Guest blog post by Amber Roy
Your immune system consists of a collection of cells, chemicals, and processes that continuously defend your body against invading pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and toxins. Your immune system is essential in keeping your body and mind healthy while preventing
infections and diseases. With a strong immune system, your body can successfully fight off disease and protect you from getting sick in the first place. For this reason, modifying your diet to include more nutrients and vitamins for a boosted immune system can significantly impact your health.
Supplementing with vitamins, minerals, and herbs may help improve your body’s immune response and protect it against illness. Remember that some supplements may not be appropriate for people with certain health conditions; it’s a good idea to speak with a
healthcare professional. Additionally, if you wish to know more about kratom, Talk Kratom tells you everything related to the medicinal plant.
Natural supplements and herbal supplements come in various forms and help the body strengthen its ability to fight off disease. For instance, dietary supplements include a concentrated form of nutrients aimed at increasing the level of nutrients the body absorbs.
Let’s look at ways to boost your immune system through plant-based supplements naturally.
Vitamin B
Lack of vitamin B may be the cause of various illnesses. Studies have shown that vitamin B6 levels impact the immune response. Your body needs vitamin B in order to create immune cells.
For vitamin B supplements, try looking towards vitamins required for disease prevention by boosting the immune system, for instance, pyroxidine (B6), riboflavin (B2), thiamine (B1), and more. These can be helpful in maintaining a healthy immune system.
If you’re looking to consume vitamin B in the form of plants, you can incorporate beans, peas, and peanuts in your diet since these are full of a wide range of B vitamins. Food should be the primary source of this vitamin, but resorting to vitamins is a good idea in case of a deficiency.
Vitamin D
A deficiency in vitamin D is associated with susceptibility to infections. A 2012 study examined multiple studies that showed lower vitamin D levels were linked with increased infections like respiratory tract infections.
Additionally, a 2013 study published by the journal DermatoEndocrinol addresses how to tackle Vitamin D efficiency, which includes eating food that contains vitamin D, getting regulated exposure to the sun, and taking vitamin D supplements.
One factor to note is that it’s always a good idea to take caution when it comes to supplements. Vitamin D taken in high doses can elevate calcium levels in the blood, which can be dangerous.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the popular immune-boosting vitamins. This is because it acts as a powerful antioxidant and prevents viruses and bacteria from entering your body. Bacteria that do manage to enter your system get killed when vitamin B supports the immune cells in your body.
Your body can absorb vitamin C in small amounts, so ensure that you take regulated doses. For natural alternatives for consuming vitamin C, try broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits, tropical fruits, and many others.
Trace Elements
Minerals present in minimal amounts in human tissue are trace elements like iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, chromium, and others.
Trace elements are needed for the proper functioning of the immune system. During the flu, for instance, it’s a plausible explanation that traces element intake in your body is insufficient. This may happen because of a lack of appetite or symptoms such as vomiting.
Your healthcare provider will guide you on the trace elements your body is deficient in.
Probiotics
Probiotics are sometimes referred to as good bacteria that live in the gut, promoting gut health. Probiotics are essentially live microorganisms that offer health benefits when consumed as part of food. There is a solid link between gut health and the immune system.
A 2011 study published in the journal Current Opinions in Gastroenterology reported that many compounds from probiotics help the body regulate the immune system. Consider selecting a probiotic that has Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces boulardii, or Lactobacillus, which are among the most studied probiotics.
Echinacea
Echinacea is the most popular herbal supplement to boost the immune system. It contains phytochemicals, which are compounds involved in biological activity. This medicinal plant has been used for many years in traditional medicine, and it produces Polyphenols, considered the most abundant antioxidants in the human diet.
Bottom Line
Vitamins B, C, and D are well known to help your body fight against bacteria and strengthen your immune system. They can be consumed through several foods, but pairing them with supplements may be a good idea if you’re still struggling with a deficiency. After consulting your healthcare provider, if they discover a lack of trace elements in your body, you can start taking supplements for the target trace element. Finally, a herbal supplement called Echinacea can help boost the immune system.
