Magnesium is one of the body’s most crucial minerals. You can get the mineral from various foods, like cashews and spinach. However, because of its importance and numerous nutritional aspects, many people choose to take supplements. 

With so many to choose from, knowing which is best for you can be a little overwhelming. To help out, we have put three of the different kinds of magnesium supplements into one patch, so you don’t skip on getting the nutrients your body requires.

Three Different Kinds of Magnesium

Magnesium (Mg) is necessary for more than 300 of your body’s chemical reactions and so is instrumental in the healthy function of your immune system, bone strength, and heartbeat—just to name a few! Learn more about these benefits below as we break down the three different types of magnesium.

Magnesium Threonate

Magnesium Threonate is a supplement developed by neuroscientists at MIT over a decade ago. It is known as a brain enhancer that contributes to better cognition, boosts memory, and has been associated with cerebral metabolism changes in elderly people, meaning that it may be helpful for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. More research is still being done.

The supplement is also known to support many of the body’s most crucial processes—from creating insulin to forming proteins and fatty acids, bone and muscle function, and improving immune system functions. It is known to enhance some of the body’s natural killer cells, which in turn boosts their anti-tumor and L – Lysine capabilities.

It is particularly absorbable by the brain, and so is said to enhance brain cell connection and brain cell signaling pathways. Studies have also shown that the supplement works to improve memory. In trials, researchers found it restored memory and prevented memory loss in animals suffering from short-term memory loss because of chronic pain.

Because of all of these studies, trials, and reported benefits, Magnesium Threonate seems to be one of the most important types of supplements you can take to help your brain.

Magnesium Malate

Magnesium Malate is also a compound that has been created to enhance the mineral’s absorption by the body. This time the mineral has been combined with malic acid, which creates a special form of magnesium with its own distinct benefits.

It is best known for pain reduction, as it has been used in trials to decrease the severity of pain and tenderness in patients with Fibromyalgia. This chronic illness causes pain across the entire body. This suggests that the supplement could help with other chronic fatigue syndromes, and conditions that are related to the body’s neuromuscular system, although further studies are necessary.

Magnesium Malate may also aid in blood sugar control, exercise performance, and mood enhancement. Malic acid has previously been used in trials studying the treatment of depression. Research shows that the supplement is well absorbed by the body, making it a great option for those looking to replenish their magnesium levels.

Magnesium Glycinate

Magnesium Glycinate is formed using glycine, an amino acid. Amino acids are crucial to the body’s processes, such as growing, repairing tissues, and breaking down food, and glycine is one of these building blocks.

Glycine is used as a supplement to improve sleep quality, assist in liver protection and diabetes assistance, and protect against heart disease. It has also shown to be effective at both improving health and supporting growth. Because of this, combining glycine with elemental magnesium makes for a substantial supplement which is used by some to combat insomnia, and reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Of all the different kinds of magnesium, Magnesium Glycinate is used as a supplement because it is well absorbed by the body, meaning that it helps replenish the mineral’s levels. In one study, researchers found it to be a good alternative to other supplements for individuals with intestinal resection.

The Round-Up

The three different kinds of magnesium have distinct qualities with numerous health benefits. Magnesium Threonate aids brain function and memory enhancement, while Magnesium Malate reduces pain, improves mood, and regulates sugar levels. Finally, Magnesium Glycinate is used by some to manage emotional health such as anxiety and stress. 

Supplements of this essential mineral can be incredibly beneficial to your overall health. However, when combined, they make for a balanced and substantial super supplement. And now, you can get this powerful combo in one easy to use Tri-Mag patch! 

With a patch, you won’t have to worry about consuming a cocktail of supplements—you can get topical delivery of the minerals you need, all from the PatchMed Tri-Mag patch. Buy yours today and invest in your health for a lifetime.

Have you been feeling off lately? Perhaps you’re feeling more tired than ever, having trouble eating the way you used to, or you’re suffering from depression. Maybe, from the inside out, you’re just feeling aches, pains, and discomfort in ways you didn’t know were possible. 

All of these symptoms could be a sign of thyroid dysfunction. While many of us can enjoy a well-functioning thyroid gland, a diet lacking essential nutrients could mean our thyroid doesn’t have the vitamins it needs to function. And our thyroid has much more to do with our everyday health than we often give it credit for. 

Supporting your thyroid is a great place to start if you’re ready to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Read on to learn more about how you can use thyroid support supplements like T-Synergy to help improve your overall health. 

Why Focus on Thyroid Health

You may not always think much about your thyroid, but it plays a vital role in your mental and physical health. That’s because your thyroid is responsible for producing hormones our body needs. 

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body how to function. For example, the thyroid specially produces hormones focused on metabolism. Your metabolism changes food into energy. Without the right amount of hormones, you may not be getting the energy you need, properly producing waste, or getting essential nutrients to your system. 

It might be easy to imagine how a dysfunctional metabolism may affect your body, but some symptoms may be more surprising. Here are some signs that you may need more thyroid support to get your metabolism in working order again: 

• Fatigue and muscle weakness
• Impaired memory
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Puffy face
• Hoarseness
• High cholesterol
• Muscle and joint aches, tenderness, and stiffness
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Slowed heart rate
• Thinning hair

If you’ve noticed these symptoms, this critical gland could be the cause. Thankfully, proper thyroid support could be the simple solution you’ve been looking for. 

The Benefits of Thyroid Support Supplements

Supplements aren’t just focused on one gland; they improve your overall health due to the ingredients. Some reduce stress levels, making way for hormones to be produced. Others may eliminate harmful hormones, allowing the beneficial ones to thrive. 

And then, of course, there are the benefits of a healthy thyroid. If you’re suffering from symptoms already, you may notice some benefits more than others. But supplements can help: 

• Boost energy
• Improve metabolism
• Lower depression
• Increase overall health  

Best Ingredients for Thyroid Support

A balanced diet will often provide the vitamins you need for adequate thyroid support. However, certain ingredients and vitamins are less common in the average diet, although they give the most thyroid support. Taking thyroid support supplements with key ingredients that promote proper gland functions ensures that your body has the support it needs. 

Some people are particularly at risk for complications. Taking supplements can prevent future problems before they arise for people at risk, which includes: 

• Women
• Anyone over the age of 60
• People with a family history of thyroid disease
• People with autoimmune disorders, diabetes, or celiac disease
• Those taking anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine
• Pregnant women or women who recently delivered a baby

If you’re at risk or experiencing the symptoms of hormonal dysfunctions, here are the ingredients you should look for in your thyroid support supplements. 

L-Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid that your body produces naturally. However, several factors may inhibit your body’s production of this amino acid, including a diet of too little protein. Low tyrosine directly correlates with stress, which may harm your metabolism and hinder your thyroid’s hormone production.

Based on studies showing that the artificial version of tyrosine, known as L-tyrosine, can reduce stress levels, many are using these effects to, in turn, aid the thyroid with tyrosine support. 

Schisandra

The connection between the thyroid and the adrenal glands has been well documented; supporting one means supporting the other. That’s why many use Schisandra for thyroid support supplements. Because it protects the structure of the adrenal cortex, scientists believe that it provides support for your gland as well. 

Coleus Forshkohlii

Coleus forshkohlii is a natural herb grown in India that’s been a part of traditional medicine practices since ancient times. So far, evidence is pointing to coleus forshkohlii as a provider of thyroid support by increasing hormone secretions. 

Kelp

Unlike tyrosine that the body produces naturally, iodine must be ingested, but it’s critical to proper thyroid function. Kelp could be the answer for those who don’t get enough iodine in their diet. It has high iodine levels, allowing people to ingest the necessary amounts of iodine to provide thyroid support. 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a natural plant that has proven beneficial for overall health in many ways, including improving blood pressure and boosting immune systems. Studies show that ashwagandha also improves thyroid function. Researchers are still investigating why, but it’s likely due to the plant’s ability to reduce cortisol levels and stimulate the body’s endocrine system. 

Bladderwrack

Bladderwrack is very similar to kelp in several ways. Also coming from the ocean, bladderwrack is a seaweed that is commonly used in traditional medicine but is most known for its benefits to the thyroid gland. And similarly to kelp, this is due to bladderwrack’s high iodine levels. 

Korean Ginseng

As we’ve seen with other ingredients, thyroid support doesn’t always come from directly impacting the thyroid. In the case of Korean ginseng, the benefits come from inhibiting the production of reverse T3. This deleterious hormone binds to healthy T3 hormones, hinders them, and thus reduces their metabolic activity. 

Korean ginseng has been shown to significantly limit the production of reverse T3, thereby protecting the T3 hormones produced by the gland. 

