Detecting Deficiencies and the Connection to Covid-19
Balance is needed in all aspects of our lives. Work-life balance. A balanced diet. A positive bank account balance. It’s easy to hyperfocus on those aspects and forget or neglect one major component of your life: your body. The human body is complex, but one way to help your immune system stay strong is by maintaining a good balance of micronutrients. These include things like vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world and flu season just around the corner, maintaining a healthy balance of micronutrients is more important than ever before. A lack of certain micronutrients may put you at greater risk of contracting one or both of these viruses as well as other illnesses. Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have also been shown to contribute to chronic degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important micronutrients connected to your immune system.
Vitamins
Half of Americans may be deficient in vitamin D. This is especially true in areas where it is difficult for people to get enough sun exposure in the winter months. Vitamin D has shown to be vital to bone growth, cell growth and neuromuscular function. Lower levels of vitamin D have also been shown to increase the risk of viral respiratory tract infections.
A partner to vitamin D in terms of immunological health is vitamin A. Vitamin A works in your gut, which is where many people first lose their immune tolerance. Having an intolerant immune system can lead to a wide range of illnesses. Vitamin A works to protect your gut’s immune response by increasing antimicrobial peptides and helps fight off germs and bacteria in the body.
Minerals
Zinc is commonly thought of as the white cream lifeguards smear on their noses to protect themselves from sunburn. However, the micronutrient form of zinc is crucial to many aspects of your health. It plays a big role in immune function and its ability to fight inflammation.
Up to 75 percent of Americans may not be meeting their recommended levels of magnesium. Magnesium is a co-factor in more than 300 enzyme systems that support the immune system. Researchers believe a lack of this important mineral may cause the buildup of calcium in the muscles lining the airways of the lungs, causing them to constrict, making it more difficult to breathe.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are compounds that combine to make proteins. A deficiency of dietary protein or amino acids has long been known to impair immune function and increase our susceptibility to infectious disease.
Glutamine is one amino acid that is a vital building block of protein and the immune system. The most common cause of a glutamine deficiency is physical stress. When the body is taxed by physical stress, blood and muscle concentrations of glutamine are rapidly depleted as the body is unable to reproduce this amino acid fast enough to meet its needs.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are compounds that are linked to multiple diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer — if their levels become too high in your body.
Several environmental factors, such as exposure to pollutants, alcohol, medications, infections or poor diet, can lead to an antioxidant imbalance.
Co-enzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, acts as an antioxidant, which protects cells from damage and plays an important part in metabolism. Studies also show CoQ10 may help protect the lungs by reducing inflammation. That is important when dealing with any sort of respiratory issue.
Called a vitamin, vitamin E is considered a key antioxidant. It helps to keep cells from damage and is also involved in the body’s immune function. Vitamin E deficiencies often run in families.
Test Your Levels
So you see how important some of these micronutrients are to a balanced immune system — something extremely essential with the concern of COVID-19 and the rise of other diseases — infectious or not.
Are you curious about your body’s balance? Any Lab Test Now can help. Our Micronutrient Test measures your body’s ability to absorb different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential nutrients into your white blood cells. The results will tell you which vitamins you are deficient in and which to focus on — thereby preventing any unnecessary spending on costly supplements for the wrong vitamins.
No doctor’s prescription is needed for this blood test, and you don’t need to fast.
Be at Ease
Any Lab Test Now wants you to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including finding out your micronutrient levels.
We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 185+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put your mind at as much ease as possible during the coronavirus outbreak. We are here to help.
Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.
Use Your FSA On These 5 Tests
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-advantaged account, to be used for medical expenses only. An FSA is different from a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) in that the money must be used within the calendar year. Unused funds left at the end of the year are returned to your employer, who can use it to offset the inevitable costs of administering benefits or may simply split it amongst the employees in the FSA plan.
This means that, if you have money left in your account, now is the time to put it to good use. Any Lab Test Now offers a variety of tests that can provide insightful information about your health and family history.
If you find yourself suffering from itchy eyes, blotchy skin or a stuffy nose, you may have allergies. Some common allergens are pollen, grass, house dust and pet dander. At Any Lab Test Now, you can get tested and determine what is causing your allergies to act up. With test results in hand, you can get the proper medications and start making lifestyle changes to ease your symptoms.
Food Sensitivity and Intolerance Tests
If you experience a scratchy throat, hives or body swelling after eating, you may have a food sensitivity or intolerance and should be tested. Even if you did not have any food allergies as a child, it is possible to develop them later in life. Intolerance to things like lactose or gluten can have a negative impact on your digestion. By getting tested, you’ll learn how you need to adjust your diet to live more comfortably.
Vitamins, Minerals & Nutrition Lab Tests
Constantly tired, worn down or lethargic? You may suffer from a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Put your FSA to good use and learn more about your body. At Any Lab Test Now, you can talk with a qualified professional to determine which test is most appropriate for your diet and lifestyle. From a B-12 deficiency test to a potassium test to weight management take-home hormone kits, there are a variety from which to choose.
High cholesterol often runs in families. If you have a family history of less-than-stellar cholesterol counts, it is a good idea to get checked! Oftentimes, high cholesterol doesn’t come with any symptoms. In many cases, it goes completely undetected until an emergency event such as a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol can lead to plaque building up in your arteries, which will eventually cause damage to your body. Lifestyle changes and proper medication can help reduce the risks, so get tested today!
Love history? Curious where your family came from or which relatives share a common maternal or paternal ancestor? Ancestry and lineage testing can tell you which family member is on your mother or father’s side, where your family line originated, and how you came to be. It’s a fascinating process that analyzes your mitochondria or, in men, the Y-chromosome, depending on the specific test you choose.
Those are just a few of the tests offered at Any Lab Test Now. There are many more tests, such as blood tests, drug and alcohol tests and thyroid lab tests, that may be beneficial for you. Any Lab Test Now is committed to providing patients with a top-of-the-line experience, so stop in today to talk more about what test is right for you. Available tests may vary between locations, so find your nearest Any Lab Test Now location at AnyLabTestNow.com.
