Immunity Booster – Diva Defense
By Amy Medling, founder of PCOS Diva
UPDATED: October 2021
I start early every fall working to boost my family’s immune systems and get us through cold and flu season.
Now, I am even more vigilant about our routines. We are careful about eating well, getting exercise, hand washing, covering sneezes, and now taking PCOS Diva Defense. It has replaced all the separate supplements we usually take at this time of year- vitamins C, D, E, and zinc and even offer more.
It is reassuring to head into the “sick season” knowing that we have extra protection from allergic and inflammatory responses and especially upper respiratory infections.
Here’s the “scoop” on our new line of defense, PCOS Diva Defense powder.
Diva Defense is an orange-flavored powder containing a comprehensive blend of immune-supportive nutrients.
Each 4-gram serving provides 1,000 mg vitamin C, along with targeted / clinically relevant amounts of the bioflavonoids quercetin and resveratrol, 50 mcg (2,000 IU) vitamin D, 100 mg vitamin E isomers (as delta and gamma tocotrienols), 50 mg geranylgeraniol (as GG-Gold®), and 20 mg zinc.
The ingredients in Diva Defense work together to support immune function, especially during cold and flu season and during times of compromised immune health. Diva Defense may help support healthy immune system function, inflammatory response, the body’s natural response to seasonal upper respiratory challenges, as well as healthy metabolic function.
Vitamin C and quercetin
These two ingredients work together to help the body’s natural process of combatting free radicals that are produced daily from exposure to such things as environmental toxins, allergens, UV radiation, stressors, undesirable bacteria, and viruses.
Quercetin
Quercetin, also known as the “king of the flavonoids,” is an important antioxidant and imparts beneficial effects on the two primary white blood cells involved in allergic and inflammatory responses.
Quercetin works as an anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-viral agent to support a healthy inflammatory response and histamine release. Histamine is the compound responsible for some of the unpleasant symptoms associated with occasional and seasonal upper respiratory challenges.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a well-known staple for boosting immune function.
Although research on the effect of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for the common cold is mixed, studies have shown that vitamin C has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and antiviral properties against many viruses.
As an added benefit for those with PCOS, a 2003 study found that women who take vitamin C have significantly increased levels of progesterone in their systems, in fact, women who took 750mg of vitamin C per day had an increase of 77%. Since low progesterone levels are extremely common in women with PCOS and can lead to miscarriage as well as absent, irregular or very long periods, the boost from vitamin C supplementation can be a huge bonus.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a plant-derived antioxidant that can decrease viral proteins, infection, and replication.
Best known as the magic wellness ingredient in red wine, resveratrol has noted anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, and cardioprotective properties.
In fact, new research indicates that resveratrol may play an even bigger role in the anti-inflammatory and immune systems than we previously believed.
As an added PCOS benefit, resveratrol has also been shown to significantly reduce ovarian and adrenal androgens (such as testosterone), as well as DHEAS in women with PCOS. In fact, in a 2013 study, researchers found that “resveratrol supplementation exerted strong antidiabetic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes” including significantly decreased systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, and insulin resistance, while HDL was significantly increased.
Vitamin E Isomers
Perhaps the best-known role for the vitamin E complex is as an antioxidant and in relation to healthy skin, eyesight, reproduction, brain, and blood vitality. In this role, vitamin E protects cells from free radicals resulting from exposure to toxins such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and sun exposure.
However, vitamin E is also a powerful infection fighter.
Lifestyle and diet are the first line of defense for managing PCOS. Supplements are also important. To help you learn which supplements are right for your unique needs, I created a comprehensive PCOS Supplement Guide that you can download by clicking on the image below.
Geranylgeraniol
This unique compound plays critical roles in numerous biological processes affecting organs and tissues throughout the body, including those involved with immune function.
Our own body’s production of geranylgeraniol declines naturally during aging and the use of certain pharmaceutical drugs (particularly for treating high cholesterol and osteoporosis) inhibits its synthesis, potentially resulting in a need for supplementation.
Vitamin D
This nutrient is critical for a healthy immune system. Vitamin D and its metabolites significantly influence immune health and help support the body’s natural response to some foreign pathogens that target the upper respiratory tract.
Not only that, vitamin D is demonstrated to help absorb calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, as well as regulation of insulin, and it helps control inflammation.
Since 3 out of 4 women with PCOS also have a vitamin D deficiency, supplementation is often recommended.
Zinc
Last but not least, zinc is involved in virtually every aspect of the immune system and response.
Zinc supports the actions of specific white blood cells that work to support the body’s immune system to pathogens. It is required for the proper function of the thymus, the primary lymphoid organ where immune cells mature.
The zinc in PCOS Diva Defense is in a chelated form which, when taken as a supplement, results in better absorption by the body.
Zinc is helpful for many symptoms of PCOS including blood sugar control, improved ovulation, reduced hirsutism, and acne, fending off depression, and promoting thyroid health.
RELATED: Women with PCOS Need Zinc
Final Words
All in all, PCOS Diva Defense offers the most complete blend of nutrients to protect me and my family this season. It helps that it tastes great in my morning smoothies and takes the place of orange juice in the morning for my kids!
Amy Medling, best-selling author of Healing PCOS and certified health coach, specializes in working with women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), who are frustrated and have lost all hope when the only solution their doctors offer is to lose weight, take a pill, and live with their symptoms. In response, Amy founded PCOS Diva and developed a proven protocol of supplements, diet, and lifestyle programs that offer women tools to help gain control of their PCOS and regain their fertility, femininity, health, and happiness.
Resources:
(2020) The antiviral properties of vitamin C, Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 18:2, 99-101, DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1706483
Kim Y, Kim H, Bae S, Choi J, Lim SY, Lee N, Kong JM, Hwang YI, Kang JS, Lee WJ. Vitamin C Is an Essential Factor on the Anti-viral Immune Responses through the Production of Interferon-α/β at the Initial Stage of Influenza A Virus (H3N2) Infection. Immune Netw. 2013 Apr;13(2):70-74. https://doi.org/10.4110/in.2013.13.2.70