Guggul

Once Korean ginseng has reduced the deleterious reverse T3 hormone, it doesn’t hurt to have more T3 and T4 produced as well. That’s where guggul comes in. This resin of an Indian tree contains plant steroids, and studies show it increases T3 and T4 levels, providing necessary support to the hormonal gland. 

Molybdenum

The body requires small amounts of molybdenum minerals, but it is vital to your hormonal health. Evidence shows that molybdenum’s benefits include promoting hormonal health without toxic effects. 

Improve Your Thyroid Health 

The benefits of high-quality supplements are clear, and one of the easiest ways to get these ingredients is through a topical patch. Just put it on your skin, and let the patch do its work. You hardly know it’s there, but it gives you the support you need throughout the day. 

Don’t wait for problems to arise, and don’t suffer the symptoms of poor metabolic health. Instead, find thyroid support supplements that have the ingredients you’re looking for to improve your physical, mental, and hormonal health while getting the vitamins and nutrients your body craves.

PatchMD combines the best male libido enhancing supplements into one 8-hour patch you place daily on your body to re-ignite your sex life.

What Should a Libido Booster for Men Do?

Getting a libido booster for men is not as simple as going to the store and picking up a product. You need to know how these ingredients work and what they can do for you. There are many reasons a man can lose or experience a depreciation in sexual libido or performance, aging being the most common reason. Though we can’t turn back the clock, there is hope through a regimen of time-tested supplements that offer results.

The point is that our patch is not going to bring your libido back in 20 minutes before the act of sex. Our approach is more long-term with longer lasting benefits. We want to bring the spontaneity back into the bedroom that comes through confidence that you can be ready when your partner is.

To rekindle a fun, healthy relationship with sex PatchMD has combined a special blend of natural supplements that address a variety of issues, including:

•  Loss of libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Inability to orgasm
• Feelings of boredom or disinterest when it comes to sex

Unfortunately, there’s no “magical cure” targeted at specific areas of sexual disinterest or performance. Male libido supplements will not work the same for every man, and also note that while these compounds can substantially invigorate the libido, they have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration nor are they intended to cure or prevent any disease. Let’s take a closer look at the best male libido supplements and how they combine to create the best male libido booster patch.

The Best Male Libido Supplements

The ingredients listed below work in conjunction to potentially deliver significant libido-enhancing properties to men. Here’s what they do.

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus Terrestris, or puncture vine, is a small plant with yellow flowers. It’s found in many areas worldwide and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to assist with:

• Blood pressure
• Sexual desire and performance
• Reducing swelling
• Urinary tract health

The roots and fruits of the plant are both used for these purposes, but does it work? 

Here’s what we know.

Tribulus Terrestris has been reported to enhance sexual desire in men, with a study finding that consistent use had notable effects. The same study pointed out that suggestions that it can be used to increase testosterone levels are unconfirmed, meaning that this component is unlikely to treat erectile dysfunction by itself – however, the noted increase in libido may offset this for some users. Other sources also dispute this. Clinical research doesn’t support purported muscular benefits and enhanced performance in exercise. However, as Tribulus Terrestris is a natural, nutritious plant, it likely has at least similar health benefits in this area to other plants. It is perhaps likely to increase sexual desire, with suggestions that it may assist with erectile dysfunction, which is so essential in any libido booster for men.

Asian Ginseng

Asian Ginseng has been used as an aphrodisiac in China for millennia. Studies have found that it can cause smooth muscle to relax. This may allow increased blood flow to the penis, making it a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction. The same study found evidence that Asian Ginseng can increase sperm count, making it an excellent double-action treatment for couples looking to have a child. It’s an established part of male libido supplements and an attractive, natural cure.

Yohimbe Extract

Yohimbe extract is taken from the bark of an African tree, the Pausinystalia Johimbe. It may help to increase blood flow to the penis, allowing men to achieve and maintain erections for longer. It’s also speculated to block receptors that can prevent men from getting erections, although the science in this area is questionable. It could be a potent player in helping men maintain erections and achieve greater satisfaction.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is probably more familiar to most people than some of the more exotic male libido supplements – it’s a common food cupboard item. Capsaicin is an active compound in the spicy pepper, which helps to improve blood flow. This has health benefits for your heart (and thus stamina) and allows men to achieve erections more easily.

Aspartic Acid

Aspartic is a critical ingredient in a patch that works as a libido booster for men. This is because it can aid in testosterone production both indirectly through stimulating brain activity and directly through increasing production in the testicles. Combined with blood flow enhancers, this can produce a powerful libido booster for men.

Maca (Root)

Maca root may increase both sperm count and sex drive in men. It’s a popular ingredient in tea and coffee but can also be taken directly as a male libido booster. This heady combination makes it an ideal component for couples looking to conceive and men looking to enjoy more active sex lives.

Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali is also known as longjack. It’s been used in South-East Asian remedies to treat erectile dysfunction for centuries, although current literature disputes its effectiveness in this area. What is better understood is that it has wide-ranging health benefits due to its potent antioxidants, which can improve general health and thus sexual performance.

Horny Goat Weed

The name might raise an eyebrow, but there’s a reason it’s also known as randy beef grass and rowdy lamb herb. Studies have shown that it can improve erectile function in mammals, making it a potent agent in the best patch libido booster for men.

The Best Choice of Male Libido Booster Supplements in One Patch

Trying to get a variety of potentially useful agents into your diet to stimulate sex drive is a hassle. But combining male libido booster agents in one effective patch makes treating erectile dysfunction or low sex drive much more accessible.  Building your sex drive shouldn’t be an unpleasant chore – a successful topical patch can make it the work of a moment. While these agents work harmoniously together, ask your physician if you’re unsure about your first dose.

Recovery is just as important as the workout as body processes continue to work to keep up with the new progress. The best way to combat fatigue and soreness is to implement muscle recovery supplements into your diet and regimen. 

Workout recovery supplements like the Ultimate Trainer and Recovery topical patch help to boost recovery for muscles from exercise and support users to retain their gains when used as instructed. The Ultimate Trainer and Recovery topical patch is made from natural ingredients to support your workout and recovery time. 

Ingredients

Using the Ultimate Trainer and Recovery topical patch as your new workout recovery supplement will change the way you work out in 30 days. The ingredients in the patch detailed below have shown to help aid in recovery from exercise and muscle tissue repair, with other important benefits.  

Leucine

Leucine is an essential amino acid produced by the body to biosynthesize proteins. It is one of three acids or BCAAs that are used by skeletal muscles during workouts to produce energy while exercising. A higher dosage of leucine can help naturally stimulate muscle protein synthesis. 

The benefits of leucine in the topical patch include:

• Increasing the production of HGH
• Inhibiting protein degradation in skeletal muscles and the liver
• Enhancing protein sensitivity to insulin
• Help control blood sugar
• Stimulating muscle protein synthesis

Muscle recovery supplements that include leucine aid in the healing of muscles and bones and can lead to an increase in muscle growth and a leaner body mass. 

Glutamine 

Glutamine is a naturally occurring amino acid essential for synthesizing proteins in body cells. Heavy workouts and rigorous training demand a higher need for replenishing amino acids. Glutamine supplements help boost the immune system, reduce fatigue, and ensure your body is producing enough during strenuous exercise.

The benefits of including glutamine in muscle recovery supplements include:

• Replenishing low levels of naturally produced glutamine in muscles
• Aiding in muscle development
• A speedy recovery after intense workouts
• Boosting the immune system
• Promoting intestinal health

Incorporating glutamine into your recovery routine supports strength and endurance and your overall well-being when working out. 

Betaine

Betaine is an amino acid consisting of glycine and three methyl groups to maintain a healthy fluid balance in the cells. Betaine supports water being pulled into muscle cells to increase muscle volume after a workout. Muscle hydration and facilitated protein synthesis increase power and strength over time. 

The benefits of betaine in workout recovery supplements include: 

• Enhancing the attraction of water to muscle cells
• Improving cellular hydration
• Improving power and strength
• Supporting heart health

Betaine supplements can also help regulate the levels of homocysteine in the body to prevent bone and eye problems and reduce the risk of heart disease.  

Beet Juice

Beets are a nutrient-dense vegetable rich in antioxidants, including vitamin c, carotenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and nitrate. Consuming beet juice can increase nitric oxide levels in the body, which leads to increased blood flow, improved lung function, and better muscle contraction. 

The benefits of beet juice supplementation include:

• Enhancing aerobic performance
• Improved oxygen capacity
• Combats fatigue in duration exercises
• Improves muscle contraction functions
• Reduces hypertension

Beet juice as an active ingredient in workout recovery supplements can improve cardiorespiratory endurance and performance when regularly incorporated into the workout routine. 

