With cold and flue season in full swing, you may be thinking about ways to improve your immune function to ward off the sniffles and shivers. Here are a few immune boosting supplements that can give your body the extra edge it needs to boost the immune system and fight off illness without taxing your body.
Vitamin D
Also known as “the sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is actually a hormone that the body produces naturally through the action of sunlight on the skin. Vitamin D levels are typically lowest in the winter, due to low exposure to sunlight during the colder seasons. This may explain why the flu virus wreaks the most havoc in winter and dwindles away in the summer months. Studies show that people who have low vitamin D levels are more likely to report having a recent cough, cold, or upper respiratory tract infection. Before supplementing with vitamin D, it is important to have your blood levels checked so that the right dosage strategy can be determined based on the severity of deficiency.
Probiotics
One of the leading supplements to take when you are trying to boost your immune system is a probiotic. Probiotics can help give your immune system a boost and inhibit the proliferation of bad bacteria in the gut. Some probiotics can also promote the production of natural antibodies to fight off infections. The probiotic Lactobacillus crispatus was found to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections in women by 50%.
Omega 3
The main reason to add Omega 3 to your system is due to how it interacts with your white blood cells. The omega 3 fatty acids help your white blood cells to work at optimal levels to help fight bacteria. You can boost your omega 3 supplement during times when you are sick with a cold or flu to help boost the immune system and the white blood cells fighting off the bacteria.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is standard when it comes to supplements for your immune system. Though you may know you should be taking it, you may not know what it does. Though it does help building your immune system, it also helps to maintain the stomach lining and intestinal lining and prevents damage to these areas. You can take Vitamin C in many forms, but a juice or smoothie option will get the benefits into your system quickly and easily.
Supplements can be taken in many forms including pills, liquids, and powders. The trick to using supplements is to know your body. You need to know what your body is lacking in, what it needs, and how to achieve that goal without overdoing yourself on other vitamins and minerals you may not need. This is why working with a Naturopathic Doctor to help you develop an individualized treatment plan that’s right for you may be the most important step you take in revolutionizing your health.
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