Feeling under the weather? Worried about catching a bug the next time one begins to make its way through your family and friends? Post-pandemic, many people are realizing that their immune system could do with a boost. Our immune system is our first line of defense against the viruses and bacteria we encounter every day, so it pays to make sure yours is fighting fit, and one of the key ways to maintain immune health is by supplementing with immune-boosting vitamins and nutrients.
Approximately 30% of the United States population is at risk for at least one vitamin deficiency meaning that our bodies lack the essential nutrients needed to keep our immune system strong. However, we can give our immune system a helping hand by adopting a supplement routine designed to strengthen it and the good news is that there are five easy-to-find vitamins perfect for the job. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin with a wide variety of benefits, but one of its main functions is supporting a healthy immune system. Our bodies cannot make vitamin C on their own, so it’s necessary to obtain it through diet or supplements.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights illness and disease and helps grow and repair tissue. It’s also important for healing wounds and maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and skin. It’s involved in many of the body’s most essential functions, so it’s no surprise that it also performs an important task in immune health. Vitamin C supports the immune system by protecting against pathogens and bacteria and helps white blood cells function more efficiently, helping the skin form a stronger barrier against the big nasties of the outside world. It’s also been shown to potentially reduce the severity of the common coldAs one of the eight B vitamins, vitamin B6 is essential for cell metabolism and the continued function of your red blood cells. But it also helps your body maintain a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B6 levels have been shown to be low in older adults with poor immune responsemand it’s no surprise vitamin B6 assists more than 100 enzymes in the body to perform essential functions. Research suggests that supplementation of vitamin B6 can strengthen the immune system but that’s not all: this little vitamin comes with plenty of other health benefits. Along with strengthening your immune system, vitamin B6 can fight depression, help with premenstrual syndrome and fight cognitive declineVitamin E’s star has grown in recent years as research discovers more about the benefits of this fat-soluble nutrient. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that’s essential for keeping the immune system strong and healthy. In fact, vitamin E has been called one of the most effective nutrients when it comes to boosting the immune system.
Our bodies produce vitamin D naturally when we enjoy the sunshine, but for night owls and people living in less sunny countries, vitamin D supplements are an easier way to get enough of this useful vitamin into the bloodstream. Either way, vitamin D is important for growth and development, resistance to illness, and, most critically, for helping the immune system function the way it should Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to an increased risk of infection and disease, particularly diseases like arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies have also shown that vitamin D may reduce the risk of infection from flu and Covid-19. Along with boosting the immune system, vitamin D potentially helps decrease the risk of depression and anxiety If you have ever felt like your mood gets worse during winter, a lack of vitamin D from exposure to the sun could be why but it’s easily fixed with supplements
Source: This new is originally published by scitechdaily