HMB

HMB is a naturally produced chemical in the body and a metabolite of leucine. This chemical helps reduce protein breakdown in the body, leading to better muscle strength retention and helping to improve body composition. HMB is used in muscle recovery supplements to naturally increase muscle mass and strength. 

The benefits of HMB include:

• Enhanced aerobic performance
• Resistance to fatigue
• Reducing muscle damage and injury
• Improve regenerative capacity
• Increase muscle mass and strength

HMB intake can increase muscle protein synthesis and can lessen the effects of age-related losses of strength and body composition. 

Choosing The Ultimate Trainer and Recovery Topical Patch

Incorporating leucine, glutamine, betaine, beet juice, and HMB into one topical patch used as a training and workout recovery supplement will help athletes increase performance and retain the progress made when regularly working out. All of these ingredients are natural, with the same chemicals being produced in the body.

Using the topical patch with these beneficial ingredients will enhance the body’s natural processes for a better and quicker training and recovery time. 

Did you know that more than half of adults in the US use vitamins and supplements, and the most common type is multivitamins?

There’s a reason why so many people are leveraging vitamins and supplements. 

Taking a multivitamin is a small action that can have a big health pay-off. 

Unfortunately, a lot of us aren’t getting the nutrition we need, which can lead to serious health implications over time. If you buy a multivitamin you can prevent nutrient deficiencies from creeping in and optimize your well-being. 

Do you want to feel and look your best? Keep reading to find out why taking a multivitamin can be one of the easiest ways to achieve this. 

1. Taking a Multivitamin Can Help Stave off Future Health Struggles

One of the valuable benefits of taking a multivitamin is that it can help stave off and minimize future health struggles. 

If you’re short on an essential vitamin or mineral, this can wreak havoc on your body. Over time, deficiencies can even exacerbate health issues. 

For instance, studies have revealed links between various chronic illnesses and vitamin D deficiencies, including the following conditions:

• Heart disease
• Respiratory illnesses
• Osteoporosis
• Depression
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer

Are you wondering what are the odds that you might be low in vitamin D? According to estimates, roughly 42% of the US population is vitamin D deficient. 

Besides this, certain vitamins and minerals may also have links to lower rates of certain health issues. A lot of the claims around certain nutrients and their power to cure diseases are more urban legend than fact. But there is early evidence that certain vitamins and minerals may play a preventative role against certain conditions.

For instance, research has tentatively established links between vitamin C and vitamin A and lower rates of cancer and atherosclerosis.

2. Taking a Multivitamin Can Help Fill In Dietary Gaps

No matter how hard we try to eat healthily, there are always those days when one falls short of the mark. If you’re leading a busy life, it can be challenging to get in all the required vitamins and nutrients your body needs every day. 

Most processed foods and ready-to-go options have very little nutrition. To make matters worse, scientists are also discovering that crops are becoming less nutritious as soils degrade and carbon monoxide levels in the air rise. 

Between all these factors, it can be very easy for dietary gaps to occur and deficiencies to sneak in. 

If you want to guard against any invisible gaps in your diet, taking a multivitamin is one of the easiest ways to do this. 

3. You Could Have More Energy

Another amazing benefit of taking supplements is that you may have more energy. One of the first signs of a deficiency is often unexplained fatigue and tiredness. 

For instance, vitamin B12 plays a critical role in energy production, and if it’s in short supply you’re guaranteed to start feeling flat. 

It can be easy to put fatigue down to simply feeling tired, but what if your body isn’t able to produce energy because it’s lacking gin a key nutrient? 

Taking a multivitamin is one of the easiest ways to check some of your main nutritional boxes and make sure that fatigue symptoms aren’t related to a deficiency. 

An added benefit is that having more energy can create knock-on healthy effects. You might find yourself exercising more frequently and for longer, or being able to pursue other healthy activities like sports or gardening.

4. You Might Also Enjoy Better Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

If potentially having more energy isn’t a good enough reason to start taking vitamins, here’s another fantastic benefit. 

If you start taking a multivitamin, you might also notice an uptick in your mental and emotional wellbeing.

If you’re lacking in certain vitamins or minerals, such as vitamin D or magnesium, this could play into a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, and brain fog. 

If you’re suffering from any of these issues, taking a multivitamin can be a great way to support feelings of clear-headedness and calmness. 

Research indicates that taking a multivitamin can substantially improve short-term memory recall.

5. Taking Multivitamins Can Boost Your Immunity

Along with increasing energy levels and mention/emotional wellbeing, taking supplements can also boost your immunity. 

According to research, adults taking a multivitamin can enjoy enhanced immunity. This is primarily due to adequate intake of vitamin C and zinc, which play an integral role in maintaining a healthy immune system. 

6. You Might Live Longer

Another amazing benefit of taking a multivitamin supplement is that it might even help you live longer by increasing telomere length. 

Scientists have discovered that telomere length has a correlation to longevity, and one study found that women taking a multivitamin supplement each day had 5% longer telomeres on average. 

7. Your Hair, Skin and Nails May Thank You

Healthy skin, hair and nails are often a signal of overall good health, which is one of the reasons why we find things like thick hair, strong nails, and glowing skin attractive. 

To grow strong hair and nails and healthy skin the body requires a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, including biotin, other B vitamins, silica, zinc, vitamin A, and more. 

If you invest in the best multivitamin you can, it will probably contain all of these essential nutrients. 

Not All Multivitamins Are Created Equal: Find One That Works for You

Are you worried about gaps in your diet? Not feeling as full of energy as you should?

If you’re deficient in key nutrients, taking a multivitamin could be one of the most important things you can do, both for your current and future wellbeing. 

However, before you head out and buy a multivitamin, make sure you choose one that is easily absorbable and manufactured to high standards. Do you have absorption issues? If yes, you might get better results using a vitamin patch rather than pills. 

Browse our multivitamin patches today.

As you seek to lead a healthier lifestyle, it’s always best to be proactive with your choices. It implies that you actively seek out healthy choices, well before you face any issues. For example, if you live in an area with low hours of sunlight – like in the North – don’t wait to see signs of a Vitamin D deficiency. Instead, eat a diet rich in Vitamin D, or use a patch for it.

In the same vein, switching to cooking in an Instant Pot is a smart choice if you want to subscribe to a fitter way of life. The popularity of this device is spreading like wildfire, and the reasons for it are certainly convincing. They include:

1. Since the cooking environment is closed, more nutrients are retained.
2. The Instant Pot cooks food much, much faster. So, when you’re short of time, it’s always easy to cook something healthy instead of going for that greasy takeaway.
3. Because you can cook in big batches, there are a plethora of healthy meal prep options available.
4. Once you’ve set the pot to cook, you can do other things, while it does its stuff. 
5. While the cooking takes place under higher pressure, the maximum temperature reached is not much higher than that of water boiling – again good for a higher nutrient value.

And just to prove that healthy cooking can be lip-smacking too, here are some delicious starters that are also rich in nutrients.

Boiled Eggs

Presenting the recipe for perfectly soft-cooked boiled eggs. Not hard. Not runny. Just melt-in-your-mouth soft! This dish is rich in lean protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins.  

Ingredients

• 1 to 6 eggs, large+ 
• 1 cup of water

Instructions

1. Pour in the water, and put in a trivet or steamer basket.
2. Place the eggs in, and seal the lid.
3. Select manual, and cook on low pressure for 3 minutes. (Make it 4 minutes for medium-cooked and 5 minutes for hard-cooked eggs)
4. Let the pressure release naturally. Then, take the eggs out, and put them in a cool-water bowl for a minute.
5. Peel and serve immediately.

Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls with turkey in them are low in fat and high on deliciousness. The combination of turkey, cabbage, and avocado oil packs a punch in nutrients that reads like the who’s who of the healthfood niche. They include selenium, choline, zinc, niacin, the amino acid tryptophan, omega 3 fatty acids, manganese, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. This cabbage rolls recipe from Corrie Cooks is sure to have you seeking seconds. 

Ingredients

• 1 cabbage
• 2 lb turkey, ground
• 1 tbs avocado oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, large, chopped
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 28 ounces canned and diced tomatoes
• Salt & pepper, as per taste

Instructions

To make the filling

1. Put the Instant Pot into Sauté mode.
2. Put in the oil, garlic, and onion. Cook for 2 minutes.
3. Place in the turkey, thyme, oregano, pepper, and salt. Let sauté for an additional 4 minutes. Stir continuously.

