Immune System Boosters: Supplements to Help You Stay Healthy | The Healthy Place - The Healthy Place

Disclaimer: The following information has not been approved by the FDA. This information should not be interpreted as medical advice and is not a substitute for a visit with a medical care professional. Always speak to your doctor about any health concerns.

Staying healthy is not an easy task. We all could use a bit of extra help in this area. By taking immune system boosters, you can make it a little easier for your body!

Immune system boosters can give your body added protection to keep viruses away. This extra “armor” is particularly vital in the winter. During this season, many of us experience low temperatures that keep us indoors for longer periods of time. To stay warm in our homes, we crank up our heaters and throw an extra log into the fireplace. This heated air in our homes results in a low-humidity environment. Drier air leads to dry nasal passages, which are more vulnerable to viruses. Additionally, by staying indoors, we are more likely to share germs with others in our household. Some winters, it seems like, everyone is taking turns becoming ill in a never-ending cycle.

There’s no way to completely avoid cold-weather illnesses. But supplements are a great way to give your immune system the much-needed boost it needs to fight off viruses!

What are Supplements?

Also called “dietary supplements,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines them as “products taken by mouth that contain a dietary ingredient.” Examples of dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, herbs/botanicals, amino acids, and concentrates.

We know how hard it can be to choose and prepare foods that feed our bodies with the various vitamins and minerals we need. Supplements can help your body get the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. They are especially helpful if your daily diet lacks the recommended amounts. Just remember — taking vitamins isn’t an excuse to skip that side of veggies on your dinner plate!

Supplements come in various forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, powders, drinks, extracts, and energy bars. Choose a form that makes them easier and more enjoyable to take. If you have trouble swallowing capsules or tablets, check to see if the supplement comes in a different form. Taking supplements doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience!

What are Immune System Boosters?

A complex network of cells, tissues, and organs makes up your immune system. Considering that the immune system plays such a vital role in keeping you alive, it isn’t surprising that it is an incredibly complex system. It helps fight off illnesses and diseases to keep your body healthy.

Unfortunately, many of us have poor immune defenses. There are various reasons your immune system may not be operating at peak performance, such as diet, stress, and fatigue. Immune system boosters can help strengthen the complex networks that keep your body healthy.

Taking supplements is one of the best ways to boost your immune system.

What are Examples of Immune System Boosting Supplements?

Vitamins are one of the most common dietary supplements.

Vitamins play a vital role in our health. There are 13 different vitamins our body needs to function and stay healthy. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C are two that are especially important in helping our immune system.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B-complex supplements include eight different B vitamins in one pill. Each B vitamin has a specific job.

For instance, Vitamin B6 can address health issues such as anemia, depression, and weakened immune systems. Not only does it aid in red blood cell creation, but it also helps make immune system cells. Basically, Vitamin B-6 improves the body’s ability to respond to invading germs.

If your Vitamin B6 levels are low, there’s a good chance you may also be lacking in other B vitamins, including Vitamin B12. These low levels can occur because Vitamin B6 helps your body absorb Vitamin B12. If you’re low in multiple Vitamin Bs, a Vitamin-B complex supplement may be your best choice.

The following Vitamin-B complex supplements can provide the recommended daily Vitamin B6 dosage to help boost your immune system :

Here’s the thing about B vitamins. Your body doesn’t store them well because they dissolve in water. That means that your body uses B vitamins, then flushes away the excess. In order to maintain balanced levels of B vitamins, you have to get them regularly.

Vitamin C

Despite what many people think, studies have shown Vitamin C doesn’t necessarily prevent the common cold. Don’t let that disappoint you, though, because some studies have shown it could reduce the duration of your cold.

However, some research showed people under physical stress (for example, soldiers and marathon runners) could benefit from a Vitamin C supplement. They had a lower chance (50%) of catching a cold when taking a Vitamin C supplement daily. Overall, studies have been inconclusive. They have shown uncertain results related to Vitamin C’s role in preventing the common cold or minimizing its duration.

But despite the lack of hard evidence for prevention, there is no denying Vitamin C plays a significant role in helping your body maintain a healthy immune system. Vitamin C provides fuel for neutrophils, which are cells in the blood that find infections and attack harmful germs. By ensuring you get plenty of Vitamin C, you are also ensuring your immune system is ready to battle illness-inducing germs.

Vitamin C supplements come in a variety of dosages to meet your daily needs and act as immune system boosters. Not sure what you need? Use our Live Chat option to talk to one of our Wellness Consultants within minutes. Here are some favorites to get you started.

