Immune Support

One of my favorite things about the Cronometer nutrition tracking app is the Immune Support chart. It helps me throughout the day to choose foods that my body needs to ward off illness. It educates me on exactly what my body needs right now to keep it performing at its best. Here are the ten nutrients listed in the Immune Support category: 

1. Folate 
2. B12 (Cobalamin)
3. Vitamin A
4. Copper
5. Zinc
6. Magnesium
7. Vitamin D
8. Vitamin C
9. Omega-3
10. Omega-6

And to the right is a snapshot of how I'm doing so far this year (this view includes supplements -- without supplements, I am almost always deficient in Vitamin D).

I take small doses of B12 (liquid form 1-2 drops daily), Folate (1/4th of a Folic Acid tablet), and a little extra Zinc most days to keep my Zinc:Copper ratio in balance (because they utilize the same pathway, Cronometer helps me keep these two important nutrients in balance).  

It is important for everyone to take care of their immune system, but especially so for people living with cancer. Our bodies naturally fight disease, including cancer cells. My body has cancer cells in the lymph system, as I have written about previously; the lymph system is part of our body's immune response team, which is an amazing army of specialized cells that search every nook and cranny for things that do not belong, things that are not helpful or that cause harm. Those specialized cells flag viruses and cancer cells, telling the nervous system what and where it is, which type of defense is needed, etc.

Recently, my husband started coughing and developed a fever, chills, night sweats, and congestion. I did what I could to protect myself, keeping a distance, wearing a mask, but I did not think it would be enough to prevent me from also getting sick. After all, they removed 44 lymph nodes last year and my lymph system is invaded with cancer cells (Non Hodgkins SLL). It is compromised to say the least. This is why I have been so diligent about tracking my nutrition. It is my first line of defense!

To my utter surprise, I did not get sick! My husband was unfortunately sick for 10 days, but I did not develop even a sniffle! I can only attribute this to my immune system having what it needed to win the battle this time. 

I will keep this blog short by inviting readers who want more details to download Cronometer and start using it to educate yourself about what each nutrient is, what it does, and best food sources for you to get everything you need in your daily diet. Maybe a multi-vitamin and mineral formula is adequate for you, but for me, I don't want to waste money or calories on excess nutrients that my kidney has to flush. I want to give my body what it needs to be efficient. Kidneys already have an enormous 24/7 workload!

Thank you for being here. Please take a moment to leave a comment. I hope this post is helpful, and I wish you all the best in your health journey! 

❤