Archive for the ‘Enhance’ Category
Seniors Need Vitamin D in the Winter
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During the winter months the Sun is low in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere which means that we receive very little sunlight and almost none of the UV that we need to synthesize vitamin D in our skin. For folks who do not move to sunny southern locations during the winter there is a solution to raising their level of vitamin D, the ‘sunshine vitamin’. The sunshine vitamin is currently available in supplement form in doses of 1,000 IU to 5,000 IU. To give folks an idea of suitable level of the vitamin D supplement, just 20 minutes spent in the summer sun will typically generate about 10,000 IU of vitamin D. The technical name for the sunshine vitamin is cholecalciferol which is also designated vitamin D3. It is no surprise that folks typically do not come down with the flu in the summertime, but when winter arrives the flu comes right along and infects those whose immune systems are weak. By supplementing with vitamin D3 in during the winter seniors can take a preemptive aging step to strengthen their immune system against the winter flu.
Drinking Green Tea Builds Immunity to the Flu
We are are in the middle of October this autumn, but it is an excellent idea to begin to build up our senior immune systems against the coming flu season. Beside the well known natural substances that have been proven to boost immunity, such as the vitamins C and D, a new arrival has entered the immunity field. When coupled with the old standbys vitamin C and D, this new arrival can form a strong, synergistic immunity team to fight the winter flu viruses. The new arrival on our immunity team is Green Tea taken daily. Substances in the Green Tea appear to act in a way similar to the substance in the flu drugs Relenza and Tamiflu that fight the flu. A recent study conducted in Asia reported that folks who consumed green tea at least six days a week reduced their risk of contracting flu by more that 45%. Using all the members of the immunity team will provide an immune system boost for seniors.
Strenghten Immune system
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During the cold winter months seniors need to strengthen their immune systems, because a weakened immune system can render seniors susceptible to coming down with simple colds that can progress to more serious illnesses such as full-blown pneumonia. For example, pneumonia and influenza continue to be one of the leading causes of death among Americans 65 years of age and older, because as seniors age the strength of their immune systems begin to decline from a number of causes including chronic stress, poor nutrition, and previous illnesses.
The good news for seniors is that there are ways to achieve an immune system boost against colds, flu and cold facilitated pneumonia. Unlike the flu vaccines that target specific flu viruses, other means are available for building the immune system that can defend against any cold or flu virus. A polysaccharide called beta-glucan that is derived from yeast can provide a powerful immune system boost. Similarly vitamin C is one of the vitamins that boost the immune system, because it replaces the vitamin C typically lost during infections. Citrus fruits are very good sources of vitamin C.
Seniors Need Vitamin D In Darker Winter Days
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When we head into the winter the hours of daylight shorten. The amount of sunlight decreases and our senior bodies do not synthesize as much vitamin D as we did during the sunny summer months. The flu and cold viruses that our senior immune systems easily resisted during the summer months become more difficult to resist. Before the winter arrives is the time for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps to safeguard their senior health to take action to increase the vitamin D in their senior bodies. Increasing the amount of vitamin D is critically important for seniors who want to build up their immune system against the flu viruses during the dark, gray winter months. The good news for seniors is that they can supplement with vitamin D in the form of vitamin D3 which is the type that our bodies synthesize when our skin is irradiated by the ultraviolet light from the Sun. It turns out that vitamin D3 is easier for our bodies to absorb than the D2 type which is often found in multivitamins and fortified milk.
Seniors Need Immune Defense Against the Return of the H1N1 Virus
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Last winter we were fortunate that the H1N1 virus did not claim as many lives as it might have claimed had it blossomed into a pandemic such as the 1918-19 flu virus. Back in 1918-19 the H1N1 flu virus killed at least 50 million worldwide. What needs to be noted is the sequence of the assaults on the human population in those two flu seasons. During the first year not many people died of the virus, but the next year it returned with a vengeance and killed most of the folks included in the 50 million deaths due to the flu. The second round was deadlier, because it had mutated. Similarly last year saw fewer deaths due to the H1N1 flu virus than had been expected, so this winter if the H1N1 flu virus returns it may mutate and result in the large number of deaths that occur when a flu pandemic strikes. Fortunately there is good news for seniors who want to take preemptive aging steps to protect their senior health against winter flu viruses such as the H1N1 virus by building up their immune system. Numerous studies have shown that a deficiency of vitamin D is linked to influenza infections. The Harvard Medical School, that normally recommends getting vitamins through food, makes an exception for supplementing with vitamin D. The good news is that the vitamin D supplements that duplicate the form D3 made by our bodies in sunlight are very inexpensive. The D3 form that is more readily absorbed by our bodies is preferred over the less potent form D2. Together with eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep, supplementing with vitamin D3 will support a layered defense against infection by the H1N1 flu.
Why Colorful Foods Are Healthy For Seniors!
