science

Glutathione – pronounced “gluta-thigh-own” – isn’t exactly a familiar part of the lexicon of even some of the most health-conscious people. Yet, it probably should be. There’s plenty of evidence, after all, pointing to this potent antioxidant’s very significant role in supporting all-round human health. And antioxidants – for those of you who don’t know – are integral to combating... Read More

The term “autoimmune disease” is an umbrella term for various conditions where the immune system starts mistakenly attacking the body’s own tissues. There are many different types of autoimmune disease – with especially well-known examples including psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. However, the main contributing factors behind the onset of autoimmune disease remain largely shrouded in mystery. While... Read More

The pandemic has renewed attention to the link between an individual’s general health and their susceptibility to serious health complications from contracting respiratory illness – with the factor of obesity particularly coming into the frame.   Obesity’s adverse effect on an array of diseases – including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer – is now well-established. However, obesity’s impact on the... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you’ve heard anything before about collagen, it’s probably its status as the body’s most abundant protein, or its claimed benefits for the skin and hair. What you might not have known so much about, is collagen’s potential relevance to supporting your immune health. A key “glue” for the body Let’s start from the very beginning, by explaining what collagen... Read More

Your immune system is meant to safeguard your body against the risk of disease and infection, and to this end, can normally tell the difference between the body’s own cells and any foreign cells from external sources. When, however, your immune system fails to distinguish between your own cells and unwelcome foreign invaders, it can end up mistakenly attacking your... Read More

With a fever reported to be the most common symptom of COVID-19, the above is a very pertinent question. Yes, you’ll be aware already that the term ‘fever’ refers to an elevated body temperature – but what temperature actually constitutes a fever, and how concerned should you be by it? Assessing whether you do, or don’t, have a fever First... Read More

As the world waits with bated breath for confirmation of the successful development of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, you may understandably wonder about the vitamin and nutrient supplements that you might already be taking to support your health.   What have the findings of previous research indicated about the relationship between supplements and vaccines, and the implications for... Read More

The reason why stress affects us so much is that our body really hasn’t changed much in 60,000 years. Cortisol is a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands (little glands that sit on top of the kidneys) which are hard wired to the body’s ‘fight or flight’ survival response. 60,000 years ago this would’ve been essential to either fight... Read More

There’s no shortage of slightly eyebrow-raising foods that have been cited as effective for relieving the symptoms of cold and flu down the years, and you may have given some of them a go yourself when feeling under the weather. But has it ever crossed your mind in such circumstances to reach for a few slices of pineapple? According to... Read More

Myths, a widely held but false belief or idea. They are something we all hear in our daily lives, but where do they come from and why do they often need busting in accordance with the truth? Well, myths are kind of like stereotypes, a major way in which we simplify our social world; since they reduce the amount of... Read More

Ask almost any pet owner, and they’ll tell you that owning and looking after their beloved dog, cat or other furry or feathered friend has definitely been good for their health. However, a lot of the discussion about how beneficial our pets are for our health has long revolved around how their affectionateness after a long and difficult day supports... Read More

The central importance of the immune system for protecting you from all manner of maladies can so often be forgotten about, right up until the moment something obviously goes wrong. The good news, though, is that with a bit of knowledge, you can better spot the telltale signs of below-par immune health, so that you can swiftly take the steps... Read More

It’s very much the responsible thing to take the time to actually read the labels of the vitamin supplements you’re comparing in a high-street health store, or for that matter, to scrutinise the specifications you might see listed for such products online. However, it can be an altogether different task to actually properly understand what you read on the label... Read More

While it is the winter months that people usually most associate with such maladies as cold and flu, the warmer and sunnier time of year brings a new threat: that of seasonal allergies, such as hay fever. When one adds to this the ongoing and unpredictable COVID-19 threat, it’s clear that even during the spring and summer, there can be... Read More

It’s an enticing idea for many of us; the idea that we can somehow trigger our immune systems into action via some kind of immediate ‘shock’ or trauma. Indeed, one of those potential means of providing such a ‘shock’ – a cold shower or bath – has been the subject of a few fair traditions and ‘old wives’ tales’ down... Read More

You’ve probably heard a fair amount about the importance of zinc, especially if you have so much as a casual interest in bodybuilding. While zinc is a trace mineral – which means you only need small amounts of it to be healthy – of the key trace minerals, only iron is present in a greater concentration in the body. This... Read More

The crucial role that vitamin C – also known as ascorbic acid – has in a range of bodily functions should not be understated. This essential water-soluble vitamin helps to safeguard the health of your body’s cells. It’s a big factor in keeping your skin, blood vessels, cartilage and bones in the best possible shape, and is also instrumental in... Read More

They’ve got a menacing enough name – but what are they, and what is their role in human health? Natural killer cells are also sometimes referred to as NK cells, killer cells, or just K cells. They’re a type of white blood cell, or lymphocyte, and form part of the innate immune system. Wait – what do we mean by... Read More