To make the rolls

1. Take the cabbage leaves apart gently.
2. Ladle the mixture into large cabbage leaves and roll individually. Place these in a bowl.
3. Add water and a trivet into the Instant Pot. Place the bowl containing the cabbage rolls upon the trivet.
4. Set to high pressure, and cook for 18 minutes.
5. Allow the pressure to release naturally.

To make the sauce 

1. Remove the bowl, water, and trivet from the Instant Pot.
2. Put into Saute mode, and throw in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Stir for 3 minutes and switch off.

Pour the sauce onto a plate, place the rolls on top, and serve.

Instant Pot Hummus

Hummus is one of those super healthy dishes that taste out of this world too. It can be used as an accompaniment to a salad, as a dip, or even eaten just by itself. The main ingredients of this dish are all super nutritious – chickpea, tahini (a kind of sesame paste), and lime. As expected, hummus is brimming with minerals and vitamins. The prominent vitamins include thiamin, niacin, folate, choline, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, and vitamin B6. Perhaps, the only better way to get more vitamins at one go is this proven multivitamin patch. In addition, the list of minerals includes calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. 

Hummus is at its fluffy best when made with Chickpeas that are cooked fresh, and using this Instant Pot recipe reduces the typical cook time drastically.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry chickpeas
• 4 cups water (An additional 3 cups if soaking and draining the beans)
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 2 chopped cloves of garlic
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 tsp cumin, ground

To serve (if you so choose)

• 2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chopped parsley

Instructions

To cook the chickpea

If soaking the chickpeas:  

1. Soak it in 4 cups of water and salt for 10 -12 hours (or overnight).
2. Drain, and place in Instant Pot with 3 cups of water.
3. Cook for 25 minutes under high pressure.
4. Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, and then do a quick release.

If you don’t have the time to soak the chickpeas:

1. Place chickpeas in Instant Pot with 4 cups of water.
2. Cook for 40 minutes under high pressure.
3. Let pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, and then release the remaining steam quickly.

To make Hummus

1. Put the drained chickpeas, with ¾ cup of the cooking liquid in a food processor. Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend well, till smooth and creamy.
2. Add in the serving ingredients if desired.
3. Serve.

The Instant Pot is more than just a utensil. It’s a lifestyle choice. It will help you sustain healthy eating habits. Combine it with the right supplements, vitamins, as well as minerals, and you could stay fit and healthy, even in your sunset years.

Our body’s immune system protects us from infections, viruses, and autoimmune conditions. Keeping your immune system strong is a crucial factor in remaining healthy – this has never been more important than it is now amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the most popular ways to boost your immune system’s defenses is the consumption of vitamin C. But, can vitamin C really work to improve immunity? Let’s examine the evidence.

Vitamin C and function of the immune system

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is essential for our health and wellbeing. The importance of this micronutrient has been documented by scientists in countless studies. More recently, researchers have also been focused on the role vitamin C plays in our immune system.

A study from the journal Nutrients showed that vitamin C contributes to immune defenses by supporting numerous cellular functions, of both innate and adaptive immune systems. This critical micronutrient supports the epithelial barrier function against pathogens and invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and supports oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thus providing protection against environmental oxidative stress. Studies have also shown that vitamin C can accumulate in certain cells to kill microbes. Even though the complete role of vitamin C in the immune system function is not clear, one of its functions may include enhancing differentiation and proliferation of B and T cells (these are vital for immunity).

The results of the Nutrients study help explain why low levels of vitamin C in the body impair the function of the immune system and may increase susceptibility to infection.

Vitamin C and protection against viruses and infections

Most consumers take extra of vitamin C every winter, usually through a standard multivitamin, hoping to avoid flu and the common cold. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are now striving to take more if it year-round to strengthen the immune system.

Will vitamin C really help protect against COVID-19 related illnesses though? It’s a perfectly understandable question. A growing body of evidence confirms that vitamin C really can protect us against some viruses and infections. More research is needed to confirm whether vitamin C plays any role in protecting against COVID-19 specifically.

The Immune Network published a study that revealed that vitamin C exhibits antiviral immune responses at the early time of infection, particularly against the influenza virus through the increased presence of interferons, which play an important role in the prevention of viral pathogenesis. This particular study was conducted on mice.

The review of scientific evidence on this subject, published in the Nutrients, concluded that animal studies confirmed vitamin C played a role in preventing, shortening, and alleviating various infections. It’s evident the effect could be the same in humans, too.

Various studies have shown the favorable influence of vitamin C on the prevention and treatment of flu and common cold and pneumonia, but its role on other infections is insufficiently explored. Therefore, scientists concluded that the practical importance and effective doses of vitamin C for the prevention and treatment of infections are still unknown, but they’re worth exploring.

The Biomed Research International featured a study that found a new mechanism through which vitamin C could address virus-induced pneumonia. Vitamin C works in a synergic way that interacts with the virus and the body to keep everything in balance. That’s why it works differently than traditional antivirus drugs. This study was, like many others, conducted in mice but discovered that vitamin C inhibited influenza virus-stimulated pulmonary morphological changes and reduced structural damage in blood vessels and alveoli. In other words, vitamin C could ameliorate the progression of inflammation in the lungs.

A vast majority of studies revolving around vitamin C, and viruses or infections were focused on the common cold. A large review of studies involving thousands of participants showed that consumption of vitamin C shortened the duration of a cold by 8% in adults and 14% in children. The administration of vitamin C also decreased the severity of a cold. That being said, some studies also failed to confirm that supplementation with vitamin C reduces the incidence of the common cold in the general population.

On the other hand, other studies have shown that vitamin C in megadoses administered before or after the appearance of flu or common cold symptoms relieved and prevented the symptoms in participants. Extra doses of vitamin C could benefit patients who develop flu or common cold despite taking vitamin C supplements, evidence confirms.

When discussing the potential of vitamin C to prevent or treat the common cold, it’s useful to mention that not all studies have the same results. For example, some studies have shown that long-term daily supplementation with vitamin C in large doses doesn’t appear to prevent the common cold and only provides modest benefits in reducing symptoms. The lack of consistency in findings from different studies is the reason why the role and potential of vitamin C to prevent or treat viral infection needs to be further explored.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin C?

While vitamin C is likely naturally present in many of the foods in your diet, if you want to make sure you’re getting enough of this essential micronutrient, you might consider a vitamin C supplement. One highly convenient option is our C Plus Topical Patch. Simply apply the patch daily, and enjoy the benefits of 100mg of vitamin C without the hassle of taking frustrating pills.

Final Thoughts

Vitamin C is crucial for your health and wellbeing. This micronutrient participates in the immune function and its defenses from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.

Most studies focused on virus-induced pneumonia, common cold, and flu and showed positive results, but the impact of vitamin C on the prevention and treatment of other viruses still needs to be explored.

To strengthen your immune system, you need to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, modify your diet, exercise regularly, and try to manage stress. That being said, getting enough vitamin C is important. If you’re not sure if you’re consuming enough vitamin C in your natural diet, consider giving our C Plus Topical Patch a try.
 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29099763
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3659258/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4331320/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23440782
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10543583
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6057395/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10796569
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124957/

COVID-19 has changed pretty much everything about the way we live, eat, work, play, and interact with friends and family. It’s completely upended our routines and habits, especially the good ones. Stay-at-home orders prevent access to gyms, pools, and fitness centers. This is bad news for our health and immune system in a time when we want to be in the best possible health with the strongest possible immune system. Thankfully, there are many easy and effective practices you can do at home to get your through.

Exercise to Reduce Stress

This is a stressful time for a variety of reasons. Disruptions to our routines add to our stress levels. Physical activity and exercise are important tools not just for our general health and well-being but also to reduce our overall stress levels.

This can lead to an improved quality of life and elevated mood, which can help us face challenging circumstances head-on. Exercise improves blood oxygenation and blood flow and boosts your body’s production of endorphins, nature’s feel-good chemicals. Optimal oxygenation is critically important when facing a virus of this nature that so often strikes the lungs.

Both the physical and mental health benefits of exercise on stress are cumulative, so it is important to stick with an exercise routine over time to reap the greatest benefits.

Exercise for Immune Support

Managing stress effectively is important for supporting healthy immune function. In addition to the stress-busting benefits of physical exercise, it also has a direct effect on the health of your immune system.

Regular moderate exercise has tremendous benefits for strengthening the immune system by enhancing the body’s ability to combat pathogens and reducing the risk of infections. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes per week of physical activity. Self-care is a crucial part of staying fit and healthy through this quarantine. (1)

Quarantine Exercises to Do at Home

We know working out at home is not always ideal. Lack of space and equipment can be major deterrents to breaking a sweat. To help you get started, we’ve compiled our top six favorite body-weight exercises anyone can do at home during quarantine!

