Top Supplements For Boosting Immunity

Top Supplements For Boosting Immunity

For anyone looking to optimize their overall health, there are a few common ideas about what exactly this looks like. We all know that regular exercise, a healthy diet, and getting enough quality sleep are important.

Furthermore, many individuals turn to supplements to supply their bodies with the right amounts of vitamins and minerals that may be missing from their diets. These supplements are utilized for many different reasons, such as digestive health and increasing muscle mass.

Another highly available form of supplementation that should not be ignored are items that can boost the health of your immune system. After all, it is really tough to get the most out of your daily life when you are sick and feeling under the weather.

In this article, we will briefly discuss four supplements that are supported by research as a viable way to boost your immunity.

Vitamin C

No discussion of immune supplements would be complete without vitamin C. In fact, this is the supplement that usually comes to mind first when considering the topic. Not only is vitamin C important for boosting immunity, you are actually significantly more prone to getting sick if your body lacks necessary levels of it. Furthermore, the body does not possess a very effective way of storing this vitamin, meaning that regular intake is important in order to reap the benefits.

Other than direct supplementation, vitamin C is found in many dietary options such as citrus fruits and kale.

Zinc

Zinc is a nutrient that the body uses for a wide variety of functions. In fact, zinc is involved in the activation of other 100 different enzymes. One particularly important aspect of this nutrient is its ability to improve the health of your immune system.

One of the primary ways that zinc improves the immune system is through the activation of specific immune cells called T-lymphocytes. These cells are tasked with controlling the specific response of the immune system, as well as locating and attacking cells that are infected with pathogens or in the early stages of cancer.

Besides supplementation, zinc can be found in common foods such as chicken and red meat. This nutrient is also commonly added to foods that do not otherwise contain adequate amounts of it, such as breakfast cereals.

Garlic

Other than its ability to ward off vampires, which is certainly a desirable trait, garlic possesses a significant amount of research support for its ability to improve immune system function.

Although the smell of garlic is less than desirable for most, the pungent odor is actually part of this reason that this item can improve immunity. Allicin is a chemical found in garlic that, besides giving it its characteristic smell, is actually rather effective in combating a large array of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

If the taste or odor or garlic is not your thing, there are many options to directly supplement this immune booster into your diet in the form of odorless capsules and powders.

Curcumin

Curcumin is what gives the popular food additive, turmeric, its yellow-orange color. This ingredient has been used since ancient times as a way to mitigate a wide variety of diseases and infections.

Modern research has identified curcumin as an effective supplement to alleviate many inflammatory disorders within the body, a common dysfunction found in many prevalent health conditions.

Whether or not you include turmeric as a regular part of your cooking list, you can find this ingredient in the form of direct supplementation with relative ease.

Works Cited

Team, H. (2020, June 15). 3 Vitamins That Can Help Boost Your Immunity. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-vitamins-best-boosting-immunity/
Zinc. (2017, October 24). Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-zinc/art-20366112
Garlic for colds: Does it work? (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/garlic-for-colds
Pari, L., Tewas, D., & Eckel, J. (2008). Role of curcumin in health and disease. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 114(2), 127-149. doi:10.1080/13813450802033958