4 Supplements for a Strong Immune System

Nutritional supplements are oral-based concentrated doses of vitamins and nutrients that are designed to promote some bodily functions, or to otherwise aid in the development of good health. While people take nutritional supplements for a variety of reasons, one proven way that they can help improve health is by boosting the immune system.

If you suffer from repetitive minor ailments such as the common cold, this could be a strong indicator that your immune system is not at its strongest. You also do not necessarily want to wait until you start seeing the symptoms of poor immunity to do something about it. Simply taking the right vitamins and supplements proactively will help keep your immune system in top shape, which will be essential for allowing you go about your life smoothly.

There are tons of vitamins and supplements out there, however, each has its benefits. So which should you get started with? Here is the guide:

Vitamin C

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away—and doctors agree that it does, it is largely because apples are packed with Vitamin C, one of the most potent immunity boosters. Vitamin C is also found in good quantities in citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines as well as pineapples and most types of berries.

You can also opt to try vitamin C supplements but if you’re eating citrus fruits daily or some other source of vitamin C, this may not be necessary.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a similarly great friend to the immune system, thanks to its work as an anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants are elements that help the body to get rid of other elements—harmful ones, known as free radicals. These free radicals occur naturally as byproducts of metabolism but may also become present in the body due to extrinsic factors such as ionized radiation, smoking, drinking, and pollution.

When in excess, free radicals cause alterations to cell structures, and may thereby dispose a person to cancer and other diseases. Vitamin E is found in good quantities in foods such as nuts and legumes, as well as green leafy vegetables. You may also try taking high-quality nutritional supplements that effectively combine most of the vitamins that you need for boosting your immune system.

Vitamin D

Naturally stimulated by contact with sunlight, vitamin D is another essential contributor to strong immunity.  Studies have shown that low levels of Vitamin D are associated with the worsening of auto immune diseases, as well as with a poor immune system response to colds and the flu.

Vitamin B6

Like Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 can be found in green veggies. It can also be found in good quantities in most animal protein sources as chicken. Vitamin B6 plays an essential complementary role in immunity by aiding in the production of antibodies that help the immune system effectively respond to common viruses such as influenza and the common cold.

Key takeaway:

While high quality nutritional supplements may help boost your immunity, do not forget to take these along with a balanced diet.