Building Your Immunity During the Pandemic: 6 Essential Supplements You Should Know About

 

This time of year, we’ve always been more aware of our immune systems. From common colds to nasty flus, there’s no shortage of reasons to start bolstering your immunity to make sure you stay healthy. This year, however, we’ve never been more collectively attentive to our well-being, which means it’s never been a better time to learn about some of the most effective natural supplements you can be adding to your health and wellness routine.

While getting plenty of rest and exercise, as well as eating healthily and staying hydrated, can do loads for your immune system, it’s not a bad idea to add some extra supplements this time of year — and especially in 2020.

Here are six of the best supplements you can be taking to help build your immunity during this pandemic.

1. Known officially as N-Acetyl Cysteine, NAC has been shown to give a “significant increase in immune function” according to two well-documented studies. NAC is so effective at bolstering the immune system because it restores and replenishes the natural killer cells that your body needs to fight off germs, bacteria, and viruses.

2. An antioxidant known to reduce oxidative stress occurring in your body, selenium is a powerful supplement for your immune system because it reduces inflammation. When inflammation in the body is reduced, the immune system response becomes stronger, making you less susceptible to potential illnesses.

3. Vitamin C. Almost everyone knows that Vitamin C is good for your immune system, but there are different ways that you can take Vitamin C — and some are more effective than others. Liposomal Vitamin C, for example, has been shown to be absorbed at a much higher rate than other Vitamin C supplements, making the immune boosting properties of the vitamin more bioavailable and, therefore, even more potent.

4. Vitamin D. When Vitamin D is low in your body, you become more susceptible to infections and illness. Adding Vitamin D to your daily routine, in addition to getting plenty of natural sunlight, can help you stay healthy this time of year. According to research, Vitamin D has been shown to decrease the severity of colds, flus, and other viruses, as well as possibly preventing the symptoms from being present altogether.

5. A tried and true mineral that has long been used to fight off colds and other viruses, zinc helps to keep the immune system healthy and can be taken regularly even when no symptoms are present.

6. An active ingredient in green tea, EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) has been shown to help the body’s systems tremendously, including the immune system. Not only have studies shown that EGCG can dramatically affect “T cell activation” in the body, but some research has shown that EGCG can also treat a variety of physical threats that the body faces, including autoimmune inflammatory diseases, as well as bacterial infections and viruses.

All of these supplements are great ways to help boost your body’s immunity — this time of year (and especially this year), but also year-round. Of course, always be sure to consult a trusted expert to determine whether or not you should be taking these supplements and what the right dosage is for your body.