3 Immune-Supporting Botanicals & Nutrients To Protect Your Health

Increased worldwide interest in protecting the body’s immune system has led to a large volume of research into the best botanicals and nutrients to protect your health.

We’ve written before about the vitamins and minerals in black elderberry, but we’d like to elaborate further on new research into botanicals & nutrients – especially those that may help the body combat illnesses such as Covid-19.

Read on to learn more about our top 3 immune-supporting botanicals & nutrients to supplement into your diet.

Vitamin C

This is a no-brainer, but Vitamin C is often overlooked and underrated in its role in combating viruses. Did you know that unlike most other mammals, humans can’t synthesize our own vitamin C? Unless you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, you’re likely not ingesting enough of this essential nutrient.

According to new research in October’s issue of Frontiers of Immunology, “vitamin C supplementation…could potentially be able to improve the health of these individuals [at risk for Covid-19] and reduce the susceptibility to infections.” Prior research has shown that additional vitamin C supplementation reduces inflammation in people with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We know that people with these factors are at higher risk for contracting diseases such as Covid-19.

Vitamin C contains high levels of interferon, which the body uses in order to fight viral infections. Even if you are healthy, it’s crucial to take vitamin C supplements or use herbal tinctures such as elderflower drops which contain high levels of vitamin C.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: elderberry works wonders in protecting the body’s immune system from harmful attacks.

Some controversy surrounding elderberry has arisen in recent months, however, with many researchers concerned about the theory of elderberry causing “cytokine storms.” Cytokines are “…proteins that are secreted by specific cells of the immune system that act as cell signaling molecules and play a role in the inflammatory process.”

A cytokine storm is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndrome of immune-cell hyperactivity. In other words, the immune response to a pathogen rather than the pathogen itself can sometimes be more harmful.

Because elderberry boosts the immune system so effectively, many researchers were concerned it would prompt an exaggerated immune response to pathogens such as Covid-19.

However, further research has found that the association between elderberry and cytokine storms are implausible as elderberry supports production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. According to Dr. Aviva Romm, “Were one to be experiencing cytokine storm, one would be far too sick for herbal therapies.”

Research shows that zinc may prevent and reduce the severity and duration of Covid-19 symptoms, as well as a range of other viral infections such as the common cold. It is for this reason that 25mg of zinc is often used in hospitals to treat symptoms of Covid-19.

Research also found that 23mg of zinc gluconate throat lozenges reduced the severity of common cold symptoms from 11 to 4 days.

Amazingly, dark chocolate contains roughly 30% of the daily recommended value of zinc! This means the next time you treat yourself to some yummy chocolate, you have the excuse that you’re taking your vitamins 😉 We also fortify LittleBerry Immune Syrup with zinc to protect your little berries from harmful pathogens during their playdates.

These three botanicals and nutrients are just the tip of the health & wellness iceberg. Here at Andi Lynn’s, we use a range of herbal ingredients packed with the nutrients your body needs to function at 100%.

We’re committed to creating handcrafted, traditional herbal remedies that not only taste great, but also increase your standard of living. Talk with your doctor before use. Our handcrafted products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, or cure any disease.