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Johnson Chiropractic Describes the Role of Vitamin C for a Healthy Immune System

The immune system is a hard working system. Like a car or plane or boat, it needs fuel to keep working hard. The fuel for the immune system is an extensive list of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an influential role in an immune system that works well. In addition to spine pain care, Johnson Chiropractic asks our Richmond chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!

LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS

Researchers examined what factors add to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are impacted mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced by cultural factors like traditional cooking methods with traditional core foods like grains which have little vitamin C to give. Environmental factors have a role like geographic region, season, climate, and pollution. Demographic issues like age, race, sex, and socioeconomic factors like deprivation, education, institutionalization, and social class. Health factors like smoking, body weight, pregnancy/lactation, genetic variants, as well as diseases like serious infection or cardiovascular disease or cancerimpact C levels. So many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and need to be thought about when creating global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied very well around the world especially in low- and middle- income countries. Completed studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is common in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Johnson Chiropractic may not be able to address the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are here for our Richmond chiropractic friends!

ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION

Vitamin C is a well-recognized key factor in immune function and epigenetic inflammatory modifications. Vitamin C is optimally obtained by regular dietary intake. 41.8% of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) has insufficient levels of vitamin C. Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were found in males, adults aged 20-59, Black and Mexican Americans, smokers, those who have higher BMI, and those with middle and high poverty to income ratio and food insecurity. These people are at higher risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Johnson Chiropractic urge our Richmond chiropractic patients recognize if they are at risk for low nutrient levels and address those to be as healthy as possible!

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Health and well-being is a careful balance of several issues, one being a well-functioning immune system. Researchers have set levels of intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet many people‘s levels are low. Inadequate levels of such nutrients impair the immune system and lessen its response when it’s most required. In a study of 26,282 adults over age 19 in the 2005-2016 NHANES study, a “prevalence of inadequacy” was seen for all of these:

  • 45% for vitamin A
  • 46% for vitamin C
  • 95% for vitamin D
  • 84% for vitamin E
  • 15% for zinc

Supplementation is explained as beneficial while a recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also suggested. This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk people. (4) Johnson Chiropractic is ready to analyze the vitamin C levels of our Richmond chiropractic patients and assist them in adjusting it as needed.

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the role chiropractic may play in immune system health along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management works.

Make your Richmond chiropractic appointment soon. Together, we can delve into just how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!

 
Johnson Chiropractic shares new stats on the importance of vitamin C for the body’s immune system and how levels may be too low for many. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."