Reset Your Immune System and Lose Weight With the 5C Reset

The restrictions imposed across this year as a result of the pandemic have proved impactful on our activity levels, health and weight gain. Concerns are rising as to how this extra weight affects not just the risk of certain viral infections but also the long-term health risks for cardiovascular disease and other weight-related degenerative diseases. 
With this weight gain and immune crisis in mind, Abundance and Health asked Food Scientist and Nutritionist Susie Debice to develop a new revolutionary vitamin C wellness strategy entirely focused on helping people shed their lockdown weight gain whilst strengthening their immune defences. 

After months of research, nutrition analysis and recipe development The 5C Reset was created and a pilot group of 20 #CForYourself volunteers stepped forward to sign-up for an exciting 10 weeks partaking in The 5C Reset wellness strategy. We can’t wait to share the results of their incredible 10-week journey with you!

First of all, let’s take a look at how these volunteers were selected and reveal the functional medicine test used to assess their health. Then we’ll explain the five core nutrition principles involved in The 5C Reset and the Abundance and Health products used to support their progress. 

THE #CFORYOURSELF PILOT GROUP

Selection Criteria: volunteers were selected from all different backgrounds, lifestyles and culinary abilities and assessed according to their BMI, hip to waist circumference ratio and amount of weight gained since the pandemic began. A minimum requirement of at least ½ a stone weight gain was required.

Measurements: to record a baseline from which to determine their progress, at the beginning of The 5C Reset each #CForYourself volunteer provided their weight and measurements for waist, hips, chest, upper arm and upper leg circumferences. Their weight was submitted once a week and measurements were repeated halfway through the trial and at the end of the 10 weeks.

Functional Medicine Tests: Abundance and Health has always been at the forefront of nutrition science and to truly test the efficacy of The 5C Reset, Abundance and Health selected half of the volunteers for a blood test which analysed 37 biomarkers relating to insulin and blood sugar balance, cholesterol and blood fat ratios, level of oxidative stress and inflammation, kidney function, liver function, thyroid function, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and most importantly, full assessment of white blood cells to reveal their immune profile.

Scientific Results: by repeating this incredibly insightful and in-depth blood test at the end of the 10 weeks, Abundance and Health are able to gain an incredible picture as to how this new dietary protocol changed and impacted the health, metabolism and immune systems of the #CForYourself volunteers.

THE 5 CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE 5C RESET

During the course of the 10 weeks the #CForYourself volunteers embraced a new style of eating and living which followed the 5 core principles of The 5C Reset.

CORE PRINCIPLE 1: INTERMITTENT FASTING

Intermittent fasting is becoming increasingly popular as a means of easy weight management. Research indicates that the best results are achieved from 14 to 16 hours of fasting and there is little benefit from extending past 16 hours. The 5C Reset cleverly guides you through 5 days of 16:8 intermittent fasting which is easy to achieve during the week, followed by 2 non-fasting days which allow for a more social weekend. This repeated rhythm helps to keep your metabolism on its toes and switch the body into burning stored fats for fuel. 

The 5C Reset includes a delicious morning drink made with a new Neutrient product called ButterFat Keto. This soon to be available product contains C8 MCT powder, a special type of medium-chain triglycerides that get quickly absorbed and readily converted into ketones which may be used by body and brain cells as a source of fuel. The unanimous comments from the #CForYourself pilot group is that ButterFat Keto helps send morning hunger pangs packing and clears morning brain fog so you can focus on the day ahead. 

