When it comes to a strong immune system, your nutrition and lifestyle are key. That means really protecting your sleep, exercise and nutrition are the most important factors. After that solid foundation, there are three key supplements that I add to my day during the fall & winter to boost my immune system.
Vitamin D
Vitamin is one of the most powerful nutrients when it comes to your immune system. In fact, the shorter days and less sunlight (where we get some of our Vitamin D) are some of the contributors to the timing of cold & flu season. Vitamin D turns on key factors in your immune system that causes an anti-microbial response. I recommend checking your vitamin D levels yearly. If you are low, your doctor will recommend a therapeutic dose. As a maintenance dose I recommend 1000 IU daily.
I like liquid drops because it is very bioavailable and you can easily increase or decrease the dose as needed. Designs for Health makes a great product found here on Amazon.
B6
B6 is one of the 8 essential B vitamins. It is a key vitamin that keeps both your nervous and immune system functioning. Although B6 is the main immune booster, typically the 8 B vitamins work best synergistically, so I recommend supplementing with a full B complex. A food based or whole food B complex will be easiest on the stomach so opt for brands like New Chapter, Rainbow Light or Mega Foods.
I personally use Rainbow Light Complete B Complex, which can be found here on Amazon.
Probiotics
Probiotics work with the body’s immune system to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. They have also been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria. Although there are many food sources of probiotics, they tend to be less commonly eaten during the winter months so I recommend supplementing. When choosing a quality probiotic, the diversity of strains is more important than the specific number of bacteria. As a rule of thumb, I like to take a pro-biotic with 7 or more individual strains.
I’m a fan of Nutrition Now’s PB-8, which can be found here on Amazon.
Stay healthy my friends!
