By Previnex®
When it comes to boosting and supporting your immune system, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough good-quality vitamins and minerals. While there may not be one specific vitamin that is the holy grail of immune function, there are a few certain vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy immune system.
What Is the Number One Vitamin for the Immune System?
Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc, all play an essential role in supporting your immune system function.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects your body against invaders or any type of oxidative stress (when the body has too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants to fight them). But, our bodies don’t produce it naturally, so we have to get it through our diet and supplements. When it comes to being sick, Vitamin C can help prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. This powerful vitamin has benefits on cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, and it’s necessary for the immune system to fight illness and infection.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D comes from three main sources: nutrition, sunlight, and supplements. For humans, Vitamin D is most commonly synthesized in the skin when we’re outside in the sun. However, a global review found that 6-47% of Vitamin D intake comes from supplements. Vitamin D also helps reduce the severity of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and may decrease the risk of developing respiratory and other infections. As such, Vitamin D deficiency can negatively impact your immune system.
Zinc
This mineral is essential for the immune system to function well. However, it’s important to ensure you maintain zinc homeostasis—having not too much and not too little zinc in your system—to get the benefits. When you have the right balance of zinc in your system, zinc can be considered a gatekeeper of the immune system, as most functions of immune cells are zinc-dependent.
How to Boost Your Immune System Quickly
Sometimes, your immune system needs a boost fast. So what are some quick immune boosters and lifestyle changes you can implement to make that immune response happen?
You want to first focus on what you’re eating and drinking. It’s crucial to eat a diet rich in vitamin-dense fruits and vegetables (especially those rich in Vitamin C such as citrus fruits, berries, and red bell peppers).
In addition to what you eat, you want to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drinking enough water helps your body get rid of bacteria and toxins, distribute nutrients, and circulate your blood more freely (which helps white blood cells function better).
Next, you want to get fresh air, get some quick exercise, and then rest. When you rest, your body gets the opportunity to produce proteins and cells that fight infection. Most notably, during sleep, your body produces cytokines and T-cells. Cytokines help your body fight infection and inflammation, and T-cells are white blood cells that help your immune system fight off infection and disease.
What Vitamins Are Best for Boosting the Immune System?
Research suggests some of the best vitamins for boosting the immune system are: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Folate, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Selenium, and Zinc. Of course, a great way to get these nutrients can be through dietary supplements.
Top Vitamins for Kids
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Vitamin C: while kids may need less Vitamin C than adults, it’s still an important vitamin. Vitamin C can help prevent and decrease the duration of the cold, flu, and other respiratory infections. It aids in the production of white blood cells and helps those cells function properly!
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Vitamin D: essential for both bone health and the immune system, Vitamin D is important to boost your kid’s immunity.
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Zinc: just like in adults, Zinc helps immune cells develop and function properly, defending the body against infections.
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Multivitamin: sometimes the best way to give your kids all the vitamins they need is to give them a multivitamin! Here at Previnex®, we have our Super Vites® Multivitamin made specially for kids. It’s chock-full of vitamins and minerals, as well as a fruit and veggie blend to give them all the nutrients they need. It has a blend of 28 organic super fruits and vegetables, no added sugar, and no added preservatives or artificial ingredients. It’s also soy, dairy, and gluten-free with no gums or sugar alcohol. Basically, it’s a powerhouse vitamin for your kid and will get them the nutrients their little bodies need.
What Is the Best Drink to Boost the Immune System?
There are drinks that are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that can help boost your immune system!
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Green tea is full of antioxidants that provide a boost to your immune system. It is also anti-inflammatory and has beneficial metabolic effects.
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Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-microbial, and antioxidant properties that can help boost and support your immune system.
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Fresh juices and smoothies that are made from fruits and veggies—especially those like oranges, carrots, and berries—are highly nutritious and full of immune-boosting vitamins! It’s important to note that fruit juices and smoothies tend to be higher in sugar naturally, so ensure you’re drinking those without added sugars.
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Ginger and turmeric-infused water is a powerful way to boost your immune system. Ginger is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and turmeric is also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant! Mix with some water, let those goodies infuse, and you’ve got a delicious immune-boosting bev. (You can even add some lemon for an extra boost of flavor and Vitamin C)!
Immune Health: Give Your Body a Helping Hand in Maintaining A Healthy Immune System
Getting the right amount of vitamins in general and to boost your immune system—especially in cold and flu season—is imperative. Your body needs vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to not just function properly on a daily basis, but also to ensure your body can fight off infection when it needs to. In addition to food and drinks, an immune health supplement like Immune Health PLUS® can really help boost your immune system! Full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, beta-glucans, and a powerhouse mushroom blend, Immune Health PLUS® is exactly what your immune system needs this season! Grab your bottle today!
