“Nutritional Deficiencies: Symptoms and Supplements to Improve Immune Health”

Do you eat healthy? Are you getting your daily dose of vitamins, minerals from food? Nutritional deficiencies are a particularly important aspect for human health, and they all play an essential role in the proper functioning of the body. Unfortunately, doctors claim, in recent years it has been found more and more often that the population has vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and here we are not only referring to adults, but also to children.

When certain nutrients are missing from the body, it has reactions that try to alert you to the presence of nutritional deficiencies. For example, when muscle cramps and cramps appear, specialists say that there is a lack of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Then, if you have chapped lips, it is clearly an absence of vitamin A and more. In other words, every deficiency has its symptoms.

According to Dr. Corina Șandru, vitamin A deficiency is translated into the body by a series of symptoms such as: feeling of dry eyes (it is also associated with a deficiency of Omega 3 essential fatty acids), eyes with red spots, dry and cracked lips, especially at the corners of the mouth, brown spots on the skin and drying of the skin. The fruits that help to remove this deficiency are: apricots, grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, prunes.

The vegetables recommended in such situations are: carrots, spinach, red bell pepper, tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, green peas, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and lettuce.

Doctors say that supplements with the potential to stimulate immunity must be included in the diet. In addition to the items listed above, many supplements can help improve the immune response.

Among these we mention selenium, which is an essential mineral for immune health. Research has shown that selenium supplements can boost antiviral defenses against flu strains, and garlic has powerful anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Additionally, it has been shown to improve immune health by stimulating protective white blood cells. Licorice also contains many substances, including glycyrrhizin, that can help protect against viral infections. According to test-tube research, glycyrrhizin exhibits antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Some human research supports the use of this plant’s extract to help relieve symptoms of acute viral respiratory infections, including the common cold and bronchitis. However, results are mixed and more research is needed. B vitamins, including B12 and B6, are also important for a healthy immune response. However, many adults are deficient in them, which can negatively affect immune health. Curcumin is the main active compound in turmeric and has strong anti-inflammatory properties, and various studies indicate that it can help improve immune function, as does echinacea. This is an herb that improves immune system health and may have antiviral effects against several respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus and rhinoviruses. In turn, propolis, while having impressive immune-boosting effects, may also have antiviral properties, but more human research is still needed for that.