative measures can be implemented. 

Part of the GET HEALTHY initiative that I have been promoting for many years, especially since March 2020, are the eight elements of “THE WHOLESTIC METHOD”.   These key nutrition and health building habits improve your ability to burn fat, optimize health and improve performance in daily life.

These same eight elements are what is needed to improve our resiliency -build up our health from the inside out to strengthen our immune system. 

What can you do now to ensure that you are healthy on the inside out as we don’t know what is actually going on in our gut unless we test…

Are you a motivated and driven individual who strives to live their best life and feel their best each day?

Perhaps you are ready to invest in your health but starting a comprehensive investigation to what is actually going on “under the hood” by running well-chosen functional lab tests to reveal HIDDEN internal sources of CHRONIC Stress that could be impacting your ability to THRIVE each day!

My purpose and passion are to help other ambitious individuals get their body and vibrant self-back again by implementing the magic of the FDN-Practitioners investigation three- step process.  We run functional lab testing and correlate the test results to your health concerns, goals and struggles.  The “magic” of our comprehensive “health detective” services is not in necessarily in the specific lab tests that we are using, as we “treat the person, not the test results”.

The magic in FDN is the methodology and the functional lab tests we select are simply tools we use to go with our investigative process.

As an FDNP-Practitioner, we work with our Medical Director Program to order a variety of functional tests to help as “health detectives” investigate sources of chronic stressors within the Hormones, Immune, Digestion, Detoxification, Energy and Nervous systems of the body that provide us with objective data to guide us in creating an individualized D.R.E.S.S. for Health Success® protocol to repair, rebuild and restore the client back to optimal levels.

My association for FDN-Practitioners is committed to being a leader in the industry and providing cutting-edge information and training for all of us all, this is just one of the many reasons why I became an FDN and why I continue to be so passionate about it as well.

A few of the functional lab tests that we have access to order via our Medical Director Program include:

1. DUTCH Complete test to measure hormone balance and neurotransmitters
2. Organic Acids Test by Great Plaines to measure metabolites
   • The Organic Acids Test (OAT) offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of a patient’s overall health with 76 markers. 
   • It provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria. 
   • Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue and immune function.
   • Many people with chronic illnesses and neurological disorders often excrete several abnormal organic acids in their urine.
   • The cause of these high levels could include oral antibiotic use, high sugar diets, immune deficiencies, acquired infections, as well as genetic factors.
   • The Great Plains Organic Acids Test also includes markers for vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and is the only OAT to include markers for oxalates, which are highly correlated with many chronic illnesses.
   • If abnormalities are detected using the OAT, treatments can include supplements, such as vitamins and antioxidants, or dietary modification.
   • Post protocol- practitioners have reported significant improvement such as decreased fatigue, regular bowel function, increased energy and alertness, increased concentration, improved verbal skills, less hyperactivity, and decreased abdominal pain.
   • The OAT is strongly recommended as the initial screening test.
   • The Microbial Organic Acids Test (MOAT) is ideal for follow-up to the OAT and is often recommended by practitioners looking for a specific abnormality, to monitor certain microbial imbalances, or to assess treatment efficacy.
3. BiomeFx test to analysis your microbiome
4. GI Map to evaluate gut pathogens, bacteria, yeast and fungal infections
5. Food sensitivities and allergens from MRT, Vibrant Wellness or Cyrex Labs

Okay another post on Vitamin D, the immune system. viruses …as the media and political health experts are not sharing the research on how you can optimize your health

Listen to the interview with Dr Mercola with Ben Greenfield.

Hopefully you are supplementing with vitamin D and magnesium (especially in the winter) plus omega fatty acids, zinc and of course taking care of your gut health (70% immune system lives here)

Here is a snippet from the conversation between Ben Greenfield and Dr. Mercola but listen to the entire interview on the BGF a podcast ….

