The immune system is like your body's superhero squad, constantly defending against invaders to keep you healthy and thriving. It's not just a single entity, it's a dynamic network that includes bone marrow, white blood cells, skin, the lymphatic system, and the gut. It operates on two fronts, adaptive immunity which is a precise defence against specific threats, and innate immunity which is a rapid response to general dangers.

The diversity of your gut microbiome is crucial in shaping the strength and development of your immune system. Good bacteria within the microbiome communicate with immune cells, creating the appropriate response to unwanted microbes. A flourishing microbiome creates a stable environment, reinforcing your body's defences.

Now, let's talk lymphatic system. The lymphatic system works constantly to eliminate waste throughout your body, a crucial role in supporting your immune system. Without efficient waste disposal, toxins can pile up, triggering immune reactions that may lead to specific health concerns such as eczema, fatigue, and so on.

The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and organs, including lymph, the fluid within the system that carries immune cells, patrolling your body for signs of trouble, and lymph nodes, those small bean-shaped structures, that filter out potential threats and help immune cells recognise and eliminate invaders.

So, how does it all connect? In essence, the immune system, digestive system, and the lymphatic system work in harmony to safeguard you against infections, detect abnormalities early, and maintain overall well-being. Factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environment play a crucial role in overall balance.

The gut, home to an enormous and complex community of commensal bacteria, holds the key to many benefits including digestion, nutrient production, detoxification, and a resilient immune system. Let's take a look at the fascinating connection between the gut and the immune system, exploring the intricacies of these vital components.

An ever growing body of evidence shows the profound impact of gut microbiota on our overall health, which we know is heavily influenced by lifestyle and dietary choices. Remarkably, 70% of immune cells find their home in the gut, specifically in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Peyer’s patches, which are small lymph nodes in the small intestine, play a crucial role in capturing invaders, activating immune cells, and coordinating the necessary immune response.

The digestive system acts as the main channel between the external environment and your body's internal systems. It is a strict gatekeeper, filtering nutrients and safeguarding against toxins. Your daily intake of food undergoes a precise screening process to ensure it won't cause harm, and this delicate process is crucial, as an imbalance in the gut's microflora can upset the relationship between the gut microbiome and the immune system, potentially altering immune responses.

So, to conclude, your gut and immune system work synergistically together, influencing each other's functions and harmonising to ensure your body's optimal wellbeing. This is a two way street, just as your gut influences your immune system, your immune system also impacts the gut.

After 7 long years in the making, we are so proud to finally be able to offer you our very own supplement, carefully designed to elevate your immune system and nurture gut health. We spared no effort in choosing each individual ingredient, ensuring the purest, most bioavailable forms so we could offer you the most advanced supplement for overall immune support on the market.

Defence contains powerful ingredients, which we have chosen ourselves, that work synergistically together to support your body's natural defences. Our blend boasts probiotics to champion gut health, essential vitamins crucial for immune function, and a medley of herbs and antioxidants working to reduce inflammation and provide protective benefits.

Let's take a little walk through each specialist ingredient, unraveling the unique role it plays in our bespoke blend and why we believe it deserves a place in your daily supplement ritual.

Inside Defence resides our signature blend of probiotics specifically designed to support the body's natural defences. This unique blend features Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei. Offering more than just support for digestion, probiotics play a versatile role in aiding nutrient absorption, managing inflammation, supporting metabolism, and enhancing immunity.

Probiotics have long been under the research spotlight for good reason. Recent studies have looked at the influence of probiotic strains like Lactobacillus and prebiotics such as FOS in reducing inflammatory markers while enhancing anti-inflammatory responses, a crucial aspect of a robust immune system.

Our distinctive probiotic blend goes beyond digestive health. It's a powerhouse supporting immunity, joint health, skin vibrancy, and more. We firmly believe that a flourishing gut sets the stage for overall well-being.

Vitamin D goes beyond maintaining calcium and bone balance, it’s also a key player in supporting your immune system's optimal function. Its longstanding use for immune support stems from its ability to balance specific immune responses. Numerous studies have delved into its benefits, particularly in conditions like eczema, showcasing its positive impact on immune related conditions.

As we face the challenges of winter, vitamin D becomes even more crucial. Naturally obtained from sunlight (with the help of the liver and kidneys), this vitamin tends to dwindle during the darker months. With research uncovering a link between vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to respiratory infections, our inclusion of 1000IU of vitamin D in Defence is a proactive step towards empowering your immune resilience throughout the seasons.

