There are vitamins that can actually help your fight against
herpes outbreaks by building a stronger immune system for you. When you take these vitamins in addition to a healthy lifestyle, regular
exercise and reduced stress, you will see even better results and truly be on your way to living outbreak free and without having to depend on suppressive medication that can have adverse reactions and unwanted side effects.
Many people up-to-date on the new revolutionary approach to medicine may know about micronutrients already. Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and nutrients that help support the human immune system. It is now possible to help boost your body’s immune system responses by taking supplements. However, what can you take and how does it work to help?
Vitamin A: Vitamin A has retinol which is at-soluble and proven to help white blood cell function, enhances resistance to infection and carcinogens and help maintain skin and mucus membrane defenses to infection.
Carotenoids and beta-carotene: Beta carotene has its own
exceptional immune-stimulating properties that Vitamin A does not so both are essential. Beta carotene is also a great anti-oxidant and there are over 600 other carotenoids found in nature.
B vitamins: The B vitamins are usually looked at together as what is called "B complex". The B vitamins can be very helpful in immune responses. For example in AIDS, more rapid disease progression is seen in patients with deficiencies of the B Vitamins B6 and B12. B6 is predominantly important for immune function.
B12 is also central to immune processes because it manages cell division and growth. Without adequate B12, white blood cells can’t mature and multiply. Folic acid also plays a key role in immune system development and maintenance so you sometimes see it with vitamin B.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is well known as an immune system booster. White blood cells use Vitamin C to combat infections, and in the face of inflammation or microbial challenge, levels of Vitamin C are depleted. When you are under stress you need additional sources of Vitamin C as well. So this is how vitamins and stress reduction all go together to combat your herpes outbreaks.
Vitamin E: Deficiency of Vitamin E is also fairly common and this is a great immune booster.
Chromium: Some recent research has shown that chromium can enhance the ability of white blood cells to respond to infection. Copper: A recent study shows that a diet deficient in copper affects the human immune system by reducing the activity of some cells that attack invading bacteria.
Iron: Iron deficiency paralyzes the immune response. But too much iron can also be harmful to the immune system so don’t go overboard. The immune system fights invading microbes by depriving them of iron via a specific immune defense substance called lactoferrin.
Manganese: Manganese has been shown to enhance macrophage activity.
Selenium: Research suggests that selenium deficiency may allow viruses to mutate into more dangerous pathogens. It is also a great antioxidant.
Zinc: Numerous studies now prove supplemental zinc can restore
flagging immunity. As with iron and Vitamin E, more isn’t automatically better. Daily doses of 100 mg. or more of zinc may actually be
immuno-suppressive.
Non-vitamin mineral supplements
Other non-vitamin mineral supplements may help boost your immunity as well. Here are some of them:
• Alkylglycerol • CoEnzyme Q10
• Dimethyglycine (DMG) • Phytonutrients
8 Great Immune Boosters!
Like we have mentioned before, boosting your immune system is a fantastic defense against the herpes virus. Feeding your immune system immune boosters is like fueling soldiers for a war. Your cells will be stronger and healthier and ready to beat the herpes virus if it rears its head. Using immune boosters can help increase the number of white blood cells in your immune system, train them to be better at fighting viruses and help the cells work together and function properly. Immune boosters will also help your system remove any substances that are dragging down the body and causing it not to function properly.
Below are 8 fantastic immune boosters that every herpes sufferer should know about.
1. Vitamin C. Vitamin C tops the list of immune boosters for many different reasons. It increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibodies and increases levels of
interferon, the antibody that coats cell surfaces, preventing the entry of viruses. You don’t need a lot of Vitamin C to make a difference. Studies show that around 200 mg per day is usually efficient.
2. Vitamin E. Vitamin E stimulates the production of natural killer cells, those that seek out and destroy germs and cancer cells. Vitamin E enhances the production of B-cells, the immune cells that produce antibodies that destroy bacteria. Vitamin E
supplementation may also reverse some of the decline in immune response commonly seen in aging. You need 100-400 milligrams per day, depending on your general lifestyle to properly boost your immune system.
3. Carotenoids. Beta carotene increases the number of infection- fighting cells, natural killer cells, and helper T-cells, as well as being a powerful antioxidant.. It has also been shown that beta carotene supplements can increase the production of T-cell lymphocytes and natural killer cells and can enhance the ability of the natural killer cells to attack cancer cells.
4. Bioflavenoids. These help the immune system by protecting the cells of the body against environmental pollutants.
Bioflavenoids protect the cell membranes against the pollutants trying to attach to them.
5. Zinc. Zinc increases the production of white blood cells that fight infection and helps them fight more aggressively. Zinc increases the number of infection-fighting T-cells, especially in elderly people who are often deficient in zinc, and whose immune system often weakens with age.
6. Garlic. Garlic is a powerful immune booster that stimulates the multiplication of infection-fighting white cells, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production.
7. Selenium. This mineral increases natural killer cells and
mobilizes cancer-fighting cells. Best food sources of selenium are tuna, red snapper, lobster, shrimp, whole grains, vegetables, sunflower seeds, etc.
8. Omega-3 fatty acids. The omega 3 fatty acids in flax oil and fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel) act as immune boosters by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white