None of us want to find ourselves struggling to get to sleep, but of course, it can happen for all kinds of reasons, and often at times when we feel we can least afford it. Thankfully, however, as the Sleep Council has observed, there are also lots of ways to help to ensure a restful night’s sleep - here are 24... Read More

The appendix, the small, never thought of organ that most misconceive of as redundant. The appendix is a small, finger like projection which comes out of the large intestine on the right sight of the abdomen. Historically it has been thought of nothing more than an evolutionary hangover that provides no modern-day function and can be a real pain in... Read More

We’re one of the few mammals (aside from guinea pigs, primates and fruit bats) that can’t make our own vitamin C. And when we eat it in our food, the body finds it difficult to store it. That’s because it’s a water-soluble vitamin, which is less stable versus the fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K that are stored for... Read More

Vitamin C is definitely an immune system multitasker! There’s been a mountain of research since the 1930s on its use as an antiviral, and even though there continues to be much debate over whether it can prevent the common cold, there is scientific consensus that it can help us get rid of it quicker (1). When we’re ill, our immune... Read More

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that isn’t stored very well in the body. The Reference Nutrient Intake for vitamin C is set in the UK at 40mg, which is the amount for 97.5% of the population to ward off deficiency disease, rather than being recommended for optimum health.  An important thing to note is that our need for vitamin... Read More

If you’ve been reading lately about some of the real plant extracts and powders in Tonic Health vitamin drinks, including ginger and blackcurrant, you may have noticed that these ingredients are rich in polyphenols.  What’s a polyphenol, you ask? Let’s find out... A natural support to good health  Some of the ways certain sources refer to polyphenols can be a little... Read More

We all know and love that Friday feeling. A hard week at work complete, the excitement of the weekend ahead, seeing your friends or going to a party - it definitely gives you a little buzz. But does the way we feel impact our body? How powerful are our feelings on our physiology? How can something so small such as a weekly feeling even help our immune system? Read More

The definition of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) fails to consider is that there is a big difference between the RDA (the amount you need to avoid deficiency) and the amount of a vitamin or mineral we need to achieve optimal nutrient levels for optimal health. Optimal health and peak performance are very different from this commonly understood guideline. We explore how this came to be.  Read More

We all get sick from time to time, that’s a given. But whether or not your biological sex has an impact on the severity and duration of your symptoms is still up for debate. With Father’s Day around the corner, we thought it would be an appropriate time to delve into this topic a little further. What is ‘man flu’?... Read More

 Unlike their masters, dogs don’t need to drink freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast. Along with most other mammals (apart from fruit bats, guinea pigs, humans and other primates), dogs make their own vitamin C – which may be why a dog will always go for our breakfast bacon and not the fresh fruit! Read More

Although their function in the body is often underappreciated, the work that zinc and the thymus gland do together is vital for protecting health. So, let’s start appreciating them a little more. What actually are they, and do they do for us?   Introducing zinc It may be a mere trace element, but zinc is also a nutrient that everyone... Read More

If you’re reading this, it hopefully won’t be news to you that vitamin D plays an integral role in keeping you healthy. As the NHS website explains, this fat-soluble vitamin is key to regulating your body’s levels of calcium and phosphate, which are crucial to the health of your bones, teeth and muscles.  While most of us tend to get... Read More

Most of us were probably aware long before adulthood that vitamins are important for health, having been told constantly by our parents as we were growing up to eat the healthy food on our plates because “It’s got loads of vitamins”.  Mum knows best, of course. But do you know exactly how and why vitamins are so important, especially for... Read More

The human immune system is a truly wonderful thing, this sophisticated infrastructure of cells, proteins, organs and tissues routinely whirring into action to fight off nasties that can leave us feeling unwell. But how much do you actually know about all of those special components of the immune system that are constantly defending you?  Many of us are unfamiliar with... Read More

The natural water-soluble vitamin called vitamin C – also sometimes referred to as ascorbic acid – has long been associated with various potential benefits, including the protection of cells, help with wound healing, and the maintenance of healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage.  What might surprise you, however, is that athletes in particular need to be mindful about getting... Read More

Tablets, liquids, gummies, lozenges, syrups, drinks... hard shell, soft gel, veg caps… The list goes on! But with so many ways to take vitamins, why does Tonic choose to make vitamin drinks? We’re glad you asked. It can be hard to choose the right supplements for you and your needs, let alone the right way to take them. But we’ve... Read More

A soothing mug of honey-lemon drink may be one of the most time-honoured traditions for ‘treating’ a cold, but did you know that it could be more than just a myth? In today’s age of relentless scientific advances compared to past generations, it would easy to presume that people take lemon and honey brews in response to a cold simply... Read More

Few periods in recent history have brought as much anxiety about immune health as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Inevitably, then, we are also seeing many claims and counterclaims about what steps we should all be taking to support or even boost our immunity. Read More