Our immune system’s ability to fend off illness has been an ever present focus in our lives for the past few months. To help us develop a better understanding of the elements that go into maintaining a healthy and well-functioning immune system, Doctors Tina Alidad and Nell Smircina led a fantastic webinar which Chamber members may access through their Membership Information Center portal. Please enjoy this short recap of some of the webinar’s main points: 

What factors affect my immune system? 

Nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress, and everyday toxin exposure all affect the function of the immune system. A lot of the vitamins we need are already a part of our everyday diet. Nutrition is a crucial factor because 70% of our immune system is in our gut. To ensure that you are receiving a healthy and expansive balance of vitamins, try to diversify the types of fruits and vegetables that you eat.

Will vitamin supplements improve my immune system? Which vitamins should I take?

Vitamin supplements can be very beneficial to one’s body, but they aren’t a replacement for everyday nutrition. Vitamin supplements create a support system for your immune system. Everybody is different, so for the best immune care, visit a doctor to test your vitamin levels. Then you can tailor your supplements according to vitamin deficiencies specific to your body. 

As a general recommendation of vitamins that can help support your immune system and reduce inflammation (a common link to many chronic diseases), consider trying the following:

• Vitamin D3 will help reduce inflammation, support your immune system, and absorb calcium. For the best absorption, take the supplement with a healthy fat source like avocado, nuts, or olive oil. 
• Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that also helps improve the absorption of iron supplements. For the best use of this vitamin, take it on an empty stomach with water.
• Fish oil helps with inflammation, but make sure to check that your supplement doesn’t come from an overly sourced fish. You also want to ensure it was made in a molecularly distilled manner. Similar to Vitamin D3, fish oil is fat soluble so take it with a healthy fat. 
• Adaptogenic herbs are helpful in supporting the body to handle both mental and physical stress. They are a great support of a well functioning system and are a means of optimizing care.

Final suggestions:

Fasting can help clear toxins from our system and give the body a chance to focus on more than just digestion. Fasting isn’t for everyone, so you should check with a doctor to see if it’s right for you. Similarly, it’s important to optimize your sleep schedule and fast three hours before bed so that while you sleep, your body can focus solely on cleaning and repairing itself. Lastly, make sure to treat the root issues behind any surface level symptoms to prevent your overall condition from worsening. 

Dr. Tina Alidad holds a doctorate in pharmacy and is a licensed advanced practice pharmacist. She has experience working with patients with a variety of disease states including Diabetes, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, as well as patients with HIV. Her main vision in establishing Thrive Rx Wellness is to change current patient- pharmacist relationships. She works 1-on-1 with patients through avenues of medication therapy management as well as genetic testing to help them better understand their health conditions, medications, and overall individual health. Dr. Alidad is also an advocate of implementing lifestyle changes and supplementation to address underlying health conditions and in an effort to decrease unnecessary prescription medication use. To get in touch with Dr. Alidad, you can call her 949.228.3232, email her talidadpharmd@thriverxwellness.com, or visit her website here. 

Dr. Nell Smircina is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Functional Medicine practitioner. As the founder of PIQUE Integrative Medicine, a practice here in Beverly Hills, Dr. Nell helps patients reach peak health by bridging the gap between Eastern and Western Medicine. 

Every patient has a unique journey, and Dr. Nell creates an environment where patients can be heard and be an active participant in their care, reaching their desired results through a customized plan. Dr. Nell often sees patients looking to optimize their recovery from any underlying health issues, ranging from post-surgical recovery and pain relief to autoimmune conditions. To get in touch with Dr. Nell, you can call her 310.734.7025, email her info@piquebh.com, or visit her website here.