We've just launched our new supplement, Immune Support, available on our website now.

With all of the focus on viruses and viral infections since early 2019, we wanted to create a supplement (and protocol) that helps to boost the immune system, especially during the long, cold winter months.

The Immune Support formula is designed to help support immune function. 

The Immune Support formulation is designed to provide high doses of nutrients that have been found to reduce the incidence of infection and calm inflammation within the body. The combination of quercetin, zinc, bromelain, and selenium provides different cofactors involved in regulating the immune response, nutrients that decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and synergistic responses that allow for increased absorption into target cells (quercetin acting as a zinc ionophore). Immune Support can be used preventatively to boost the immune response to incoming pathogens and provide high levels of highly absorbable minerals (zinc, selenium) that have been shown to decrease the incidence of illness when they are deficient. This formulation also demonstrates anti-allergic benefits, due to the anti-histamine properties of quercetin.

What Makes Immune Support Different?

Immune Support contains optimal amounts of quercetin, bromelain, selenium and zinc, providing immune-boosting nutrients that our bodies need to prevent and fight infections. While some supplements contain quercetin and zinc, our formula is unique in that it also contains selenium and bromelain. As well, many of the formulas which contain quercetin have doses that are below the therapeutic level. When the Immune Support formula is taken together with Vitamin D-K2 Balance and Magnesium Balance, the body is provided with vitamins and minerals which are essential for supporting immune function, both for the prevention and healing of infections.

Will Immune Support be part of a protocol?

Immune Support is a key part of our new Immune Protocols. The Immune Protocol contains both Immune Support and Vitamin D-K2 Balance. Supplementing with vitamins D, K2, A are critical, especially during the winter months when we have less sun exposure and are not able to produce vitamin D naturally.

In addition, the Immune Protocol+ also contains Magnesium Balance. As you know, almost everybody who doesn't supplement with magnesium is deficient, and without enough of it, it's going to be that much more difficult for our immune systems to function optimally. As well Magnesium Balance contains Zinc bisglycinate, which helps to increase the dosage of zinc in the protocol, and with vitamin B6 to help direct the zinc and magnesium into the cells where it is needed most.

What do each of the ingredients in Immune Support do?

Quercetin

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid commonly found in a wide variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and is commonly used as a supplement for its anti-histamine properties (inhibiting the release of histamine from mast cells), making it a useful tool in the management of allergy symptoms. Quercetin is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic (arterial health). Quercetin also has some preliminary evidence suggesting it can be an effective tool in regulating blood sugar levels by promoting insulin-dependent uptake of glucose into cells. Quercetin’s ability to enhance zinc absorption into cells provides one additional benefit to its use in this formula.

Bromelain

Bromelain, also called “pineapple extract”, is a combination of several compounds, including a large amount of a special protein-digesting enzyme. This enzyme is able to be digested and thus affect the blood and body, rather than just the stomach and intestines. Bromelain increases the absorption of quercetin in the digestive tract.

Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties are responsible for several of its effects, including its ability to decongest the nasal cavity, support the immune system, heal tissue and reduce chronic inflammation.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that is a critical cofactor in numerous processes throughout the human body. There have been over 300 enzymes identified that require zinc for their function. Zinc absorption is highly impaired by phytates that are commonly found with cereal proteins, while zinc from animal products has generally been found to have higher rates of absorption due to the absence of phytates in these foods.

Supplemental zinc comes in a number of different forms, including zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, and zinc glycinate, and like many other minerals, the chelated forms of zinc have generally been found to have higher rates of gut absorption.

Zinc supplementation has been shown to improve T cell-mediated function and reduce infections in the elderly. Zinc shortens the duration of common colds if treatment is initiated no later than 24 hours from symptom onset. Zinc is also essential in the maintenance of cell membrane integrity, which offers protection against pathogens in the pulmonary and intestinal epithelial cells.

Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace mineral primarily found in the thyroid gland. It is present in selenoproteins, a group of proteins that have a variety of functions, including the antioxidant proteins glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, and the thyroid hormone-producing protein, iodothyronine deiodinase. Selenium has been found to play an important role in immune system function.

Low selenium status has been associated with an increased risk of mortality, poor immune function, cognitive decline, as well as systemic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and various cancers. Selenium may provide protection against a number of different viral infections.