1.     Jump Rope

Get back in touch with your childhood with this fantastic cardio tool. This is a fantastic exercise that gets the blood pumping, the lungs puffing, and stimulates a lymphatic system that may be just as stagnant as that Netflix episode you’ve watched five times since this all started. If jumping rope is too high impact, consider a rebounder instead!

To jump rope, start with your feet together grasping the rope in each hand at your sides. As you swing the rope forward over your head and towards your feet, tighten your core and jump with your feet still together over the rope as it swings under you, landing on the balls of your feet. Repeat.

2.     Army Crawl Planks

Want to try a new twist on the classic plank? Try this Army Crawl Plank. It’s like a cross between a push-up and a plank and makes for an effective toning and strengthening tool in your exercise routine.

Begin in a standard plank position with your shoulders centered above your wrists, body in a straight line, feet together. Bend your right arm into a forearm plank position. Do the same with your left to get yourself into a full forearm plank. Lift your right hand and place it on the mat underneath your shoulder. As you push down to lift yourself, do the same with the left hand until you have returned to your starting position.

3.     Curtsy Lunges

This won’t get you tea with the Queen, but curtsy lunges are a lower-body work-out must for a well-sculpted booty. The curtsy lunge really targets hard-to-reach areas like inner thighs and the gluteus medius. Functionally, it helps stabilize your hips and pelvic floor and improves your posture as a result.

To master a kick-[ass/butt] curtsy lunge step your left leg behind and to the right so your thighs cross, bending both knees as if you were curtsying. Be sure to keep your front knee aligned over your front ankle as you sink down into your lunge. Return to standing, switch sides and repeat.

4.     Downward Dog Push-up

This is the perfect marriage between yoga and strength-building. It is a much more dynamic exercise than your standard push-up with more intensity than your average yoga pose. 

Start in a standard push-up position. Shift your hips up as you push your heels to the floor and your head between your arms into the classic downward dog position. Once you have reached that position, slowly and smoothly reverse until you have returned to the standard push-up position. Repeat.

5.     Tricep Chair Dip

This move targets your triceps and pecs, muscles that could almost always use a little special toning. This dip is a great way to do so without stressing your wrists and passively build core strength. 

Sit at the edge of a sturdy, stable chair with feet on the floor. With arms straight and palms on the seat of the chair, carefully slide your bottom off the edge of the chair. Keeping your upper arms close to your body, bend your elbows to lower your body down as far as you are comfortable. Pressing with your palms, straighten your arms to raise yourself back up.

6.     Legs Up the Wall

This is a great cool-down pose that almost anyone can do. It’s an effective relaxation pose combatting stress and anxiety as well as back pain and lower limb swelling. It helps improve circulation and blood flow which in turn supports better oxygenation of tissues and can be done for longer periods of time. A great way to finish off a work-out routine.

Sit on the floor next to a wall with your legs stretched out straight in front of you. Lie down on your back and gently engage your core and hip muscles to bring your legs up into the air above you. Shift into position so your seat bones and backs of your legs are touching or as close to the wall as possible. Rest your hands at your side or on your belly as you focus on relaxation and deep breathing.

Final Thoughts

What we do with our body has a profound effect on our well-being, and regular exercise can give us the ability to resist infection. What we put in our body is equally important. A diet rich in a variety of whole foods and strategic supplementation, like our Immune Defense Plus patch, gives your body the tools it needs to stay well.

It’s no joke, there really are health benefits to that glass of merlot you sip every now and then. It’s true! Resveratrol, a powerful plant compound, is found in high concentrations in dark pigmented foods, such as blueberries, cocoa, and red grape’s skin and seeds and red wine. But the benefits of resveratrol go far beyond the health benefits associated with moderate wine consumption.

What is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a polyphenol phytonutrient with strong antioxidant activity in the body that regenerates tissues right down to the cellular level. It provides an array of impressive health benefits and has been proven to reduce the effects of aging. Plants produce antioxidants like resveratrol as a protective mechanism in response to stress, infection, or injury. We, in turn, consume them and reap these same benefits in our own tissues. Resveratrol is one of the most potent and effective polyphenols discovered to date. Its benefits were first discovered when research revealed longer life spans of organisms fed resveratrol compared to control groups.

What are the Health Benefits of Resveratrol?

Since these first modest discoveries, research surrounding the health benefits of resveratrol have exploded! Resveratrol has been shown to provide significant benefits for everything from cancer to heart disease to hormonal health. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main health benefits of resveratrol with evidence from clinical studies.

Resveratrol Research for Cancer

There are few diagnoses that strike as much fear in our society as cancer. While evidence for resveratrol’s ability to combat existing tumors is limited and conflicting, there is good evidence for its ability to help prevent the development of tumors in the first place. Resveratrol anti-cancer effects result from maintaining cellular health and integrity by protecting cells against oxidative injury and damage and regulating the inflammatory response.

This oxidative stress and injury to cells is a significant contributing factor to the development of cancerous tumors. By protecting against oxidative stress and injury, resveratrol can help prevent the development of cancerous cells before they progress any further. Likewise, unchecked or dysregulated inflammation also contributes to a higher risk of cancerous cell growth. Regulating healthy inflammatory responses within the body can have a cancer protective effect. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to such a deadly illness!

And when it comes to fighting an existing tumor, it’s no secret that chemotherapy and radiation are hard and damaging to the body, even if they are necessary. Resveratrol’s powerful ability to protect tissues against oxidative damage resulting from these aggressive treatments can help prevent the development of compounding health issues often associated with their use. (1, 2, 3)

Resveratrol Benefits for Heart Health

Resveratrol has shown great promise for helping protect heart and cardiovascular health. Its potent anti-inflammatory activity can help maintain the health and pliability of arterial walls, protecting against arteriosclerosis and lowering blood pressure.

These anti-inflammatory benefits to the cardiovascular system also include lowered LDL cholesterol levels and reduced risk of blood clots and heart attack, all risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Evidence for the circulatory benefits of resveratrol in humans is mounting as more research is conducted all the time. Resveratrol has the ability to boost nitric oxide levels and improve the function of endothelial cells, like those which line your blood vessels. Nitric oxide is very important for circulatory health as it relaxes blood vessels allowing for improved blood circulation and promoting healthy blood pressure levels. (4)

Benefits for Brain Health

Brain health is crucial for our long-term health and well-being and is often a particular topic of interest for older adults. Unlike other antioxidants, resveratrol has the unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier making it a potent ally for protecting brain health.

In fact, not only can it cross the blood-brain barrier, but it can also restore the integrity of this important junction and promote increased blood flow to the brain.

Use of resveratrol to restore the blood-brain barrier helps protect the brain against rogue immune cells that would attack brain tissues in Alzheimer’s Disease patients. In this way, resveratrol reduces neural inflammation and can slow the cognitive decline associated with this devastating disease.

Research has also demonstrated positive memory benefits of resveratrol. By improving inflammation levels and neuron health, resveratrol significantly improves functional brain connectivity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory functions.

Neurotrophic factor is a protein that protects and enhances the growth and development of neurons and synapses in the brain. And guess what – resveratrol increases the level of this important protein in the brain! This improved brain function has led to markedly improved memory retention and scores in studies. Combine this with the neuroprotective effects of reduced free radical damage to tissues, including brain tissues, and you’ve got a powerful brain health booster. Regardless of age and stage of life, resveratrol can help protect and enhance brain health and function. (5, 6, 7)

Benefits for Weight Loss

We all know that obesity is a significant health risk for a number of other serious health issues. Obesity is also at an all-time high in western society and is considered a public health crisis in America.

The causes of obesity are varied and nuanced, but resveratrol has proven to be an effective and helpful tool to combat unwanted excess weight regardless of the cause. Resveratrol supplementation has shown to reduce body weight, BMI, fat mass, and waist circumference while significantly increasing lean mass.

It is known that resveratrol has beneficial effects on fats in the blood (hence its positive effect on cholesterol), but it also has the ability to reduce body fat accumulation. When used in conjunction with a high fat diet, resveratrol has decreased body fat and improved lifespan in animal models.

It has also been found to improve glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar levels in the blood, making it an important consideration for those struggling with weight gain related to diabetes or prediabetes.

There is some evidence to suggest that resveratrol also acts on a deeper level to modulate the expression of certain genes responsible for weight control, inflammation response, and insulin regulation. (8, 9, 10)

Benefits for Women’s Health

Resveratrol provides numerous benefits for women’s health. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal issues affecting women and is a leading cause of female infertility. PCOS impacts an estimated 5-6 million women in the United States alone.

