Immune system support and what supplements to take to help stay healthy are something many of us want to know more about. When your family isn’t feeling its best, lack of sleep and direct exposure to germs is a losing combination. With that information in mind, we want to provide you with the top supplements to have on hand all year round! We are collaborating with Tim O’Brien from The Healthy Place to come up with a list of the top 4 supplements to help “kick the sick”. That way, when someone in your house starts to come down with something, you are prepared!
Vitamin C
Let’s start with Vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a significant role in helping the body maintain a healthy immune system response. The role that vitamin C has in the body is providing fuel for the neutrophils, which are the cells in the blood that find infections and attack harmful invaders. So, by getting plenty of Vitamin C, you are prepping your immune system to battle any illness-inducing invaders.
The Healthy Place recommends the following vitamin C brands:
- Nordic Naturals Vitamin C Gummies
- Lively Vitamin Co. Citrus Kick Capsules
- Nutrigold Vitamin C Gold Capsules
Zinc
Next, let’s talk about zinc, which is essential for a proper functioning immune system. Without enough zinc in the body, the immune system can’t react as strongly to the invaders. Why is this? Well, zinc helps energize the T cells in the body, which play a leading role in your body’s immune response.
According to research, it has been shown that zinc can reduce the duration and severity of colds. So, by taking zinc supplements, you can increase your chances of getting back on your feet and into your normal routine faster.
The Healthy Place recommends the following zinc brands:
Vitamin D
A ScienceDaily article reports scientists at the University of Copenhagen discovered that inadequate levels of Vitamin D impair immune function. Here is what they found: “…vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defenses and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin – the killer cells of the immune system – T cells – will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body. The research team found that T cells first search for vitamin D in order to activate and if they cannot find enough of it will not complete the activation process.”
Vitamin D deficiencies are extremely common nowadays. Especially in less than sunny places like Wisconsin. Many people do not get enough sun exposure for quality vitamin D absorption. Supplementation is an easy way to ensure healthy levels.
The Healthy Place recommends the following vitamin D brands:
- Lively Vitamin Co. Solar Power Vitamin D Capsules
- Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies for Kids
- Natures Plus Source of Life Garden Vitamin D3 5000IU
Elderberry
Finally, Elderberry is a wonderful herbal support to help maintain a healthy immune system. It is high in Vitamin C and is a great source of antioxidants, which can also be anti-inflammatory. Elderberry has so many health benefits and a great addition to your daily routine.
Elderberry extract appears to slow the spread of the flu virus in the body. There is a Norwegian study that found that subjects with flu symptoms experienced positive effects after taking an elderberry extract supplement. What they saw was that the subjects that took the extract saw improvement in their flu symptoms an average of four days earlier than the subjects who took a placebo.
The Healthy Place recommends the following elderberry brands:
- Lively Vitamin Co. Elderberry Boom Capsules
- Lively Vitamin Co. Elderberry Boost Gummies
- Nature’s Way Sambucus Immune Lozenges
Immune system support is important!
KEY TAKE AWAY: Supplementation is awesome at helping support your immune system and overall body function. However, it is extremely important to note that NOT ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL! For more on how to pick out the supplements and vitamins that will work best for your family click here to watch Tim O’Brien and Dr. Eric discuss this very topic!
Lastly, supplements can be helpful to take, but know that they are not a replacement for a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and receiving chiropractic care. All of these naturally help support the immune system from a foundational aspect. If you have any questions you can always reach us here or call us at 608.824.0950.