NB: Individual needs vary. If you have concerns or have experienced deficiencies in the past, consult with our nutritional therapists. They can guide you on additional vitamin D and recommend testing to ensure your levels are optimal.

Vitamin K2, specifically in the form of MK-7, is a key addition to our Defence blend for several reasons. Renowned for its superior efficacy, MK-7 is favourable over other vitamin K forms due to its better absorption and higher bioavailability.

Incorporating vitamin K2 (MK-7) into Defence goes beyond supporting bone health, its primary role in this instance is to bolster immune resilience. The synergistic effect of vitamin D and K2 works to modulate inflammatory responses, supporting overall health and function.

Therefore, the addition of K2 contributes to the holistic support our blend aims to provide, from promoting optimal bone health to maintaining immune system balance.

Vitamin C, sourced from rosehip, offers a natural approach to support your body's defence mechanisms. Traditionally used to combat infections such as colds, coughs, flu and respiratory infections, due to the substantial amount of vitamin C in their flesh and high flavonoid content.

Vitamin C directly influences immune cells, whist also serving as a crucial antioxidant for these cells. By shielding them from internally and externally produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) during immune responses, it plays a vital role in preserving their function.

Beyond its direct impact, vitamin C may enhance immunity by improving the effectiveness of white blood cells. This enhancement also strengthens the skin's defence system, contributing to overall immune resilience.

Zinc, a trace mineral that the body requires in small amounts, plays a crucial role in almost 100 enzymes, supporting vital chemical reactions. This essential mineral is thought to provide support against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

In the immune system, zinc is crucial for the proper growth and performance of cells involved in innate immunity, like neutrophils and Natural Killer cells. Serving as an antioxidant, zinc helps protect cell membranes, potentially preventing harm from free radicals during inflammation.

Beyond its role in immunity, zinc acts as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Its therapeutic applications range from reducing symptoms of the common cold, to reducing severity of conditions such as eczema to supporting the integrity of the gut.

The inclusion of zinc in Defence highlights its significance in promoting a robust immune response and overall wellbeing.

Beta-glucans, naturally occurring compounds found in bacteria, yeast, fungi, and plants, play a vital role in our Defence blend. These compounds have shown to be protective against bacterial, and viral infections, and have shown to decrease the severity of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) such as colds and flu.

Mushrooms, packed with proteins, minerals, and nutrients, have been recognised for centuries for their immune boosting properties. They not only stimulate the immune system but also harmonise all facets of immunity, ultimately playing a crucial role in revitalising the immune system.

Beta-glucans are a key component of our Defence blend, offering a diverse range of immune-boosting benefits. Their potential to regulate the immune system makes them a no brainer for our immune focused supplement.

Our Defence blend includes Reishi mushroom in a concentrated 10:1 extract, offering a potent dose of this ancient remedy.

Known scientifically as Ganoderma lucidum, Reishi mushroom has a rich history in Asian cultures, where it’s valued for promoting health and longevity. Also recognised as a Qi-replenishing fungus, Reishi is renowned for easing the mind and strengthening the body’s energy.

The bioactive compounds found in Reishi mushrooms offers many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial and immunostimulating effects.

Mushrooms, in general, are recognised for their immune-modulating benefits, influencing various components of the immune system. Therefore, the addition of Reishi 10:1 extract offers a concentrated form for potent immune support and overall well-being.

Within our Defence blend, NAC stands as a vital force. Renowned for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating properties, NAC plays a key role in reducing the severity of symptoms, with a focus on respiratory conditions.

Beyond its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, NAC plays a crucial role in the production of glutathione—an essential antioxidant. The delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants is crucial for cellular immunity, and through its role in glutathione production, NAC becomes crucial for this balance.

The inclusion of NAC in our blend provides support for cellular health, immune resilience, and antioxidant balance, making it a superb component of our immune supporting formulation.

In our Defence blend, Black Cumin Seed, in a potent 10:1 extract, offers potential benefits for bolstering the immune system.

Nigella sativa, the source of black seed, boasts a rich history of medicinal use. Renowned for its immune-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, it has been a go-to remedy for centuries.

Black cumin seeds offer a spectrum of trace elements, including many vitamins and minerals. Thymoquinone, the main bioactive component, is celebrated for its diverse medicinal properties, offering antioxidant and protective actions against various respiratory issues caused by viruses or bacteria, whilst playing a crucial role in reinforcing the immune response at the cellular level.

