Immune Support Recommendations
by Erik Lundquist, MD
Looking for ways to support healthy immune function? Erik Lundquist, MD shared a variety of options to consider as ways to help support immune health.
Here are some formula recommendations he gives to his patients:
Vitamins:
- Vitamin D3: 4-5,000 IUs per day or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (Dr. Lundquist recommends D3 5000 or D3 10,000 + K; these high-potency formulas provide vitamin D (as D3) for greater absorption*).
- Vitamin C: 1,000 mg per day or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (Ultra Potent-C® 1000). The buffered delivery system in this formula helps prevent the potential upset sometimes associated with high vitamin C intake.*
Probiotics:
- Specifically Saccharomyces boulardii: (UltraFlora® Acute Care or UltraFlora Spectrum)
Extracts and amino acids:
- Andrographis extracts (Andrographis Plus®; note that andrographis should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding)
- Mushroom extracts: 1 tablet per day or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (ImmuCore®)
- Turmeric, ginger, boswellia: 2 capsules once daily or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (Inflavonoid Intensive Care®)
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 750 mg, 2 tablets twice daily or as directed by your healthcare practitioner (GlutaClear®; features a blend of ingredients designed to help support the body's production of glutathione, a primary antioxidant throughout the body*).
Keeping clean & healthy
Maintaining good hygiene helps keep the immune system healthy. Consider these simple preventative measures that should be followed routinely to ensure good hygiene practices.
- Wash your hands. Begin by rinsing your hands with clean, running water followed by lathering with soap and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Rinse and dry your hands well using a clean towel.1
- Eat a well-balanced diet, rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C but low in processed carbohydrates and simple sugars.2-4 Do not underestimate the power of a healthy diet loaded with fruits and vegetables to help you remain healthy.
- Get adequate sleep. Did you know lack of sleep can affect both your mental and physical health?5 Sleep is as vital to our wellbeing as food, water, and air. Make sure to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Manage stress. Daily meditation, restorative exercise, and strong, healthy relationships can encourage continued healthy immune function.6-8
References:
- Centers for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html. Accessed March 25, 2020.
- National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/. Accessed March 30, 2020.
- Grun T et al. J Nutr. 2010;140(12):2268S-2285S.
- Bessesen DH. J Nutr. 2001;131(10):2782S-2786S.
- National Institutes of Health. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-deprivation-and-deficiency. Accessed March 25, 2020.
- Marchand WR. J Psychiatr Pract. 2012;18(4):233-252.
- Basso JC et al. Brain Plasticity. 2017;2(2):127-152.
- Giles LC et al. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002;59(7).
About Erik Lundquist, MD:
Erik Lundquist, MD is the founder and medical director of the Temecula Center for Integrative Medicine. He is a member of the American Holistic Medical Association as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine. He specializes in thyroid disorders, chronic and adrenal fatigue, women’s health, digestive disorders, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Lundquist attended Occidental College in LA, where he graduated with a BA in Kinesiology and Biology. He received his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Lundquist spent eight years in active military duty in Iraq as a battalion surgeon with the Marine Corps, as well as at the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy. Dr. Lundquist is board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine, as well as with the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.
Erik Lundquist, MD is a paid consultant and guest writer for Metagenics.