Ben: Right. And it might seem confusing or paradoxical at first because if the COVID virus binds to the ACE2 receptor and we are increasing the density of ACE2 receptors with higher vitamin D levels, it would make it sound like there’s more receptors for COVID to be able to interact with, and that seems paradoxical. But as you’ve just explained, and this is important for people to understand, that the renin suppression that we get from vitamin D, that’s going to result in less angiotensin 2 accumulation, so there’s less lung blood vessel restriction.

So, even though there’s an increase in ACE2 expression, if you have high vitamin D levels, you get less of the lung blood vessel constrictive response, which would actually cause a lot of the pulmonary issues associated with COVID-19. Is that the right train of thought here?

Joe: That’s a terrific summary, yes. Thank you for expressing that. And the key thing here to emphasize again though is that this is something that ideally works optimally when you have ideal vitamin D levels. So, again emphasizing the importance of doing this before you’re exposed to the attention because there’s so many other benefits, as we mentioned earlier.

It’s just beyond crazy not to optimize your levels for all the other physiological benefits.

But why wouldn’t you want to reduce your risk for heart disease by 50%, or cancer by 50% with one simple strategy by optimizing your vitamin D levels?

I mean, it’s just so full. It’s my number one recommendation. My number one step when people ask me, “How do I get healthy?” is just you got to look at your vitamin D levels. – Dr. Mercola

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/…/transcript-vitamin…/

Do you think you have a strong immune system? 

How do you really know if you don’t do functional lab testing?

Well you can guess you have “room for improvement” and supplement with known “ingredients” to build a healthy and resilient immune system.

Or you can work with a functional health practitioner to investigate what is actually going on “under the hood” with well-chosen lab tests that your traditional doctor doesn’t often run.

What do your most recent blood chemistry lab results indicate on your “normal” ranges – or do you want to strive to be in the healthy “optimal ranges? 

Do you think you “healthy” and your lab results indicate you are “normal” – but you still feel horrible and not your vibrant self??

Let’s choose to make some inexpensive or even FREE health building nutrition and lifestyle habits.

I want to make sure YOU are taking care of the WHOLE you right now as we are in a crazy world with a pandemic that the outcome is depending on your immune system

Sometimes you can just make simple changes in your life as getting outside for a walk each afternoon, eating real food, nasal breathing, mindful walks, unplugging electronic devices, getting quality sleep and supplementing missing nutrients in our diet and environment as Vitamin/Hormone D!

How can I boost my vitamin D?

• Spend time in sunlight. Vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin” because the sun is one of the best sources of this nutrient.
• Consume fatty fish and seafood.
• Eat more mushrooms.
• Include egg yolks in your diet.
• Take a supplement as Rosita’s Cod Liver Oil or Seeking Health Vitamin D3/K2

If you have recently had your Vitamin D levels tested, then make sure they are around 50-70…plus I keep reading that you need enough magnesium (co-factor) to make Vitamin D.

Here are a few of my favorite immune supplements…

1. Rosita’s Cod Liver Oil
2. ENERGYbits and RECOVERYbits …or VITALITYbits is a combo pack:  use code thelowcarbathlete at checkout for 20% off every purchase!
3. Seeking Health Glutathione Plus, Vitamin C and Zinc
4. Microbiome Labs Probiotics (and to order the BiomeFx lab test)
5. Kion Omegas, Colostrum and Immune Bundle

Are you outside with your bare skin each day when the sun is above you?

Probably not in most parts of the country in the winter.

Are you eating lots of foods high in fat soluble vitamin D as oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel, red meat, liver, and the “bad” egg yolks?

If you are eating low-fat/non-fat food or processed high fat dead foods, then you are probably deficient. 

What if you have poor fat digestion. Gallbladder issues and liver congestion?

Stay tuned for more scientific data and research on VITAMIN D this week on my blog and newsletter via www.debbiepotts.net and hopefully my podcast will a medical expert to discuss more.

