Best Vitamins to Boost Immune System

Binge-watching the news lately? If so, you probably have heard the coronavirus attacks the immune system. The people who are most at risk are immunocompromised. The immune system is an essential bodily function that needs to be taken care of.

The immune system is made up of many different components that all contribute to your body's ability to fight back against diseases. White blood cells, the process of inflammation, and even running a temperature are all tools within the immune system to protect the body.

It is the body’s primary defense mechanism against foreign organisms such as viruses and bacteria. Like any other bodily system, one of the best ways to ensure that it stays healthy is to live a generally healthy lifestyle, which includes staying hydrated, getting physical exercise, and getting enough sleep.

If you’re looking for other ways to boost your immune system besides getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, maybe it’s time to try some vitamins! Take a look below for the best vitamins to help enhance your immune system:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is integral to the development of the immune system, as well as boosting it. It also regulates cellular immune responses. This vitamin also has an antioxidant effect to help strengthen the immune system.

Vitamin A can naturally be found in a number of different foods, including leafy green vegetables, bell peppers, carrots, and some fruits.

Vitamin A deficiency is something that isn’t very common in developed countries, as it tends to be fortified in foods, but it can still occur in those with limited ingredient diets.

Getting your daily recommended intake of vitamin A can help to support your overall health and support optimal immune functioning, which can help your body in the event you get sick.

Vitamin B

Specifically, Vitamin B6, as it is vital to support your immune system by producing antibodies to help fight viruses and infections. Not only that, but this vitamin can support brain health by improving cognitive function.

There are a whole category of B vitamins, and getting enough on a daily basis can be difficult for some individuals with dietary restrictions.

One of the most common B vitamin deficiencies is a B12 deficiency. B12 is only found in animal products, which could pose a problem for vegans and vegetarians. A B12 deficiency can lead to a lack of energy due to an inability to transport oxygen through the blood properly.

Vitamin B12 plays a number of important roles within the body, including helping the formation of new red blood cells as well as cell production. The immune system relies on white blood cells for a targeted and active immune response, and having a lack of B12 could leave your body at a disadvantage.

ivee includes B12 as part of several of our wellness IV treatments because of the many roles it plays in supporting immune health and energy levels.

Vitamin C

You knew this was coming, right? Obviously, we had to include this vitamin C, as it is a powerhouse when it comes to boosting your immune system! Out of all of the vitamins listed here, this is the one that you should’ve started taking, like yesterday. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates the production of white blood cells, which can help you fight off bacteria and viruses. It can also help produce antibodies, which can help fight against invading pathogens by binding themselves to foreign microbes, which helps neutralize them.

Many people know that vitamin C is naturally found in orange juice and other citrus fruits, but it can also be found in a number of different fruits and vegetables like berries, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, strawberries, and many more.

While these nutritious sources of vitamin C can help you reach your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, it can be easy to let your diet slip in a modern world of processed convenience foods, leaving your body without a proper level of circulating vitamin C.

Utilizing Vitamin C IV Therapy is one way to quickly increase the levels of circulating bioavailable vitamin C. Whether you are thinking about taking an oral or IV supplementation of vitamin C, you should consult with your healthcare provider to see if it’s the right choice based on your diet and health history.

Vitamin D

A deficiency in vitamin D can increase your susceptibility to infection and is linked to causing autoimmune diseases. Since we know you don’t want that (especially in this pandemic), it’s recommended to drink milk and get some sunshine. But when you go outside, make sure you use a facemask and stay 6 feet away from everyone else! #socialdistancing  

Vitamin D is one of few vitamins that is able to be created by the body. The body is capable of doing so with the help of sunlight, but there are a number of individuals that live in notoriously cloudy regions that may make them more susceptible to a vitamin D deficiency.

To combat vitamin D deficiency, there are many foods that are fortified with vitamin D like milk, but there are also options that are naturally high in vitamin D. Fatty fish, salmon, tuna, mushrooms, are just some of the many foods that naturally contain vitamin D.

Vitamin E

What a surprise, another antioxidant! Antioxidants help to fight back against free radicals, which can cause damage to your body at a cellular level. Since vitamin E is an antioxidant, it directly helps to protect your body against cellular stress so it can function to the best of its abilities.

Immune cells have higher concentrations of vitamin E, all the more reason to use it to boost your immune system! A deficiency in this vitamin will cause a decrease in cellular immunity. It helps the formation of red blood cells, which can improve blood circulation as well. Think about buying foods rich in vitamin E like spinach, sunflower seeds, broccoli, and kiwi. 

Iron

Iron, which is found in hemoglobin, is a vital substance, and about 70% of it can be found in red blood cells. Red blood cells help transfer oxygen from your lungs throughout your body, including your immune system. Without this essential function, you’re going to start to feel tired and fatigued. This exhaustion will affect your immune system’s ability to fight off infections.

Iron is a mineral that is quite plentiful in foods like red meat, but this isn’t always a great source depending on your specific dietary restrictions. Spinach is a good plant-based source of iron, and pairing that spinach salad with a glass of vitamin C-rich juice can help boost the absorption of that iron.

Having an adequate iron intake can help you to avoid deficiency-based conditions such as anemia, which may have an impact on your body’s immune function.

Selenium

Selenium helps you lower oxidative stress in your body, which can boost your immune system. A deficiency in this vitamin can harm your immune cell function and weaken the immune system’s response to potential threats such as bacteria and viruses. 

Selenium is naturally found in foods like tuna, brazil nuts, and rice. Selenium is needed in fairly small amounts, and including these foods into your diet periodically can help to ensure your body has as much selenium it needs to support its overall function and immunity.

Zinc

Zinc is vital when it comes to your immune system because it keeps everything in balance. It can decrease the rate of infection by slowing down your immune system’s response. This helps control inflammation that can be deadly in your immune system. You can find Zinc in a bunch of foods such as oysters, yogurt, and chickpeas. 

As always, consult with your Primary Care Provider before adding new supplements to your daily health regimen, especially if you’re doing so because of new symptoms like getting sick more often or feeling lethargic.