The speed read
Our immune system is the single, most important defence mechanism within our body
Stress, anxiety, diet, lack of exercise, toxins, antibiotics and pharmaceuticals can all compromise our immune system
Signs of being immuno-compromised are varied but can include fatigue, illness and infections, aches and pains, food intolerances, allergies and even depression
Many amino acids are critical for gut health including glutamine, arginine, glycine, lysine and threonine. These amino acids not only help to heal and seal the gut and protect the gut lining but glutamine, in particular, has been linked with healing inflammation and helping with leaky gut syndrome.
Collagen contains all of these amino acids and more which is why including collagen in your daily health plan can help support your gut and boost your immunity.
Edible Health’s Digestive Enzyme Collagen Powder not only contains collagen with its 18 amino acids but also contains 14 other high-quality super nutrients renowned for their gut health and immune-boosting properties.
If you’re feeling under the weather, or you’re coming down with too many colds too regularly, or you seem to be increasingly allergic to things, then you may well want to know what immune system supplements might help you back on the road to recovery.
Indeed, they may play an important role in doing just that, and in giving us the pick-up we need. But let’s first consider how and why our bodies aren’t performing properly in the first place.
The finer details
If you’re feeling under the weather, or you’re coming down with too many colds too regularly, or you seem to be increasingly allergic to things, then you may well want to know what immune system supplements might help you back on the road to recovery.
Indeed, they may play an important role in doing just that, and in giving us the pick-up we need. But let’s first consider how and why our bodies aren’t performing properly in the first place.
How does our body normally protect and care for itself?
Our immune system is the single most important defence our body has not only to protect itself, but also to maintain good health. We have written a really thorough guide to good health. For the purposes of this article, however, we want to focus on one particular area of maintaining optimum health; supplements.
Specifically, collagen.
Feeling run down and catching that cold. Again?
You can burn the candle from both ends up to a certain point, absolutely. However eventually, no matter who you are, you will come unstuck. There’s only so much your body and brain can handle. At some point, something will start to give because none of us is invincible. In other words, we all crack eventually. It’s just a matter of when and how.
Doesn’t that sound terribly cheery, not?!
The last thing we want to do is come across all Negative Nelly. However, in order to understand the importance of collagen, we’ve got to look at the bigger picture first. And that involves considering the myriad ways we neglect to really care for our well-being.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Poor diet
- Bad exercise (by this we mean too little or too much)
- Smoking
- Lack of hygiene
- Exposure to toxins or bacteria
- Over-use of prescription drugs
… All of these wreak havoc on our health. That can manifest itself in a number of ways, for instance:
- Fatigue
- Colds and flu
- Infections
- Aches, pains and inflammation
- Depression or mental ill-health
- Serious illness
These are just some of the signs our body gives us to say something is not right. More care is needed. Throw me a lifeline, please. Hurry up!
Now there are several measures you might take to minimise symptoms and get the body and mind back on track. One of them may be introducing supplements into your diet, specifically, collagen. And here’s where we get to some really juicy information.
Collagen - the health and well-being heavy-hitter
When it comes to our overall health and well-being, collagen has a mighty role to play.
Edible Health collagen is a very special form of protein powder that contains very special and unique combinations of amino acids. Our collagen contains 18 amino acids including 8 of the 9 essential amino acids (essential means that we need to get these from food as our bodies can’t make these itself).
Many of these amino acids are critical for gut health and immune system function. Glutamine, arginine, glycine, lysine and threonine all play very specific parts in this.
Arginine can enhance our immune system mechanisms and support the cells that make up our immune system.
Glutamine provides energy to our intestinal and immune cells and helps maintain the integrity of the barrier between our intestines and, well, everything else! When our health is compromised our glutamine production levels slow down. This makes us very vulnerable and open to (at the risk of sounding dramatic) attacks on our system.
This is all potentially amplified and leads to other related issues, as well. For instance, having a leaky gut might lead to compromised absorption of nutrients and inflammation, which just exacerbates the body’s decline.
Do you think you’re suffering from leaky gut? Find out more about gut health here.
As a result, supplementing with high-quality collagen might help prop up your levels, maintain your gut health, and keep your defence system on guard, ready and able to do its job.
What collagen supplement do we recommend?
Good news - Edible Health has developed a product specifically for gut health.
Digestive Enzyme Collagen Powder (DEC) is all about sealing and healing! We have created a unique blend of our Premium Bovine Collagen Hydrolysate with its 18 essential amino acids and combined it with some powerful probiotics, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, triglycerides and herbs. 'DEC' may improve digestion, reduce bowel inflammation and boost overall health and well-being.
Its additional gut health enhancers include a range of high quality, carefully selected super nutrients renowned for supporting digestive health and immunity, including:
- Turmeric (a powerful anti-inflammatory with antioxidant properties)
- Psyllium (dietary fibre to feed the good gut bacteria)
- N-acetyl-l-glutamine (a water-soluble form of glutamine to heal and seal)
- Slippery elm (traditionally taken to treat conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and urinary tract infections)
- Acacia (another dietary fibre that’s water-soluble)
- MCT (an easily-digestible source of energy)
- Digestive enzymes (to assist the effective breakdown of food and uptake of nutrients)
- NAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine - helps to reduce inflammation)
- Liquorice (traditionally used to soothe gastro upsets)
- Quercetin (a natural pigment with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties)
- Aloe vera (a natural enzyme used to break down sugars, fats, maintain good digestion and promote healing)
- Zinc (helps reduce inflammation)
- Vitamin D3 (helps reduce over-production of anti-inflammatory proteins that cause damage)
- Probiotics (to help achieve a balanced micro-ecosystem in the gut)
Blend it, baby
Unlike our plain bovine and marine collagen powder products, Digestive Enzyme Collagen is not water-soluble. This is because many of the super nutrients we have used to create this amazing blend are fat-soluble only.
This won’t stop you from adding it into your smoothies or stirring it into porridge, puddings or yoghurt but, if you enjoy a smoother drink like a milkshake, then we suggest mixing the powder into a smooth paste with a little milk first (or try coconut or MCT oil for a keto boost) and then topping up with warm or cold milk for a raspberry-lemon milkshake or adding that to your other chosen drinks or food.
We suggest taking 15 grams per day, which is around 1-2 tablespoons depending on your spoon size and how much you load it up! Feel free to take it all at once, or add it to your food and drinks throughout the day. We only use powder so that you are in total control of what, when and how you decide to take your collagen – the way health should be!
What other supplements could be beneficial?
Although vitamin C is a key player in maintaining our health, the majority of people in the western world should just naturally be getting sufficient levels, despite the fact our bodies cannot store it.
The B group of vitamins, as well as vitamin E, are also powerful agents in the support and defence of our immune system. We’ve pulled together a great article about foods that help support good health. Why not check that out and if you feel you don’t get enough of these vitamins naturally, then consider a multivitamin.
We really hope this helps you understand the role immune system supplements can play for your overall health and well-being. Feel free to contact us about any questions you might have.
Similarly, we’d love to hear from you about ways in which you look after your health and well-being!
Stay well,
Corinna and the Edible Health Team.
*Please note, this product is only available for purchase in the UK. Take a look at our US collections page or EU collections page for products available here
The immune system supplements information we have provided herewith, and all linked materials, are not intended nor should they be construed as medical advice. Moreover, the information herewith should not be used as a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions and consult your General Practitioner for advice specific for you.