Elevated levels of testosterone are a common cause or contributing factor to PCOS. Resveratrol’s ability to support health hormone levels in the body has been shown to significantly lower levels of testosterone in women with PCOS, as well as androgenic precursors to testosterone.

Insulin resistance is another common issue for women suffering with PCOS, which resveratrol can also improve, reducing diabetes disease risk. (11)

Hormone balancing and estrogen dominance are prevalent concerns for women in this endocrine-disrupting world we live in. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries but also by fat tissue. Unlike ovarian estrogen, there is no regulatory feedback loop to limit the estrogen produced by fat tissue, which leads to increasingly imbalanced estrogen levels.

Resveratrol acts as a weak phytoestrogen, but it’s more than that. Resveratrol acts as both an agonist and antagonist on estrogen alpha receptors, depending on the cell types and presence of endogenous estrogens, making it an estrogen balancer. It binds to both alpha and beta estrogen receptors but has an exponentially weaker effect than estrogen itself. In some situations, resveratrol boosts the activity of estrogen and in others it blocks it.

With more women waiting until later in life to have children, resveratrol can provide fertility-enhancing benefits. As women age, free radical damage compromises egg quantity and quality which can make conceiving later in life challenging. Evidence shows that resveratrol with its powerful antioxidant properties supports healthy fertility and ovarian function, protecting against age-related fertility impairment. Good news for women looking to become mamas in their 30s and 40s. (12)

The benefits of resveratrol for pregnancy include increased blood flow from the placenta to the fetus which can help reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy. It also helps support the metabolic health of the expectant mother and protects against metabolic syndrome.

While these benefits are appealing, there is concern about the effects of resveratrol on the pancreas of a developing fetus. Until more is known about these effects, expectant mothers should use resveratrol with caution during pregnancy. (13)

Benefits  for Men’s Health

Resveratrol is not just for the ladies. The benefits of resveratrol for men’s health are also impressive. Supplementation with resveratrol provides benefits to skeletal muscle development similar to that of endurance training by increasing performance tolerance, improved oxidative metabolism and increased cardiac function. Good news for those who don’t like endurance training. For those who appreciate the value of endurance training, combining the two results in significantly enhanced performance. (14)

As men age, their testosterone levels decline. Effects of low testosterone can include negative effects on sexual function, decreased strength and muscle mass, increased body fat and fatigue, weak bones, loss of body hair, hot flashes and swelling in breast tissue. Resveratrol, with its anti-aging and hormone-supporting effects, can help slow and even reverse this process. Studies have found that blood testosterone levels can be improved by as much as 50% in just a month by supplementing with resveratrol. (15)

Resveratrol’s benefits for prostate cancer is another health perk for men. Research has shown that resveratrol may reduce prostate cancer growth by interfering with the cells’ ability to reproduce and proliferate and inducing cancer cell death. By interfering with RNA replication in cancer cells, resveratrol inhibits cell viability, migration, and invasiveness while increasing the effects of other tumor suppressants found in the body. (16)

Benefits for Skin Health

Our skin is the largest organ in the body, and everyone wants theirs to be beautiful and youthful looking. Resveratrol is often included in topical skin applications for its anti-aging effects. It helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and free radical damage and environmental influences that contribute to signs of aging like lines and wrinkles and discoloration. It can rejuvenate a dull complexion and soothe and minimize redness and offer protection from UV damage. Resveratrol supports the growth of healthy skin cells and improved cellular function. It works hand-in-hand with other skin-enhancing nutrients, like biotin and collagen, to promote healthy skin structure. The benefits of resveratrol combined with ferulic acid, another powerful antioxidant that fights free radical damage, can have a powerful positive effect on skin health and anti-aging.

Benefits for Hair Loss

In conjunction with its benefits for skin health, resveratrol can help reduce hair thinning and loss. Hair follicles are found in the skin. Poor skin health will lead to poor hair follicle health. By supporting healthy skin, resveratrol helps ensure healthy hair follicles that function optimally. Resveratrol’s ability to improve circulation and blood flow is also good news for your hair and hair follicles. Optimal blood flow to hair follicles helps protect the health of those follicles and supports their ability to grow healthy hair.

What are the Side Effects of Resveratrol?

While resveratrol has many benefits to recommend its use and there have been no adverse effects reported in humans, there are some considerations to be taken before starting resveratrol supplementation. Resveratrol’s ability to improve circulation and potentially have a blood-thinning effect could be problematic for those taking blood thinners such as warfarin and aspirin or those with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia. For those preparing to undergo surgery, it may be advisable to stop resveratrol supplementation for a period before surgery to reduce bleeding risks during the procedure. (17)

Resveratrol can also inhibit some enzymes that the body uses to process certain pharmaceutical compounds from the body. This interference could cause some medications such as blood pressure medication, mood-regulating medications, and immunosuppressants to accumulate to unsafe levels in the body. (18)

Those with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer should exercise caution and speak to a doctor before supplementing with resveratrol due to its mild phytoestrogenic activity.

Always seek medical advice before beginning a new supplement.

What are the Health Benefits of Resveratrol Supplements?

One of the best ways to reap the benefits of natural resveratrol is by including a good variety of foods in your diet that are naturally high in resveratrol. Foods high in resveratrol also tend to be high in other nutritional co-factors to support and enhance the nutritional benefits of resveratrol.

They are also nutrient-dense foods that are, in general, important to include in a healthy, well-balanced diet. While the inclusion of alcohol in a healthy diet is controversial, red wine is a good source of food-based resveratrol. The amount of resveratrol in wine is approximately 12-13mg per liter. Not enough to reach high dose therapeutic levels, but enough to make it worth a glass of wine.

But, if you’re like most of us, getting everything your body needs from diet alone is challenging. It’s even more challenging when dealing with chronic illness and health issues that interfere with optimal nutrient absorption. Good quality and strategic supplementation can bridge the gap and give your body the tools it needs to heal and thrive.

How to Select the Best Resveratrol Supplement?

While we most often think of pills taken orally when it comes to supplements, resveratrol has very poor bioavailability when taken orally. Once consumed, clinical trials show resveratrol is metabolized by the body very rapidly making pills a poor choice mode of delivery. This is why we developed our anti-aging supplement Anti-Aging Plus Topical Patch with resveratrol along with a host of other important nutrients and cofactors for optimal delivery through the skin and right into the bloodstream where it needs to go. (19)

If you are going to take an oral resveratrol supplement, be sure to select one that includes piperine. Piperine is an extract from black pepper that has been shown to significantly enhance the bioavailability of oral resveratrol supplements, not unlike it does for curcumin in turmeric.

How Much Resveratrol Should You Take Daily?

Resveratrol dosage can vary from person to person and depends on the mode of administration and other compounding health concerns an individual may be managing. Oral resveratrol supplements will require a higher dosage to compensate for the poor bioavailability. PatchMD’s topical patch delivers 1.5 grams of polyphenols, including a therapeutic dose of resveratrol.

Resveratrol boasts a host of health benefits both inside and out, regardless of what form of supplementation you choose. A diet high in resveratrol is an important start to a healthier you, but strategic supplementation can really give your body and mind the boost they need to help you feel your best. There is no need to waste your money on pills that don’t even work and you forget to even take when you can utilize the technology of a convenient and effective patch that gets this powerful antioxidant directly where it needs to go.

Americans want to be healthy and spend nearly $12.8 billion on natural supplements. As we age, our bodies produce fewer enzymes that help us digest and absorb the vitamins in our food.

There are similar supplements to help other areas of your body like your hair, joints, and nails. If you are considering biotin and collagen, check out everything you need to know and why these supplements are so great for your health.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is a fibrous protein found in connective tissue such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones. It is also in your vertebral discs, teeth, corneas, gut, and blood vessels.

The biggest function of collagen is to provide structural support and strength for your body. It also helps your body heal wounds.

You can find collagen in many supplements. If you cook collagen, it turns to gelatin. You can find hydrolyzed collagen in dietary supplements, which is the easiest form for your body to absorb.

Collagen can increase the thickness of your hair and nails. It can also increase and tighten the elasticity of your skin.

Benefits of Collagen

Studies have found collagen can improve your skin appearance and health. For example, a study using a placebo control found a relationship between improved skin elasticity and collagen intake.

Collagen can also help reduce joint discomfort and pain. It can also increase mobility for people with arthritis and also healthy adults.

Studies show that collagen intake may also help older adults combat bone loss. Collagen can also improve nail health by decreasing making nails stronger and less brittle.

Collagen can also help boost your muscle mass since this protein is necessary to keep bones strong and functioning as they should.

Researchers believe that collagen supplements may also help with heart-related conditions. Collagen creates structure in blood vessels and arteries. Without this collagen, these arteries may be weak and fragile and have issues carrying blood throughout the body.

