COVID-19, Micronutrients & Immune Health

March 23, 2020

Flu viruses like COVID-19 hit people with weakened immune systems the hardest.  Vitamins & minerals play an essential role in supporting your immune system, ranging from oxygen transport to repairing damaged cells. These compounds, also known as micronutrients, are vital for optimal immune function.  Are you getting enough micronutrients in your diet to support your immune system? 

The CDC conducts a National Health and Nutrition Examination every 3 years and they have found most Americans are not hitting the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of most essential vitamins and minerals. A staggering 92% of the population is suffering from at least one or more mineral and vitamin deficiencies. 

Here are some fun US health facts:

• 42% have inadequate levels of Vitamin D 
• 45% have inadequate levels of magnesium 
• 35% have inadequate levels of Vitamin K 

This is especially concerning when you look at how RDA levels are set by the National Institute of Health. RDA levels are set by making animals deficient in a certain micronutrient, and once a certain deficiency level causes an animal to die, the RDA is set a few standard deviations above that amount. We can’t just go off RDAs as those levels are set just to prevent disease, not optimize wellness and performance. 

Another thing to consider when thinking about micronutrient intake is soil depletion. The Kushi Institute analyzed nutrient data from 1975 to 1997 and found that the micronutrient levels of vegetables have dropped by an average of 25%. This is because modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped vital nutrients from the soil, resulting in less nutritionally dense foods.

To get the proper amounts of micronutrients for optimized wellness, it’s important to aim above the RDA levels of essential vitamins & minerals. By eating lots of leafy greens such as kale, spinach, arugula, chard and vegetables such as broccoli, beets, turnips  throughout the day, you can ensure that your body is getting everything it needs to function at peak performance.

At Nooflux, micronutrients play a vital role in our supplement formulations. Our product Zen contains 250% of your RDA for Vitamin D and Rest contains 100% of your RDA for Magnesium.  Let us know how you optimize your health below!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15637215

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm

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