Blogs

How much do you know about your spleen? If you’re anything like a lot of people, your answer to that question may well be, not very much. A lot of us aren’t even aware of what the spleen’s broader purpose is, or where it is in the body, let alone what it might do to strengthen the immune system. So,... Read More

Pretty much everyone experiences a stuffy nose – usually referred to in more formal contexts as ‘nasal congestion’ – from time to time. It’s easy to dismiss the cause as a simple case of the cold or flu – but did you know that this common everyday symptom can actually have many more causes? Indeed, the below are just seven... Read More

We can understand if, when someone mentions selenium to you, the only thing that comes to mind is a vague memory of it having been in the periodic table you were taught at school. It turns out, however, that this essential mineral is by no means only distantly relevant to our health. Selenium is a trace mineral, which means you... Read More

By now, you’d have practically needed to have been living on Mars since early 2020 to not know the various frequent mantras of how to lower your risk of COVID-19: wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering when near others, maintain social distancing... you get the idea. Another thing that many people around the UK and the wider world... Read More

Such has been the pervading impact of the COVID-19 crisis on almost every aspect of our lives, that it has been almost impossible for most of us not to learn a few new medical concepts and terms along the way. After all, how much were you thinking about ‘herd immunity’ or ‘asymptomatic transmission’ back in 2019? More recently, a major... Read More

Garlic is hardly new to our diets in the 2020s – indeed, it has been noted for its health and medicinal properties since ancient times. One form of garlic in particular, however, seems to have attracted a lot of notice in recent years – and it’s another example of how sometimes in life, the best things really do come to... Read More

Any fungus that enjoys nicknames like “the king of the mushrooms” or even “the mushroom of immortality” has to be worth investigation for potential health benefits, right? Well, this is precisely the case for the fan-shaped, orange-to-reddish-brown superfood known as reishi mushrooms. The “king” nickname for these mushrooms – which are often referred to by scientists as the slightly less... Read More

Happy Pancake Day! 🥞 Pancakes are the ultimate meal as they can be enjoyed sweet or savoury aka pancakes for main and dessert. Sign us up! We know that gluten can cause some irritation in the gut and also cause inflammation which is not what we want as it can put a strain on our immune system. So why not... Read More

A message from our Founder, Sunna van Kampen. Your immune system is your body’s strongest weapon. It is what works tirelessly, day after day, week after week, and month after month quietly in the background, keeping you healthy from viruses, bacteria and germs. It was my neglected immune system that meant I was getting 3-4 colds a winter, and which... Read More

Stress, of course, is an unavoidable part of all of our lives. We all face challenging and even chaotic situations from time to time – ranging from those tight work deadlines and worries about finances, to personal-life dramas and even acute medical emergencies. It is at such stressful moments that our body’s “fight or flight mode” is often activated to... Read More

We all know the consequences of a vitamin C deficiency, and luckily scurvy isn't something most of us need to worry about. Vitamin C deficiencies have also been linked to an impaired immune system and increased susceptibility to infections, but it's not just about preventing deficiency - even low amounts of vitamin C can greatly reduce the capacity of the... Read More

Zinc is essential to sustain a functioning immune system by regulating the elimination of pathogens. Zinc is also responsible for the production and activation of certain immune system cells such as neutrophils and natural killer cells. Researchers showed (2019, Read, et al.) that zinc has vital role in anti-viral immunity. They showed that zinc inhibits something called RNA polymerase which is required by viruses to replicate, therefore... Read More

Vitamin D is another fantastic vitamin that plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy - why else do you think we include 1200IU (30ug) in each sachet of our high-dose immunity drinks? During the summer months we can get enough vitamin D by spending time outdoors in the sun, but in the winter months, it's practically impossible, especially for people... Read More

There's a reason our high-dose vitamin drinks are packed with vitamin C... and that's because this fantastic vitamin does wonders for the body! When it comes to the immune health, vitamin C is key - it's a powerful antioxidant and an essential micronutrient for the immune system. It acts as a co-factor, which our immune system requires to catalyse enzyme reactions for... Read More

Packed with antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds, Matcha has strong anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory compounds in matcha are called catechins and are specific to antioxidants found in teas and matcha can have up to 137 times more catechins compared to normal tea leaves. A 2016 study showed that participants with non-alcoholic liver disease who, were give 500mg of the tea extract found in matcha for 90 days, had a significant... Read More

Zinc is a key micronutrient and mineral that is essential for the body in numerous ways, it keeps the immune system strong, helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth.   There are a number of ways zinc supports the immune system but primarily it activates enzymes that break down proteins in viruses and bacteria, so they are less able to spread. Zinc is essential... Read More

Plant based diets tend to be lower in fats and a great way to source plant-based fats is from seeds. Flaxseeds, chia seeds and hemp seeds are classed as superfoods. Calling something a superfood alone sounds like it’d be good for you right? These seeds are called a superfood due to it provide health benefits from its exceptionally high nutrient density.  Flaxseeds are high in omega-3 essential fatty acids where... Read More