Resources:

1. https://www.stopcovidcold.com/
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77093-z
3. https://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-vitamin-d
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/

I’m excited to share that I’ve partnered with a small, family-run company in Norway that provides the world’s only raw and unprocessed fish liver oils — to help them get the word out. These oils are fresh, sustainable, and nutrient-rich because they’re made from real food. And they support health and beauty in a variety of ways! You can learn more here: https://lddy.no/rvwl

https://www.mercola.com/article/vitamin-d-resources.htm

How does Vitamin D play a role in our immune system?Research article abstract summarized the role:

“In a recent interview Dr. Fauci revealed that he takes multiple vitamin supplements to help boost his immune system and fend off disease. Dr. Joseph Mercola joins today’s Liberty Report to explain how we might be able to also provide our bodies with additional protections against diseases with such vitamins and natural immune boosters.” 

Here is Dr. Mercola’s “Stop Covid” website: https://www.stopcovidcold.com/

Here is one of many interviews with Dr. Mercola on the immune system https://youtu.be/BoVTgqGJpVw

If we can normalize our vitamin D levels BEFORE we come across the virus – it will improve our innate and adaptive immune response! 

Vitamin D is so inexpensive supplements – so why not be preventative?

Ideally you can get Vitamin D3 for free by getting out in the afternoon in the sunshine -but you must have the sun on your bare skin and the sun is directly above you around the noon hour!

What if you are taking cholesterol lowering drug as Statin drugs? 

You need cholesterol to make Vitamin D in your liver.  IF your cholesterol is too low then you may struggle making vitamin D from the sunshine as well as other steroid hormones that are made from cholesterol.

What if your liver is congested and not functioning at optimal levels?

Do you have darker skin pigment or an older adult? 

More reasons you need Vitamin D- check out the research.  Dr. Mercola has over 300 scientific references on Vitamin D on his website.

What about the role of Nitric Oxide and the immune system?

Abstract

• Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by many cell types involved in immunity and inflammation.
• NO is important as a toxic defense molecule against infectious organisms.
• It also regulates the functional activity, growth and death of many immune and inflammatory cell types including macrophages, T lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells, mast cells, neutrophils and natural killer cells.
• However, the role of NO in nonspecific and specific immunity in vivo and in immunologically mediated diseases and inflammation is poorly understood.
• NO does not act through a receptor-its target cell specificity depends on its concentration, its chemical reactivity, the vicinity of target cells and the way that target cells are programmed to respond.
• At high concentrations as generated by NOS-2, NO is rapidly oxidized to reactive nitrogen oxide species (RNOS) that mediate most of the immunological effects of NOS-2-derived NO.
• RNOS can S-nitrosate thiols to modify key signaling molecules such as kinases and transcription factors.
• Several key enzymes in mitochondrial respiration are also inhibited by RNOS and this leads to a depletion of ATP and cellular energy.
• A combination of these interactions may explain the multiple actions of NO in the regulation of immune and inflammatory cells.

Another article on Nitric Oxide…Abstract

• Nitric oxide (NO) initially described as a physiological mediator of endothelial cell relaxation plays an important role in hypotension.
• It is an intercellular messenger and has been recognized as one of the most versatile players in the immune system.
• Cells of the innate immune system–macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells use pattern recognition receptors to recognize molecular patterns associated with pathogens.
• Activated macrophages then inhibit pathogen replication by releasing a variety of effector molecules, including NO.
• In addition to macrophages, a large number of other immune system cells produce and respond to NO.
• Thus, NO is important as a toxic defense molecule against infectious organisms.
• It also regulates the functional activity, growth and death of many immune and inflammatory cell types including macrophages, T lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells, mast cells, neutrophils and NK cells.
• Read the rest of the research paper here https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18341206/

How do you improve your levels of nitric oxide naturally?

Here are the top 5 ways to increase nitric oxide naturally.