With the powerhouse of immune-boosting potential, Black Cumin Seed deserves front row seats in our blend to overall health and wellbeing.

In our Defence blend, ginger offers a powerhouse of immune-boosting benefits thanks to gingerol and the other phytochemicals found in ginger. The 23:1 extract ratio signifies a concentrated form where the rich phytochemistry of ginger is intensified, offering a potent dose for optimal benefits.

Ginger, belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is renowned for its diverse health promoting properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, and even anti-aging benefits. Ginger's antimicrobial qualities make it a valuable ally against infections, while its antioxidant properties, neutralise harmful free radicals in the body.

Our Defence blend harnesses the concentrated power of ginger, providing you with an immune-boosting elixir rooted in the age old wisdom of this remarkable herb.

Elderberry takes a prominent role in our Defence blend, delivering a potent 10:1 extract that condenses the benefits of raw elderberries into a concentrated form.

Renowned for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, elderberries have been studied for their ability to reduce the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms. The extract from the elderberry plant, scientifically known as Sambucus nigra L., showed beneficial effects on physical health, especially respiratory health, as well as mental well-being.

Elderberry's immune-boosting power lies in its anthocyanin content, a subset of flavonoids known for their immunomodulating and potentially anti-inflammatory effects.

Our Defence blend brings you the concentrated essence of elderberry, a natural defender against the challenges of cold and flu seasons.

FOS, or Fructooligosaccharide, stands as a key ingredient in our Defence blend, contributing to the overall health of your gut microbiome.

While we, as humans, cannot fully digest FOS fibres, our resident gut bacteria thrive on them. FOS serves as a food and energy source for these beneficial bacteria, supporting their growth and activity. This unique characteristic allows the undigested FOS to travel through the intestine, supplying our gut bacteria with essential nutrients. In return, these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA's), acting as the primary fuel for the cells of our colon and contributing to the synthesis of vitamins.

FOS plays a crucial role in nourishing and maintaining the delicate balance of our gut microbiome, which is why we have added it to our gut loving, immune supportive blend.

In our Defence blend, Olive Leaf with a potency of 8:1 extract, is rich in bioactive compounds such as oleuropein and polyphenols. These compounds are recognised for their antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which may contribute to reducing upper respiratory infection (URI) rates.

Olive tree leaves have a longstanding tradition in the Mediterranean area as a part of traditional medicine due to their health promoting effects. The main bioactive compound in olive leaf is oleuropein, an antioxidant that contains higher amounts of polyphenols compared to extra virgin olive oil and fruit.

The inclusion of Olive Leaf in our Defence blend aims to provide concentrated wellness support, harnessing the synergistic benefits of its bioactive compounds for overall health and vitality.

With roots tracing back to ancient times, Propolis has gathered attention for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties.

Derived by honeybees collecting exuding glue materials from plant wounds, propolis comprises over 600 different substances, including polyphenols, terpenoids, steroids, and amino acids.

Scientific research attests to the health benefits of propolis. Its protective immune defence and antioxidant properties are attributed to a diverse array of bioactive phytochemicals, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

In essence, propolis stands as a nature-derived immunomodulator, offering enhanced immunity and overall health benefits, making it a valuable component in our Defence blend.

Quercetin, a polyphenol derived from plants, has found a spot in our Defence blend due to its many health benefits. Renowned for its anti-viral effects, quercetin also boasts antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Known for its antioxidant prowess, quercetin combats free radicals, contributing to overall health. Its immune-stimulating effects, antiviral actions, and anti-allergic properties, which reduce histamine release and inflammatory responses, position it as a key component in promoting immune balance.

By enhancing the balance between different immune responses and limiting the formation of specific antibodies linked to allergies, quercetin emerges as a versatile defender, enriching our Defence blend with its comprehensive health benefits.

Defence offers a variety of potent ingredients for a holistic solution to many health concerns. Whether you're seeking support for skin health, relief from allergies such as hay fever, assistance with joint health and inflammatory conditions, or simply combating that run-down feeling and congestion, this expert blend caters to a broad spectrum of wellness needs.

The synergistic effects of each component creates a versatile and comprehensive option, offering benefits to everyone and anyone.

Defence is not just about nurturing your gut and immune system, but about empowering your entire system and offering resilience against the challenges of daily life.