 Vitamin C may well be our favourite vitamin, especially when it comes to immune health. Here are some of the many ways in which vitamin C contributes to the optimal functioning of the immune system: By stimulating the production of white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections By supporting the skin (epithelial cell) as a barrier, preventing pathogens from entering the... Read More

Vitamin D is essential for a functional immune system by activating anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties, so we're doing all we can to make sure we get enough of it. Some of the of the other benefits of vitamin D include regulating the body's levels of calcium and phosphate, which are essential if we want healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. A recent study (2020, Kara,... Read More

Did you know that 80% of your immune system resides in your gut? Disruptions and imbalances of good bacteria and bad bacteria in your gut's microbiome can directly impact your immune system. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in your gut and they are responsible for creating acidic fermentation by-products that lower the pH in your intestine to create an environment that the bad... Read More

When it comes to vitamins, C, D and Zinc are some of the best known. But why exactly does the body like them so much and what role do they play in keeping us healthy? We’ll look through some of the latest clinical studies to understand the benefits of vitamin C, vitamin D and Zinc for today’s world.  Vitamin C and Skin... Read More

The feeling of a stuffy congested nose is simply the effects of your immune response. When you get a cold, your nose, sinuses and throat will be infected with virus cells that trigger a flood of white blood cells to the areas and the dilation of blood vessels means that more white blood cells can travel to the affected area. Pure effectiveness if you ask us! White... Read More

It’s been a long time since striving to live in a more environmentally-friendly way was simply the preserve of ‘eco warriors’! Today, more and more of us are becoming aware of the needless damage caused to our planet by manmade factors. And for 2021, you might have decided to do something about it. In fact, according to a recent poll,... Read More

Next up on our Veganuary for immunity menu is this mouth watering tofu and peanut stir fry. Not only is it packed with flavour but it contains so many immune loving ingredients such as chilli, ginger, onions and garlic. Not to mention is has 3 servings of vegetables! 😍 VEGAN PEANUT STIR-FRY Serves: 2 Ingredients: 150g firm tofu, cut into chunks... Read More

It seems that every January, many millions of us make the same vow, that this will be the year when we finally fully embrace that exercise routine, shed the pounds and tone up, all the way to the physique (and mental wellbeing) we’ve always wanted. Yet, every year, many people setting a more active lifestyle and better fitness as their... Read More

It’s well-known that the skin is the body’s biggest organ – and of course, it’s also the most visible. Unsurprisingly, then, the skin is one of the first places where signs are often seen of what may be more serious underlying health problems – or even just the need to alter one’s lifestyle. Whether it’s the cosmetic effects of certain... Read More

‘Blue Monday’ is used to refer to what is apparently the ‘most depressing day of the year.’ This day usually falls on the third Monday in January, which means today will apparently be the most depressing day of 2021! While on the one hand this might seem like good news, in that at least we’ll soon have the worst of... Read More

You’ve probably been told to or have heard the saying in some form or another to wrap up warm when you’re going out in the cold because you don’t want to end up sick. Whilst colder temperatures itself doesn’t make you sick there are factors, that are linked to cold weather, that may contribute to a higher risk of contracting the cold or flu virus.   The life of a virus. ... Read More

Next up on our immune-friendly vegan recipes is tarka dhal! We made sure to add the fantastic ginger, and the wonderful turmeric, one of our all-time favourite wonderplants, alongside elderberry of course! In this recipe you'll also find garlic for its fantastic health benefits (and delicious flavour). Tomatoes are a well-known source of vitamin C, but if you're looking to... Read More

When stepping outside on a cold winter morning or on a snowy day, the air often has a particular smell that is difficult to put into words. What most people don’t realise is that there are a few factors that play a part in the ‘smell of winter’ that range from physical factors and psychological factors.     It’s not that there are less smells in winter, the odour particles move less.  In... Read More

We’re now firmly in the season of New Year resolutions – that is, if you haven’t set and given up a few of yours already! – and for many of us, that inevitably means looking again at whether we’re doing the right thing by our bodies. Yes, you know what we’re talking about – that infernal spectre of post-Christmas diets,... Read More

We’re arguably often guilty of failing to pay as much attention to our hormone health as we should. After all, your body secretes around 50 hormones, which – together – profoundly impact on some of the body’s most crucial functions, ranging from mood and appetite to sexual activity and heart muscle contraction. To maintain the very best physical, mental and... Read More

When many of us hear the word “allergy”, we immediately think of those sneezes and sniffles that some of us experience in response to particular foods or other substances. But by better understanding what allergies are beyond their symptoms, we stand a better chance of preventing them being an issue in our lives – for example, by seeking suitable treatment.... Read More

'The Plant Power Doctor,' by Team Tonic GP, Gemma Newman, is out now! And it's everything you need to eat your way to a healthier, happier you. Here at Tonic, we're big proponents of the idea of plant power... that's why our all-natural, high dose vitamin drinks are packed with plant micronutrients! Eating plant-based meals is an excellent way to... Read More

