With flu season just around the corner, it’s becoming important once again to take care of your immune system as best as possible. While consuming a balanced diet rich in immune-boosting compounds certainly is a great way to go about things, relying on a little extra help from natural supplements can make the whole affair much easier and prevent the disease from creeping in altogether. Today, we explore the best natural supplements to support your immune system and shut the door on all germs.
Best Compounds to Boost the Immune System Naturally
Over the hundreds of years of humans and pathogens coexisting with one another certain natural compounds have been proven to boost our immune systems, making them essential during flu season.
While the list is practically endless and consuming all of these foods regularly to get all their beneficial effects essentially impossible, we narrowed down our list to the most effective compounds that help your immune system function to the best of its ability:
- Elderberry Extract: This potent fruit extract helps combat the severity of infections and is a potent antioxidant to reduce your body’s oxidative stress. It’s also rich in vitamin C and has some anti-inflammatory properties.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is one of the most critical building blocks of the immune system’s functionality in fighting off diseases. It encourages the production of the immune system’s active defense—the white blood cells—and reduces the chance of their efficacy being impeded by other molecules.
- Garlic: Due to high amounts of the immune-boosting compound allicin, garlic comes as a favored natural way to bolster the body’s capability to fight off both viral and bacterial infections.
- Turmeric: Turmeric and the immune-boosting chemical within it (called curcumin) produce antioxidants in the body while also boosting its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Beta-Carotene: As a precursor to vitamin A, it helps maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes, which are the body’s first line of defense against pathogens.
Which Supplements and Vitamins Can Also Play a Major Role in Keeping You Healthy?
While the above solutions can be obtained from a balanced diet, some extra powerful compounds, like zinc, are never produced by the body on its own. To not deprive yourself of their protective properties, consider using quality nutritional supplements to maintain overall health.
Zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and selenium are the frontrunners to incorporate into your routine. All of them play a crucial role in supporting your immune system in various ways, such as reducing inflammation, reducing the risk of respiratory infections, or aiding in producing antibodies.
There are, of course, other options. The important aspect is choosing supplements that provide your body with the nutrients it does not get from your diet alone. This way, you’ll be able to mount heavy defenses against all threats to your health, both during flu season and outside of it.
The Takeaway
Take care of your body’s immune system, and it will take care of you. Although boosting your immune response through natural means and a balanced diet is possible, supplementing its functionality with exogenous compounds is key to staying healthy and strong year-round.