1. Eat Vegetables High in Nitrates.
2. Increase Your Intake of Antioxidants.
3. Use Nitric–Oxide-Boosting Supplements – “Several dietary supplements are marketed as “nitric oxide boosters.”  These supplements don’t contain nitric oxide itself, but they include ingredients that help form nitric oxide in your body-Two of the most commonly used ingredients are L-arginine and L-citrulline”
4. Limit Your Use of Mouthwash.
5. Get Your Blood Flowing with Exercise.

Read the article here:  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-nitric-oxide

Another video to watch with the authors of my favorite new books called “The Immunity Fix” by Dr. James Dinicolantonio and Siim Land:  https://youtu.be/yGCKtjWuJUk

How does the immune system work?

The immune system plays an essential role in our “self-defense” response to foreign invaders as organisms, pathogens, bacteria and viruses. 

Reference:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11515807/

If you want to learn more about the immune system definitions of all our key players- you can read my free “Immune System 101 Resource Manual” available on my website here:

Vitamin D deficiency and correlation to “an increased susceptibility to infection and a diathesis, in a genetically susceptible host to autoimmunity”.

How do we get Vitamin D?

• “In humans, vitamin D is obtained from the diet or it is synthesized it in the skin (reviewed in [1]).
• As vitamin D is cutaneous produced after exposure to UV Blight, its synthesis is influenced by latitude, season, use of sunblock and skin pigmentation.
• Melanin absorbs UVB radiation inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin D from 7-dihydrocholesterol. This initial vitamin D compound is inactive, and it is next hydroxylated in the liver to form 25 OH vitamin D3 (25 D).
• 25 D is also an inactive compound but is the most reliable measurement of an individual’s vitamin D status.
• It is converted in the kidney to the active compound 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25 D) or calcitriol by 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), an enzyme which is stimulated by PTH.
• Read the rest of the study here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/

Did you know that you need to have sufficient levels of MAGNESIUM to absorb Vitamin D?? 

I recently became aware of the need for magnesium supplementation with low in Vitamin D levels.

Why do we need Magnesium to increase Vitamin D levels?

• “Role of Magnesium in Nutrients usually act in a coordinated manner in the body -Intestinal absorption and subsequent metabolism of a particular nutrient, to a certain extent, is dependent on the availability of other nutrients.
• Magnesium and vitamin D are 2 essential nutrients that are necessary for the physiologic functions of various organs.
• Magnesium assists in the activation of vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphate homeostasis to influence the growth and maintenance of bones.
• All of the enzymes that metabolize vitamin D seem to require magnesium, which acts as a cofactor in the enzymatic reactions in the liver and kidneys.
• Magnesium is needed to activate vitamin D.
• Magnesium activates more than 600 enzymes and influences extracellular calcium levels.¹³ 
• It is essential for the stability of cell function, RNA and DNA synthesis, and cell repair, as well as maintaining the antioxidant status of the cell.
• It is an important cofactor for the activation of a wide range of transporters and enzymes.^14,15 
• Optimal health benefits of exogenous and endogenous vitamin D might not be achieved without the adequate presence of magnesium, as the bioactivity of vitamin D is a magnesium-dependent process.^33,34 

Conclusion: “Magnesium homeostasis is maintained by the delicate interactions of the intestine, bone, and kidneys. Magnesium is an essential cofactor for vitamin D synthesis and activation and, in turn, can increase intestinal absorption of magnesium and establish a feed-forward loop to maintain its homeostasis. Dysregulation in either of these nutrients can be associated with various disorders, including skeletal deformities, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndrome.91

A core principle of osteopathic medicine lies in promoting the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

Read the entire article here: Vitamin D Activation and Function: https://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2673882

Are you ready to take care of the WHOLE you?

Contact me here to schedule a consultation to discuss how you can repair, rebuild and restore the WHOLE you back to optimal levels with our FDNP three step method by running an individualized comprehensive health investigation.  Click here to learn more and learn from my story.

In health and gratitude,

Coach Debbie Potts