Your immune system is your body’s way of protecting itself from illness. So in order to stay well and healthy, you need to protect it and give it all the nutrients and vitamins you can to support immunity. But what specifically does your body need to perfect its immune response? Here are 7 of the best nutrients and vitamins for the immune system you should incorporate.
1. Probiotics
Probiotics probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about immunity. But, they are known for promoting gut health, which ties into the immune system. These microorganisms play a role in staving off infections, so they are a great thing to incorporate into your daily intake. Some of the best sources for probiotics are yogurt, kombucha, kefir, and supplementation.
2. Vitamin D
You may be surprised to learn that vitamin D actually helps your immune system! The active form neutralizes the damaging inflammation from some white blood cells. This important vitamin for the immune system also boosts immune cell production of microbe-fighting proteins. You can always start with supplements, but if you want to boost your intake of vitamins quickly and easily, make an IV nutrient therapy appointment with us! We have all kinds of vitamin blends to help you feel your best, and many of them include vitamin D. To find out if this is a vitamin you’re deficient in, you can make an appointment for our personalized medicine services. If you are deficient in vitamin D, you are more likely to get sick, so this is a fantastic vitamin for the immune system.
3. Glutathione
For your immune system to work properly, you need glutathione. This is an antioxidant, which removes damaging agents in our bodies to keep us well. It supports the cell system that triggers an immune response when a virus or bacteria enter our bodies.
4. Zinc
Zinc is one of the best vitamins for the immune system since it is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is essential for your immune cells to work properly. Some of the best sources of zinc include lean beef, cheddar cheese, and greek yogurt.
5. Elderberry
You’ve probably heard that elderberry is a fruit that can boost your immunity and prevent you from getting sick. While it won’t completely ward off all sickness, it can support your immune system to work even better. As an antioxidant, elderberry works to remove damaging agents from our bodies through oxidation. It reduces inflammation and stress, and it can also protect the heart. You can eat elderberries, drink it in tea, or find syrups or supplements.
6. Medicinal Mushrooms
Another natural way to boost your immune system is to take medicinal mushrooms. These fungi stimulate the immune system to help it fight against disease and prevent it from working when it doesn’t need to. Research shows that medicinal mushrooms modify cytokines, the inflammatory messengers that are released by immune cells, and allow T cells, B cells, and antibodies to work more effectively.
7. Vitamin C
Of course, we’ve all heard that vitamin C is the one to incorporate and protect immunity. Research shows that a deficiency in this vitamin makes you more likely to get sick. Specifically, this vitamin protects your body from toxins that cause inflammation. Vitamin C is found in bell peppers, oranges, and strawberries.
All of these nutrients and vitamins for the immune system can keep it working properly and protect against sickness. Adding the specific foods for each nutrient and vitamin can make your body’s natural response work even better. If you’re unsure or overwhelmed about starting new habits, you can always look into our functional medicine services. We look into all aspects of your health, and come up with a plan for the best diet, supplements you should add, and possibly even incorporate additional services, like IV Nutrient Therapy. If you’re interested in getting this kind of personal help, reach out to us today!