 What is Biotin?

Biotin is also known as vitamin B7, vitamin H, and coenzyme R. Biotin helps aid the metabolism of fatty acids in the body. It also plays an important role in skin and hair maintenance.

Biotin helps your body with various metabolic reactions and helps transfer carbon dioxide. It is a vital part of metabolizing fat and carbohydrates. Biotin helps your body maintain a steady blood sugar level and can affect your cell growth.

Several foods have biotin. Intestinal bacteria also help produce biotin, and a biotin deficiency is rare.

If you don’t have enough biotin, you may have skin rashes, hair loss, and fragile nails. Factors such as alcohol abuse, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can increase your risk of a deficiency.

Benefits of Biotin

Biotin research is limited, but there is evidence that biotin can help prevent hair loss and promote healthy hair.

Biotin can also strengthen brittle nails. A study found that after taking biotin for five months participants saw significant firmness and hardness of their fingernails.

There is also some evidence that biotin may help reduce skin rashes and improve conditions such as alopecia and dermatitis.

How Are Biotin and Collagen Similar and Different?

Collagen and biotin are both supplements that can work together to keep hair, skin, and nails healthy. You can find both of them in beauty care and healthcare supplements.

Biotin is a vitamin B and collagen is a fibrous protein. Biotin is soluble in water, and collagen is insoluble in water.

Biotin helps metabolize fat and carbohydrates, which influences cell growth. Collagen is a structural protein in various connective tissues in your body. This is the main difference.

Biotin can stimulate hair growth, clear up dermatitis, and strengthen nails. Collagen can help fight wrinkles and reduce cellulite in your skin, and collagen can also stimulate hair growth.

Choosing Which Is Right for You

The biggest factor that helps you choose the right supplement is the benefits you are after. If you are primarily looking to help joint pain or reduce bone loss, you may want to choose collagen. As you age, collagen can also help you improve your skin elasticity to reduce wrinkles and help with cellulite.

If you are more interested in improving your nails and skin, you may want to take both biotin and collagen. Biotin can help with hair breakage or weak nails, and collagen can also help strengthen since it’s a structural protein. There are several products available that contain both collagen and biotin.

You can find biotin in foods such as pecans, peanuts, almonds, sardines, egg yolks, beans, bananas, mushrooms, whole grains, avocado, and sweet potatoes. You cannot find hydrolyzed collagen in food, so this is a big difference between the two.

Collagen is part of the connective tissues in animals, so you can find collagen in various forms of meat like fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Foods with gelatin such as bone broth also contain collagen. Gelatin is the protein substance from collagen after it is cooked.

You may also want to take other vitamins to help encourage the production of collagen. Vitamins such as vitamins C and A are just as important to have in your diet to help promote stronger skin. You can find these vitamins in foods such as sweet potatoes, spinach, citrus fruits, Brussel sprouts, bell peppers, and carrots.

Final Thoughts

Taking supplements like biotin and collagen can help improve your skin, hair, and nail health, but they also have other benefits as well. The main difference between the two is the type of compound and function within the body. Depending on your needs, you may just need one or you may want to take a combination.

If you would like to try a new way to improve your health through patches, take a look at our products. You can find biotin, collagen supplements, or try a package bundle. PatchMD products are 100 percent latex, lactose, and gluten-free! Try today!

You’re the kind of person who believes in making investments in your health. You also believe in taking an active role in your health, and your lifestyle isn’t giving you everything you need to live the life you want.

So, you take vitamins for a bit of everything. You take vitamins for your hair and nails. You take vitamins for your acne.

But now, you want to do more than just treat symptoms. You want to get to the core of your health and strengthen your body’s ability to protect you.

Here’s the problem: when it comes to figuring out how to improve the immune system, there’s a lot of hearsay and conflicting information online. It’s hard to know where to look or what to use.

You’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to understanding your immune system and choosing an immune system booster that works for you.

Understanding Your Immune System

The first step is understanding your immune system and how it works.

The tricky thing about the immune system is that it isn’t like your heart or your legs. The heart is a single organ you can identify, with component parts that are relatively easy to recognize and mechanisms that are clearly understood.

The immune system isn’t like that. It’s a system, not a single entity. It relies on a small army of moving parts all throughout the body, and like any system, it only works when kept in balance. This means that you can’t necessarily treat the immune system as one thing, or treat a single element of the immune system–you have to treat all of it in order to keep the whole system in balance.

What is the Immune System?

The immune system is a collection of organs, cells, and proteins that work together toward one goal: protecting your body from harm. Unfortunately, that goal isn’t as simple as it sounds.

The immune system has a huge job, as it has to deal with wildly disparate foreign invaders. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, toxins, even foreign tissue–the immune system is responsible for keeping out anything that isn’t supposed to be in your body, anywhere in the body, at all times.

The immune system has three basic tasks:

1. To fight off disease-causing pathogens and remove them from the body

2. To recognize and neutralize harmful factors from the environment

3. To fight and neutralize disease-causing factors within the body such as cancer cells

Without the immune system, we would have no way to fight off harmful elements outside the body or protect against harmful developments within the body. Technically, the immune system has many of the built-in tools it needs to do its job–the issue is how it implements them.

Innate vs. Acquired Immune System

The immune system itself is made up of many disparate parts, but these can be grouped into two systems:

1. The innate immune system

2. The acquired immune system

The innate immune system is something we are born with, inherited from our parents and activated the moment we are born. This functions as your body’s rapid-response team, patrolling the body to recognize, isolate, and kill invaders.

The acquired immune system, on the other hand, is developed over time with assistance from the innate immune system. Each time you are exposed to microbes, the innate system develops antibodies targeted toward that specific invader.

Think of the acquired immune system as a library, full of instructions that the immune system can deploy the next time it encounters the same invader.

How It Works

In simple terms, the immune system is activated anytime it encounters something it doesn’t recognize as you. On a cellular level, special receptors on immune cells attach to proteins on the surface of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Once this attachment happens and the cell registers the antigen as foreign, it sets off an immune response to kill the foreign invader before it can harm you. After your immune system encounters an invader the first time, it stores information about it so that the next time it encounters it, it can immediately recognize the germ and fight it off faster.

The ways the immune system fights off foreign invaders involves several complex processes, often determined by where the response is triggered.

Balancing the Immune Response

Much of the dialogue around the immune system focuses on strengthening it, but the ability to do so has proved somewhat elusive. Plus, you may not necessarily want to strengthen the immune system.

This may sound counterintuitive, but keep in mind that the immune system is a system, not a single part. It needs balance to function. More importantly, it has to know when to activate and when to rest.

Too Much of a Good Thing

This means that where the immune system is concerned, you can have too much of a good thing.

Your immune system is responsible for protecting you from harm, but you don’t want an immune system that cries wolf. An overactive immune system may attack cells that it shouldn’t, or mistake your own cells for foreign invaders.

This is how you get autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system mistakes your own cells for foreign and targets healthy cells. In Type 1 diabetes, for example, the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving the body unable to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and process food.

Because doctors do not yet fully understand how the immune system functions, the causes of immune system disorders are not yet fully understood either. Theories and myths abound, but the short answer is that the immune system is a complex machine, so there may be multiple reasons why the system malfunctions in even one person.

Signs of Immune Problems

Immune malfunction can result in any number of issues in the body–including symptoms that you would never attribute to the immune system.

Chronically cold hands, for example, can actually be a symptom of immune dysfunction. If your blood vessels are inflamed, they have a harder time transporting blood around your body. Areas close to the heart can conserve heat, but extremities (fingers, toes, ears, even the nose) struggle to maintain heat.

Doctors refer to this as Raynaud’s phenomenon, and it’s just one of the many peculiar ways the immune system can lead the body to malfunction.

Factors Affecting Immune Response

With that in mind, it’s important to understand that the immune response is not a steady-state response. Like the immune system itself, it evolves over time as your body changes and your internal balance shifts.

Again, the immune system is highly complex and no one issue is responsible for how it performs, but there are a few commonalities that have been identified as factors in immune response. Some are in your control, while others happen naturally but can be mitigated.

Age

Unfortunately, one of the major factors in immune response is age.

As we age, our body’s ability to handle new challenges gradually reduces. Some people age gracefully, some don’t, but the conclusion of many studies is that generally speaking, seniors are more likely to have immune issues than younger people.

These issues can vary widely between people. Some people get sick more often and have a harder time recovering. Some people have more internal issues such as cancerous cells. But many of the leading causes of death in people over 65 are the result of infectious diseases–the fourth leading cause of death in seniors worldwide is lower respiratory infection.

