supplementsupport

Supplements for Seasonal Support ❄️

3 Supplements to Consider for ❄️Seasonal Immune Support


But first to be clear:


“Seasonal support” supplements are meant to strengthen immune function over weeks or months—not to be confused with “temporary support” products, which are best taken when you’re already feeling unwell.


Here they are!


1️⃣ Reishi

Reishi is a medicinal mushroom, traditionally used as an adaptogen to support stress resilience. It is rich in beta-glucans, which modulate immune function over time. Powdered reishi can be mixed into coffee or brewed as tea.


2️⃣ Probiotics

Since 70%-80% of the body’s immune cells reside in the gut, a healthy gut microbiome is essential for supporting immune defenses. Probiotics can be consumed as supplements or in fermented foods.


3️⃣ Vitamin D

Especially during darker months, consuming enough vitamin D is essential for immune function. Studies show that low vitamin D levels increase the risk and severity of infections. Vitamin D can be taken as pills. If you don’t know your vitamin D level, ask to get it checked!


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References:

-Chen SN, Nan FH, Liu MW, Yang MF, Chang YC, Chen S. Evaluation of Immune Modulation by β-1,3; 1,6 D-Glucan Derived from Ganoderma lucidum in Healthy Adult Volunteers, A Randomized Controlled Trial. Foods. 2023;12(3):659. [link]

-Wimalawansa SJ. Infections and Autoimmunity-The Immune System and Vitamin D: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2023;15(17):3842. Published 2023 Sep 2. [link]

-Yuan C, He Y, Xie K, Feng L, Gao S, Cai L. Review of microbiota gut brain axis and innate immunity in inflammatory and infective diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023;13:1282431. [link]

40% of Female Teens Deficient in This Nutrient

💃 If you’re a nonpregnant woman or teen, listen up.

A study just published in JAMA found 40% of US females between the ages of 12 and 21 were deficient in iron 🩸

Why should you care?

Because screening for iron deficiency is not routine for this age group!

Guidelines in the US recommend screening for iron-deficient anemia every 5-10 years, but this recent study found that only 6% of the participants actually had anemia, compared with the 40% with iron deficiency.

⚠️ That means iron deficiency can exist WITHOUT anemia and can easily be missed by routine screenings.

What can we do?

The best way to test for iron deficiency is with a blood test for ferritin 🩸It’s a simple thing, but your provider needs to be proactive to order it and know how to interpret it.

In functional medicine, we aim for optimal levels on blood tests, which are not always the same as what’s considered “normal.” If ferritin levels are low, this can usually be corrected through dietary changes and supplementation.

Do you know what the most common symptom of iron deficiency is? Drop your guess in the comments and I’ll let you know.

↗️ Share to your stories to spread the word!

Reference

Weyand AC, Chaitoff A, Freed GL, Sholzberg M, Choi SW, McGann PT. Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US Females Aged 12-21 Years, 2003-2020. JAMA. 2023;329(24):2191–2193. [link]