Since 2014, ‘Veganuary’ (pronounced vee-GA-nuary) has been a way of encouraging non-vegans to try a plant-based diet for the month of January. There are lots of reasons why someone might decide to go vegan. Some people choose to do it for environmental or ethical reasons, while others opt for it as a way of harnessing health benefits such as lowering... Read More

As you may already have guessed, here at Tonic, we’re of the opinion that making sure your immune system can perform at its best should always be a priority. And given that we’re in the middle of cold and flu season and since COVID-19 unfortunately doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, you may have decided that 2021 is... Read More

As a supplement, GABA has long been the subject of a lot of confusion. That’s probably partly due to it being not only a supplement capable of ingestion, but also a chemical produced within the body. And while those two things are also true of melatonin, GABA is nothing like as well-known. GABA is important to the body in terms... Read More

A Christmas spice, nut and root superfood Aside from all the indulgence (which after the year we’ve all had is much needed) there are some incredibly nutrient dense superfoods that make up part of our festive food… First off: ginger. Zingiber officinale has been used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years! It’s been used to help... Read More

Lichenized fungus, or Lichen for short, is a composite organism meaning it is two organisms acting as one, most commonly a symbiotic relationship including alga and fungus. Although they appear to look a lot like moss, they are neither a type of moss or a plant at all for that matter! They do not have roots to absorb water like... Read More

Short answer D3. And there is 1200 IU (30 ug) of it in every Tonic Sachet! Why are there two types of vitamin D? D3 is the active form, known as called calciferol. We can get this through dietary sources like mushrooms and oily fish, and the body produces this in response to sunshine. D2, sometimes called ergocalciferol is not... Read More

And now, for the show-stopper we've all been waiting for: the Tonic Jelly Trifle! Our final Christmas Immunity recipe contains the ever-nutritious elderberry as well as some trusty Elderberry & Blackcurrant flavour high-dose immunity sachets so you can have your (immune-friendly) trifle and eat it too!   Recipe for the Tonic Jelly Trifle  Serves: 10 Ingredients:  600g frozen summer berries (raspberries, blackberries,... Read More

Now onto dessert! Everyone loves a good gingerbread biscuit, but since sugar's not great for the immune system, we've given this quintessential Christmas treat an immune-friendly upgrade by swapping out the sugar for sweetener.    Recipe for Sugar-Free Gingerbread Men Makes 30 Ingredients: 110g butter, softened 4 tbsp sweetener of choice or more, to your taste 1 egg 200g almond flour 4... Read More

Delicious inside a turkey or by itself, this nut stuffing is a great way to get some healthy fats, protein, and fibre.    Recipe for Nut Stuffing Serves: 6 Ingredients 1 tbsp avocado or olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 350g unsweetened chestnut puree  50g pine nuts, toasted 50g cashews, chopped 50g sultanas, soaked in concentrated vegetable stock for 3+ hours 2... Read More

We love vegetables for their vitamin content and honey for its many health properties; so why not combine them! These honey-glazed carrots & parsnips are definitely one of Team Tonic's favourite dishes, and not just at Christmas!    Recipe for Honey-Glazed Carrots & Parsnips Serves: 8 Ingredients: 250g parsnips 250g carrots 2 tbsp flour 2 tbsp honey 3 tbsp avocado... Read More

Love 'em or hate 'em, Brussels sprouts are a Christmas dinner staple - and a very healthy one at that! If you haven't been a fan of sprouts before, we recommend you try this tasty (and immune-friendly!) upgrade and see if it changes your mind.    Recipe for Garlic & Chilli Brussels Sprouts  Serves: 6 Ingredients: 600g Brussels sprouts, trimmed at the... Read More

Next up on the menu of Tonic's 7 Days of Christmas Immunity Recipes is a Christmas dinner essential: cranberry sauce! This time we've added our all-time favourite berry to maximise the antioxidant content of this side-dish.    Recipe for Tonic's Cranberry-Elderberry Sauce Serves: 6 Ingredients:  100g light brown sugar 100ml fresh orange juice 1 sachet of Tonic Elderberry & Blackcurrant... Read More

Hot toddies are the perfect drink to have before bed-time in the winter when it's cold or wet outside and you want something warm and soothing to help you get to sleep. Hot toddies have also traditionally been used to relieve cold and flu symptoms, though we can't comment on how effective they actually are. Normally at the sign of a cold we'd... Read More

Fermented foods have been among the most talked-about health food trends of recent years – and yet, the fermentation process has been popular for centuries. Fermentation is a natural process, involving microorganisms like bacteria and yeast converting organic compounds – such as starch and sugar – into alcohol or acids. It is an ancient technique once commonly used to preserve... Read More

It’s not so long ago that the mere notion of the mind being intimately connected to the body might have been met with ridicule from certain quarters. Indeed, it was only as recently as the 1980s that the first rigorous research was undertaken into the link between stress and immunity in humans. But with our own recent survey of more... Read More

Absolutely! We suffer so much with hormone imbalances and much can be done with the food we eat to help get us back onto an even keel. Our hormones are a bit like an orchestra, as soon as an instrument (or hormone!) goes out of tune then the whole orchestra is affected, a bit like our hormones! One of the... Read More