CORE PRINCIPLE 2: LOW CARB DIET

Research shows that glucose (sugar) and vitamin C share the same transport shuttle from the bloodstream into cells. So, the more carbs and sugar you eat, the harder it becomes for vitamin C to gain access into cells where it’s needed most. The 5C Reset helps to reset the balance between glucose and vitamin C with a specifically designed low carb and low sugar diet to follow for the 5 days of intermittent fasting. By combining this low carb diet with a higher fat intake you not only provide vitamin C with a speedy boarding pass onto the transport shuttle, but you also support the fat burning aspect of the intermittent fasting days – good news for healthy weight management. 
The 5C Reset includes plenty of vegetables and small portions of complex carbs such as lentils and pulses during the 5 intermittent fasting days and also includes wholegrains and fruits during weekends. These unrefined carbs contain key B vitamins required for energy production and fibre to support gut function and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

CORE PRINCIPLE 3: CALORIE AWARENESS

Whereas some styles of intermittent fasting take calories down as low as 500 or 800 kcal a day, The 5C Reset does not recommend going below 1400 kcal a day. Why? Because lower than this and your metabolism could start to struggle, you could feel hungry, tired and overwhelmed, all of which are common factors that may lead you to become despondent, disheartened and give up. By keeping your calorie intake low enough to lose weight but high enough to feel energised, full and satisfied The 5C Reset becomes an enjoyable wellness strategy that’s capable of taking you all the way to your weight loss target or until you reach a healthy BMI. Achieving a healthy BMI helps reduce risk factors associated with some viral infections, diabetes, heart disease and other degenerative diseases.

CORE PRINCIPLE 4: VITAMIN C

Humans, fruit bats and guinea pigs all have something in common – the inability to make their own vitamin C. You can not underestimate the importance of this vitamin in terms of optimising your general health and wellbeing. As a water-soluble vitamin, many methods of cooking and food processing result in vitamin C loss, making raw foods and vitamin C supplements of great importance during the pandemic. The 5C Reset meals and recipes focus on foods that are naturally rich in vitamin C to underpin the immune-supportive element of this new wellness strategy. 

Vitamin C not only supports immune function but it also: 

• reduces tiredness and fatigue
• supports energy-yielding metabolism
• contributes to normal psychological function
• protects cells from oxidative stress
• soothes the nervous system

These five additional physiological health benefits of vitamin C make this multi-tasking nutrient an essential core principle of The 5C Reset. However, not all vitamin C supplements are the same with regards to their rate of absorption and efficacy. 

Altrient C's liposomal vitamin C delivery system of Altrient C provides The 5C Reset with a level of round the clock vitamin C support that other standard forms of vitamin C just can’t get close to. The #CForYourself pilot group took one sachet of Altrient C three times a day. Many of these volunteers reported feeling upbeat, positive and proactive even during the first few weeks when you would normally expect to feel challenged. A sure sign that the Altrient C offers a deep level of physiological support from day 1 right the way through to day 70! 

CORE PRINCIPLE 5: COLLAGEN

It’s not unusual to reach 3pm and feel the desire to reach for a sugary snack to get through the afternoon. So how does The 5C Reset tackle this afternoon pitstop in a carb-free, calorie aware way? The answer is soon to be revealed with a new Neutrient product from Abundance and Health. This product contains hydrolysed collagen peptides that deliver a nourishing source of pure protein to help you feel fuller for longer and offer a distraction from your afternoon carb cravings. But there’s more to this collagen product than just becoming your new favourite afternoon treat. 

Collagen is the most important structural protein in the body and forms an integral part of skin tone, connective tissue and muscle mass. The hydrolysed collagen peptides work with vitamin C to help replenish collagen renewal and support skin tone and body conditioning. Collagen and vitamin C are also important for skin hydration, skin elasticity and offsetting the visible signs of ageing, encouraging truly glowing results. 

THE BIG REVEAL

The Abundance and Health #CForYourself pilot group are consistently reporting that they are enjoying The 5C Reset, that they don’t feel hungry and that they are surprised at how stable their mood and energy has been across these first few weeks. This just goes to show how helpful the supplements have been and also provides an insight into how disruptive sugar and refined carbs tend to be to daily mood and energy. So far, the level of weight loss is steady and consistent, and we anticipate being able to reveal some quite groundbreaking facts and figures from the test results at the end of this #CForYourself immune supportive and weight loss 10-week journey. 

FOLLOW #CFORYOURSELF PILOT GROUP EXPERIENCES

You can follow the stories of the #CForYourself group on Instagram - be inspired by the meals that they are cooking and find out about foods rich in vitamin C.