Always do this before traveling

I’ve been getting quite a few phone calls from my patients over the last few weeks. [Click here](1770d7/ct0_0/1/ms?sid=TV2%3Aptis8iphu) to view this message in your browser | [Click here](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3Aptis8iphu) to stop receiving our messages [] [] Al Sears, MD 11905 Southern Blvd. Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 [] August 21, 2024 [] Reader, I’ve been getting quite a few phone calls from my patients over the last few weeks. Seems like a lot of them are getting ready to take one last trip to see their kids and grandkids in these final few weeks of summer vacation. And they want to make sure they don’t get sick while they’re away… I understand. It always makes sense to protect your immunity – whether you’re traveling or not. Especially as you age. Because sadly, your immune system declines with age. That opens the door to all chronic diseases and other conditions linked to aging. Including increasing your risk of getting sick while traveling... But you have the power to increase your immune response – easily, quickly, and from your own home. And one of the best ways is with vitamin B12. I’m sure you’re familiar with the critical role that B12 plays in the formation of red blood cells. But this vitamin also plays a critical role in white blood cell production. And white blood cells are essential for proper immune system functioning. White blood cells are produced by your bone marrow to help your body fight infection. And when you have a low white blood cell count, your immune system can’t function as it should and you become what’s called immunocompromised. Patients deficient in B12 have fewer white blood cells and natural killer cells. These are the frontline defenders your immune system relies on to destroy viruses before they can mount an invasion.1 Once you’re immunocompromised, you have a higher risk of getting sick from a virus – including the Covid virus2 – that doesn’t affect people with a healthy immune system. Unfortunately, more than 40% of older adults have a B12 deficiency... As you age, your digestive tract no longer produces enough of an enzyme called “intrinsic factor.” And you need that enzyme to absorb vitamin B12 from your gut. Prescription medicines like antacids and metformin, intestinal problems, and alcohol use all lead to a decrease in production. Sadly, mainstream doctors know almost nothing about vitamins. They’ll rarely check your B12 levels. In my practice, I recommend a simple B12 blood test for most patients. Most labs say normal B12 levels are between 150 and 350 pg/mL. But I find patients at that level have apparent symptoms of a deficiency. I recommend keeping your level above 450 pg/mL. 3 Easy Ways To Boost Your B12 - Choose the right foods. B12 is produced in the gut of animals. It’s found almost exclusively in foods like grass-fed beef, liver, and lamb… wild-caught clams, salmon, and shrimp… and pastured eggs. Be sure that you’re not blocking B12 absorption. Heartburn drugs like the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole and diabetes drugs like metformin reduce your body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food. - Spray some B12 under your tongue. If you’re not eating enough animal protein or if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll need to supplement. Most nutritionists say adults only need 2.4 micrograms (mcg) per day. That’s way too low. I recommend at least 100 mcg per day. But I advise many of my patients to take as much as 3,000 mcg per day for nerve function and energy. You can find vitamin B12 supplements in capsules. But I recommend you use a spray since it’s more effective. You spray a fine mist of vitamin B12 under your tongue. Capillaries and small blood vessels quickly absorb the mist and deliver B12 to your circulatory system, tissues, and cells. It bypasses the gut where B12 absorption may be low. - Get a shot. At the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, I always recommend getting a B12 injection before traveling. It ensures that your body absorbs 100% of the nutrient. And that’s good news for those who have trouble absorbing B12, including older adults. The injections bypass the gut and go directly into the bloodstream. At my clinic, we only offer injections in the natural form of B-12 called methylcobalamin. Many clinics offer a form of B12 called cyanocobalamin. But this kind of synthetic B12 is artificial and man-made. Your body excretes this artificial form of B-12 3 times faster than natural B-12. So it may be gone before your body has a chance to use it.3 If you'd like more information about B12 injections, call my staff at 561-784-7852 to schedule an appointment. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS --------------------------------------------------------------- References: - Pan M, et al. “Inhibition of TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-1β by Pretreatment of Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages with Menaquinone-7 and Cell Activation with TLR Agonists In Vitro.” J Med Food. 2016;19(7):663–669. - Sezgin Y. “Evaluation of serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with COVID-19 infection: A case-control study.” J Med Biochem. 2023 Aug 25; 42(3): 524-529. - Paul C and Brady D. “Comparative Bioavailability and Utilization of Particular Forms of B12 Supplements With Potential to Mitigate B12-related Genetic Polymorphisms.” Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017 Feb; 16(1): 42–49. alsearsmd@send.alsearsmd.com [Preferences | Unsubscribe](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3Aptis8iphu) 11905 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, United States