Nordic Natural Vitamin C Gummies (250 mg)
Lively Vitamin Co. Citrus Kick Capsules (1500 mg)
Nutrigold Vitamin C Gold Capsules (240 mg)
Solgar Vitamin C Chewable Tablets (500 mg)

Zinc is an Essential Immune System Booster.

Without enough zinc, your body’s immune system can’t react strongly to illness-causing germs. This is because zinc helps energize the T cells in your body. These T cells play a leading role in your body’s immune response.

Studies have shown zinc can reduce the duration and severity of colds. By taking zinc supplements, you can increase your chances of getting back on your feet and into your normal routine more quickly. Find a good quality zinc supplement designed to provide a perfect daily dose.

Here are some zinc supplements to consider if you’re looking for excellent immune system boosters:

MegaFood Zinc (22.5 mg)
Pure Encapsulations Zinc (30 mg)
Pure Encapsulations Zinc Citrate (30 mg)
NutriGold Zinc Gold (15 mg)

Probiotics are One of the Top Immune System Boosters

There is a lot of interaction between the body’s immune system and the bacteria found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is where your body digests the food you eat. A large part of your immune system is actually in your GI tract. In fact, scientists have found that your gut houses about 70% of your immune system. Because of this relationship, it’s no surprise your gut health can affect your immune system.

How do the GI bacteria and the immune system interact?

There are two types of bacteria found in your digestive system. Let’s refer to them as “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria. When there are more “bad” bacteria in your gut, your immune system can get confused and begin attacking your body’s cells. Your immune system’s resources are busy with the cells and unavailable to fight off invading germs. As a result, you are more likely to become ill and will have a more difficult time recovering..

When focusing on your gut health, probiotics can play a big role. Probiotics encourage a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut. It contains “good” bacteria, helping fight off the higher level of bad bacteria. “Good” bacteria also helps with digestion, vitamin creation, medicine absorption, and support of gut cells that prevent bad bacteria (from foods you eat) from entering your bloodstream.

Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kombucha contain probiotics. Add these types of foods to your daily diet as a good source of immune system boosters.

Supplements are also available in a variety of forms and dosages.

Flora Basilica Everyday Nourish Capsules (25 Billion CFU)
Gryph & Ivyrose Probiotics Chewable (18 Billion CFU)
Gryph & Ivyrose Probiotics Powder - Banana (5 Billion CFU)

There are probiotics that are safe for both adults and children. But there are also probiotic options made specifically for children:

Gryph & Ivyrose Children’s Chocolate Probiotics (3 Billion CFU)
Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Chewable Tablet (1 Billion CFU)
Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Berry-licious Chewable Tablet (3 Billion CFU)
Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotic Gummies (3 Billion CFU)

Experts Have Found Elderberry Extract to Be an Effective Ingredient in Boosting Your Immune System.

What is Elderberry?

Elderberry is a black, blue-black, or dark red berry that grows on a Sambucus tree. Some other names it goes by include European Elderberry or a black Elderberry tree.

Elderberry extract is an ingredient in a variety of supplements, but especially in immune-boosting supplements. It’s a wonderful herbal support maintaining a healthy immune system.

Elderberry is high in Vitamin C and dietary fiber. It’s also a good source of antioxidants, which can be anti-inflammatory and reduce tissue damage from oxidative stress - when your body has more free radicals and fewer antioxidants. With so many health benefits, taking an elderberry supplement can be a great addition to your daily routine.

Elderberry extract appears to slow the spread of the flu virus in the body. In fact, a Norwegian study found subjects with flu symptoms experienced positive effects after taking an elderberry extract supplement. These positive effects subjects in the study who took an elderberry supplement saw improvement in their flu symptoms an average of four days earlier than the subjects who took a placebo.

Elderberry extract supplements come in a variety of forms:

Remember, Supplements Shouldn’t Be a Substitute for a Healthy Lifestyle.

There are many immune system boosting benefits to taking supplements. However, the purpose of dietary supplements is to help keep essential substances in the body at healthy levels.

If you start taking supplements, continue eating nutritious foods as well. Don’t take a pass on a well-balanced diet just because you are taking supplements!

Every person’s health situation is different. A supplement that works well for one person may not be the best for you. However, with a complete evaluation of your health and a thorough review of the supplements available, you will likely find one that can benefit your immune system.

Remember, we are here to help you find the right supplement for you. It’s as easy as contacting us via Live Chat on our website or by filling out the form on our Contact Us page. We’re ready to help you on your journey to a healthier life!