It’s unclear why this happens, but many scientists have noted a correlation between increased risk for infection and decreased T cells.

Diet

Much like a car can’t run without gas, your body can’t run effectively without fuel to support its activities. Your immune system is no different. And just like your car runs less effectively on poor-quality gasoline, your immune system is less effective when relying on poor-quality food.

Again, no one factor makes or breaks your immune system. Malnourishment in general has been shown to weaken your immune response, but no single vitamin or mineral is a magic bullet either. The greater variety of tools your system can use, the better equipped it is to handle new threats.

Activity

As your doctor and your parents have always told you, exercise is one of the foundational pillars of a healthy life. It trains your body to operate more efficiently, which leaves your body with greater agility in responding to problems and supporting your life.

Like diet, exercise is not a targeted tool to boost the immune system, but rather a whole-system bolster that strengthens immune function by proxy.

For example, exercise is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. When you exercise, the body releases a variety of hormones, including epinephrine (adrenaline). This triggers adrenergic receptors, which immune cells possess, setting off several immunological responses.

One of them is the production of cytokines, or proteins, including TNF, a key regulator of local and systemic inflammation which helps boost immune responses.

Stress

Unfortunately, another major immune factor is something that afflicts eight in ten Americans: stress.

Stress has been empirically associated with several facets of the immune response, as the immune system is one of the many ways that the body responds to challenging circumstances. When you become stressed, your body is essentially preparing a fight or flight response, including mobilization of the immune system.

Think of it this way: when ancient humans were stressed during a lion attack, that was in response to the knowledge that they could be badly injured. A bite from an animal, for example, would leave the body exposed to foreign pathogens. Mobilizing the immune system is a logical way for the body to prepare to protect itself, even after the stressor (the lion) is gone.

On a cellular level, acute stress lasting a matter of minutes raises levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream, cells responsible for triggering inflammation that is the first line of defense in an immune response.

As a short-term response, this is useful. But chronic stress creates chronic, systemic inflammation and decreases the immune system’s ability to regulate itself–and respond to genuine threats.

Immune System Busters

In simple terms, your lifestyle has a significant effect on how well your body responds to challenges. While in theory, your body has the tools it needs to respond to germs, viruses, and external invaders, its ability to implement that response is strongly shaped by your habits.

Think of it like maintaining a car. You change your oil because the oil is responsible for lubricating the car parts, allowing them to function without overheating and thus maintaining the health of the whole engine. As the oil gets dirtier, it becomes less effective at lubricating the engine, leaving the engine at increasing risk of damage.

Your body is the same way.

Your immune system is helped or harmed by your habits. Any of the following can significantly weaken your immune response:

• Lack of sleep

• Lack of exercise

• Poor diet

• Stress

• Isolation

If you’re surprised by a few items on the list, remember that your immune system is tied to your psychological response to problems–especially your stress response.

Take sleep, for example. Sleep quality and mood are closely entwined, with sleep quality improvements causing a dramatic improvement in mood. This also means that sleep and stress are tangled together–45% of adults who sleep less than eight hours report feeling more stressed, compared to 32% of adults who sleep eight hours or more.

How to Strengthen the Immune System

Now that we’ve talked about all the ways the immune system might be weakened, let’s take a closer look at the ways that the immune system can be strengthened.

There are two ways to approach the problem: to treat the effects of poor maintenance and to boost the immune response proactively. In other words, treating the effects of bad habits, improving your habits, or both.

Natural Immune Boosters

The best immune boosters shouldn’t be used as a one-off solution, but rather used together as part of a holistic approach to wellbeing. Here are four natural immune boosters that you may already encounter as part of a healthy diet.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has a proven immune benefit in humans, which is why we’re often told to drink orange juice when we get sick.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, even working to help regenerate other antioxidants in the body. In terms of immune function, it’s a multipurpose superhero. For example, one of its many immune-promoting functions is to support the epithelial barrier, protecting the body against environmental oxidative stress.

It also has gene-regulating effects, which means it plays a key role in differentiating and proliferating B- and T-cells.

Common sources of vitamin C include:

• Citrus fruit

• Red pepper

• Green pepper

• Kiwi

• Broccoli

• Strawberries

• Brussels sprouts

• Cantaloupe

• Cauliflower

• Tomato juice

• Cooked cabbage

If your diet is lacking these fruits and veggies, you can still get the benefits of vitamin C through a topical vitamin C patch, like our C Plus Topical Patch.

Vitamin E

Like vitamin C, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. But it has a far larger role in the body as a whole–it’s involved in more than 200 biochemical functions.

A few common sources of vitamin E in your diet include:

• Vegetable oils such as wheat germ, safflower, and sunflower oil

• Corn oil

• Soybean oil

• Green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli

Most Americans do not get enough vitamin E in their diets, but healthy people rarely show signs of vitamin E deficiency. That’s because vitamin E deficiency is actually rather rare in healthy people and is usually linked to diseases which cause fat to be improperly digested, such as Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and certain rare genetic diseases.

We offer vitamin E as a component of several of our patches, including our Antiviral Plus Topical Patch and our Multi Plus Patch.

Vitamin A

The best way to understand vitamin A’s role in immune response is to understand what happens when you don’t have enough of it. Vitamin A deficiency impedes the regeneration of mucosal barriers damaged when you get an infection, as well as diminishing the function of natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils.

In addition, vitamin A is essential for adaptive immune function, promoting the production of helper T-cells and B-cells.

Vitamin A is available in the human diet in two forms:

1. Preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl ester)

2. Provitamin A carotenoids

Preformed vitamin A is found in animal sources, such as dairy, fish, and meat (especially liver). Provitamin A carotenoids come in many forms, but among the most important is beta carotene, which is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens.

Both preformed vitamin A and provitamin A must be metabolized intracellularly to retinal and retinoic acid before they can be used as vitamin A, which means that other carotenoids found in food cannot be converted to vitamin A.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral, known as an essential trace element because very small amounts of it are necessary for human health. It impacts multiple elements of the immune response, from gene regulation to maintaining your skin barrier, affecting both innate and acquired immunity.

Think of it as the powerhouse of your immune system.

As the human body does not store excess zinc, it must be consumed regularly in your diet. A few common sources of zinc include:

• Oysters

• Beef

• Crab

• Lobster

• Pork

• Chicken

• Pumpkin seeds

• Cashews

• Almonds

• Chickpeas

If you need a strong dose of zinc, oysters are the best bet. Just three ounces contains anywhere from 94% to 493% of your daily value of zinc, depending on the type of oyster, where they were raised, and how they were prepared.

Phytates, which are present in whole grain bread, cereal, and legumes, bind zinc, which means that zinc has a far lower bioavailability in plant- and grain-based foods compared to animal products. Unfortunately, this means that those eating a plant-based diet may not have sufficient zinc to meet their daily needs.

If you can’t stomach oysters or if you’re a vegetarian, no worries. You can still get your daily zinc from several of our patches, including our CoQ10 Plus Topical Patch.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

If you’re a health nut, you’ve probably heard of omega-3 fatty acids before as the healthy fat your body needs to thrive.

While the human body can make most of the fats it needs from other fats or raw materials, that isn’t the case for omega-3s. For this reason, they’re considered essential fatty acids–they must be obtained directly from food.

There are three main types of omega-3s:

1. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

2. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

3. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

ALA is the most common omega-3 in Western diets, while EPA and DHA are known as marine omega-3s since they come mainly from fish.

What makes omega-3s so important? They play an integral role in supporting cell membranes, provide a starting point for creating hormones involved in blood clotting, and bind to receptors that regulate genetic function, to name a few.

While omega-3s are not direct disease-fighters, they have a well-recognized anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, omega-3s are incorporated into the cell membranes of all immune cells investigated to date.

Since there are three different types of omega-3s, where you can get them and the amount of omega-3s depends on what type you’re looking for and how much of it. A few common sources include:

• Salmon

• Flaxseed oil

• Chia seeds

• Atlantic herring

• Canola oil

• Sardines

• Mackerel

• Trout

Keep in mind that EPA and DHA are primarily found in fish, while ALA is usually found in plant sources. And if you’re not a fish person, make sure to check out our Omega-3 Plus Patch.

The Best Immune Boosters on the Market

As you can see, it isn’t a question of finding the best immune system booster on the market, but rather the best combination of immune boosters. That’s where we come in.

We know how hard it is to find the time to build a balanced diet. That’s why we created our vitamin patches–so that you can live life to the fullest and the health support your body needs to thrive. If you haven’t tried our patches before, check out how to use our patches, and don’t forget to check out our shop to give your immune system the support it needs.