Immunity+ Pod: For Strengthening Immune Defense

Dr David Nieman, DrPH, FACSM

Your immune system acts like your personal bodyguard -- protecting you from germs and viruses to keep you healthy and free from sickness! Diet plays a crucial role in immune health with certain dietary patterns and foods linked to increased risk of disease, inflammation, and impaired immune response. The Immunity+ pod was formulated to provide the specific nutrients you need for improved immune function, focusing on polyphenols and flavonoids. Taking one Vitapod Immunity+ shot each day closes the nutrition gap and provides plant-based antioxidants to support your body’s natural defenses. Oh, and the flavor (Blackberry Mint) is pretty fantastic if we do say so ourselves.  

What We Love About IMMUNITY+ 

• Zero sodium.  
• Zero sugar.  
• Low calorie (4 calories a shot).  
• No artificial flavors or colors.  

• Contains powerful immunity boosters and micronutrients. 

What’s a “nutrition gap”?  

Diet affects the production of immune cells and antibodies – when your diet is high in nutrient-dense foods production is increased and your immune defense is strengthened. The opposite occurs when you are malnourished or lacking in essential vitamins. The typical American diet is high in processed foods that are high in sodium and added sugar and low in those nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. When consuming a diet like that you experience a “nutrition gap”. The “nutrition gap” is easy to fall into. The daily stress of life and a busy schedule often leave ease and convenience as priorities when it comes to food. Which is where Vitapod comes in. Vitapod bridges that nutrition gap by providing you with the micronutrients the average person is deficient in – and with the Immunity+ pod those nutrients also strengthen your immune system.   

What are polyphenols?  

We are so glad you asked. Simply put, polyphenols are plant compounds that are packed with antioxidants and have many health benefits. If you want to learn more about polyphenols and all they have to offer check out our article: here!  

Why should I reach for the IMMUNITY+ pod?  

The IMMUNITY+ pod contains a unique blend of vitamins and minerals which include vitamins A, C, D, E, folic acid, magnesium and minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, and boron. Intake of these minerals tend to be low in most adults and are linked to increased susceptibility to infection. On top of that each shot includes immune boosters like bilberry extract, isoquercetin, and green tea extract which contain flavonoids (a.k.a plant-based antioxidants) that have proven impacts on overall health and immune system strength.  

REFERENCES: 

1. Ahmed M, Henson DA, Sanderson MC, Nieman DC, Gillitt ND, Lila MA. The protective effects of a polyphenol-enriched protein powder on exercise-induced susceptibility to virus infection. Phytother Res. 2014 Dec;28(12):1829-36. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25088029/ 
2. Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, Eggersdorfer M. Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect against Viral Infections. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 23;12(4):1181. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32340216/ 
3. Cialdella-Kam L, Nieman DC, Knab AM, et al. A Mixed Flavonoid-Fish Oil Supplement Induces Immune-Enhancing and Anti-Inflammatory Transcriptomic Changes in Adult Obese and Overweight Women-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2016;8(5):277. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27187447/ 
4. Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31963293/ 
5. Ivey KL, Chan AT, Izard J, Cassidy A, Rogers GB, Rimm EB. Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly. mBio. 2019;10(5):e01205-19. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31551328/ 
6. Khaliq H, Juming Z, Ke-Mei P. The Physiological Role of Boron on Health. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2018;186(1):31–51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29546541/ 
7. Maggini S, Pierre A, Calder PC. Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over the Life Course. Nutrients. 2018 Oct 17;10(10):1531. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30336639/ 
8. Martínez G, Mijares MR, De Sanctis JB. Effects of Flavonoids and Its Derivatives on Immune Cell Responses. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2019;13(2):84-104. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31814545/ 
9. Nieman DC, Lila MA, Gillitt ND. Immunometabolism: A Multi-Omics Approach to Interpreting the Influence of Exercise and Diet on the Immune System. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2019 Mar 25;10:341-363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30633566/ 
10. Ninfali P, Antonelli A, Magnani M, Scarpa ES. Antiviral Properties of Flavonoids and Delivery Strategies. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 21;12(9):2534. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825564/ 
11. Pei R, Liu X, Bolling B. Flavonoids and gut health. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2020 Feb;61:153-159. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31954357/ 
12. Romero-Aguilar KS, Arciniega-Martínez IM, Farfán-García ED, Campos-Rodríguez R, Reséndiz-Albor AA, Soriano-Ursúa MA. Effects of boron-containing compounds on immune responses: review and patenting trends. Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2019;29(5):339–351. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31064237/ 
13. Skrajnowska D, Bobrowska-Korczak B. Role of Zinc in Immune System and Anti-Cancer Defense Mechanisms. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2273. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31546724/ 
14. Steinbrenner H, Al-Quraishy S, Dkhil MA, Wunderlich F, Sies H. Dietary selenium in adjuvant therapy of viral and bacterial infections. Adv Nutr. 2015;6(1):73–82. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25593145/ 
15. Wang L, Song J, Liu A, Xiao B, Li S, Wen Z, Lu Y, Du G. Research Progress of the Antiviral Bioactivities of Natural Flavonoids. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2020 Oct;10(5):271-283. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32948973/ 
16. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1286. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29186856/