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Vegetables and fruits come in a broad spectrum of colors including all the colors of the rainbow starting from purple through blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. They come in additional colors including white, tan, and brown. Bright colorful fruits and vegetables are loaded with health promoting phytochemicals. The colors that include red, white, and blue are most appropriate now, because they are the colors of the upcoming 4th of July celebration. For example tomatoes, cherries, watermelon, red apples, red peppers, and cranberries all contain the phytochemicals lycopene and anthocyanin that help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers such as prostate cancer. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps against cancers and for cardiovascular health. Alternatively white vegetables including garlic, onions, and cauliflower which contain the phytochemical allicin which lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and increases the body’s immune system’s resistance to infections.
Finally the blue fruits including blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, and plums contain the phytochemicals anthocyanin and phenolics that reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Seniors Can Get an Immune System Boost1
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Seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging measures to improve their senior health can get an immune system boost by implementing some simple changes in their diet. This year in May an article appeared in a leading publication dedicated to immunity that reported on the benefits for the immune system due to adding fiber to the diet. The fiber used in the lab tests included both soluble and insoluble fiber that was added to the diet in the form of citrus pectin over a period of six weeks. In the tests the subjects that had received the added fiber were 50% less susceptible to an induced bacterial infection and recovered about 50% faster than those that lacked the added fiber in their diet.
The researchers traced these benefits for the added fiber to changes in the response of immunity cells to the challenge of a bacterial infection. Without the added fiber the immunity cells tended to be pro-inflammatory, but by adding the fiber the immunity cells became more anti-inflammatory. The immunity cells that were more anti-inflammatory were better able to fight the bacterial infection. This is good news for seniors who want to get an immune system boost, in order to improve their senior health, because they can add a number of popular foods to their diets to increase the fiber in their diet. Foods containing soluble fiber include apples, nuts, seeds, oats, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries, and carrots. Supplements in the form of powders are also available.
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Why Is Topical Vitamin D Needed by Seniors?
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Recently the health reports in the media have contained a number of articles that promoted the benefits of vitamin D3 for seniors, because it contributes to inhibiting something like 27 age-related diseases. The preemptive aging benefits of vitamin D3 have been highlighted particularly for their ability to reduce the risk of disease such as cardiovascular disease and a number of age-related cancers particularly the hormonal based ones. As we age the ability of our skin to synthesize vitamin D3 from sunlight decreases so that by age 70 we only synthesize about 25% of the amount we did when we were in our 20′s. Fortunately seniors can access vitamin D3 in supplement form to make up the difference. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about their senior health.
Seniors who supplement with vitamin D3 can restore their blood levels of D3 to their youthful levels, but there is a problem. The vitamin D3 that is taken in supplement form is used by our bodies to help build and maintain strong bones. Our skin is the last organ to receive the vitamin D3 which is taken in supplement form. Fortunately for seniors there is good news to report on this matter. Vitamin D3 is available in topical form, so that it can be applied directly to the skin. Applied in topical form vitamin D3 will contribute to skin cell repair, growth and metabolism. It will help to destroy free radicals and stimulate the skin’s immune system. Applying vitamin D3 topically may provide a rejuvenating effect on aging skin.
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Seniors Need an Immune System Boost in Spring!
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When the seasons change from winter to spring many folks seem to be more susceptible to colds and flu viruses. This is particularly the case for seniors, because their immune function typically degrades with increasing age. Although considered “routine,” colds and flu in seniors can quickly progress into dangerous and even fatal upper-respiratory complications such as pneumonia. Seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health can take preemptive steps to achieve an immune system boost. Seniors can take the following vitamins to boost immune system.
The vitamins C and E are two leading antioxidant vitamins that boost the immune system. Senior men need to get the full spectrum vitamin E that is found in foods, because typical supplements only provide the alpha component. Seniors need to add a third vitamin to complete the team. The vitamin that completes the immune system boost team is vitamin D3 the ‘sunshine vitamin’.
In addition to the vitamins seniors need to get the immune system boosting minerals, supplements, and foods that complement the vitamin immune system boost team. The minerals are selenium and zinc. The dietary supplement that is known to boost immune system is DHEA. Finally the foods garlic and green tea are both known to inhibit bacteria and viruses. These vitamins, minerals, supplements, and foods can provide seniors with the immune system boost they need to preempt spring colds and flu.
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Senior Health Requires Sufficient Magnesium
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When the topic of magnesium deficiency is raised it usually has to do with balancing calcium to ensure healthy bones, but there is much more to discuss. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps to keep heart rhythm steady, it promotes healthy blood pressure, and its role in managing cardiovascular disease is rapidly emerging. Additional benefits for cardiovascular health are provided by magnesium, because of its role in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes which threatens cardiovascular health. In a recent study the participants with a lower level of magnesium showed an increased risk of coronary heart disease greater than 50%.
This is very good news for seniors who are trying to take steps against preemptive aging by making certain that they are getting sufficient magnesium for their general senior health and for their cardiovascular health in particular. It turns out that the foods sources that are high in magnesium are generally popular. The magnesium rich foods include nuts, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are also high in magnesium. Low cost dietary supplements of magnesium are available in the event that folks discover that they are not getting sufficient magnesium from the foods in their diet.
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