What vitamins and minerals can help your immune system?
We all know how important it is to eat a balanced diet for general health, but are there any vitamins and minerals in particular you should focus on in the run up to cold & flu season?
The immune system requires a wide range of vitamins and minerals to function properly, but today I’m looking at three of the most important ones – and these also tend to be ones that people struggle to get enough of from their diet!
1. Vitamin C
This is perhaps the most famous immune-boosting vitamin, so I thought I’d talk about this first. So how exactly does vitamin C help the immune system?
Well, certain immune cells such as phagocytes and T-cells need vitamin C to carry out their essential tasks. These cells are important because they help to destroy invading bacteria and viruses.
Vitamin C also has a protective function within the respiratory system, helping to keep your cells and tissues strong and healthy. On top of this, it is a potent antioxidant, which is important because many toxins such as pollution, chemical fumes and cigarette smoke enter your body through the respiratory system. In fact, smokers are very likely to be deficient in vitamin C because so much is used up trying to protect your system.
It’s therefore important to keep topped up on vitamin C so your respiratory system doesn’t become damaged, leaving it vulnerable to infection.
Sources: Brightly coloured fruit and veg, as well as green leafy veg – red peppers, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, kale and spinach.
Supplements: Look for a supplement such as our Nature C Tablets which sources vitamin C from nature. Avoid single large doses, and instead opt for several smaller doses throughout the day.
2. Zinc
Zinc is one of the lesser-known immune-boosting nutrients, but it is incredibly important for a functioning immune system. Those deficient in zinc tend to have severely impaired immune function, as well as cognitive problems, decreased testosterone levels and decreased muscle mass, so it’s actually a really important mineral for the whole body!
Zinc is also particularly important for skin healing, so it can help to heal damage in the respiratory system caused by the infection – particularly from coughing or dryness in the throat. In fact, one of the common signs of zinc deficiency is mouth ulcers due to this difficulty healing small abrasions. If white specs appear on your nails, this is another tell-tale sign that you could be low in zinc.
Researchers have also discovered that zinc helps to keep the immune system in check, preventing it from spiralling out of control in response to an infection. They have even suggested that zinc can help to prevent sepsis, an often fatal response to an infection caused by excessive inflammation1.
Sources: Oysters, red meat, fortified cereals, pumpkin seeds, oats and sesame seeds
Supplement: We’d recommend no more than 100mg of supplemented zinc per day, especially if you eat a diet rich in red meat, seafood, nuts and seeds. Our Balance Mineral Drink provides a reasonable dose of zinc, alongside other helpful nutrients like potassium, calcium and magnesium.
3. Vitamin D
You might know this as an essential vitamin for bone health due to its role in calcium regulation. However, we now know that it is also vital for immune function! The unfortunate thing is that during the winter months when we need our immune systems to be as strong as possible, our vitamin D levels are at their lowest due to the lack of sunlight!
According to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, low levels of vitamin D are also associated with allergic conditions like hayfever, asthma and eczema.1 Some studies even suggest that low vitamin D can play a role in autoimmune disorders such as IBS, MS or lupus.2 They suggest, therefore, that vitamin D can help to regulate the immune system.
Sources: Sunlight – try to spend at least half an hour out in the sun each day. There are also a few dietary sources including cod liver oil, oily fish, fortified cereals and egg yolk.
Supplement: During the winter, a vitamin D supplement is recommended for everyone. I recommend around 10mcg or 400IU per day. You can increase your vitamin D intake through our Balance Mineral Drink as each sachet contains 5µg.
Should I be taking a supplement?
Even if you think you're eating a healthy diet, it can be difficult to make sure you're getting enough of each vitamin. Zinc in particular is a common deficiency because over-farming of soil has meant that many foods have naturally less zinc than they should. Vitamin D, of course, is hard to get during the winter because of the lack of sunlight.
However, it can also be difficult to know which supplements are best. My advice would be to not simply opt for whichever is strongest, because ultra-strength supplements are often unnecessary and even dangerous. Instead, try to look for supplements that are easily absorbed, such as liquid forms, and those that come from natural sources, as these will be easiest for the body to use.
For vitamin C, I’d recommend our own Nature C vitamin C supplement, which provides 200mg per daily dose of 2 tablets. These tablets are chewable, meaning that some of the vitamin is absorbed through the cheek membranes, while the rest is easier for the digestive system to break down since it's already been chewed. In addition, the vitamin C is sourced from natural ingredients like sea buckthorn, acerola, passion fruit and blackcurrant.
For vitamin D and zinc, I’d recommend our Balance Mineral Drink, which has the added benefit of containing magnesium, calcium and potassium as well. It is dissolved in water, making it easy for the body to absorb. I also generally recommend this for fatigue and tiredness, so it can be a great way to keep sluggishness at bay during the winter months.
A.Vogel Balance Mineral Drink with Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium and Calcium.
£8.25 (7 x 5.5g sachets) In Stock
Other nutrients that are good for your immune system
While it’s important to focus on the above nutrients as they are arguably the most important for the immune system, it’s important to remember that they are not the only nutrients that the immune system needs to function properly.
It also requires a range of B vitamins, selenium, copper iron, vitamin C and vitamin E, so it’s important to try to eat a healthy, balanced diet to ensure you get enough of all the nutrients you need.
Focus on eating lots of fruit and vegetables as well as nuts, seeds and pulses. On top of this, make sure to eat plenty of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and lean protein for an overall nutritious diet.
References
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3269601/
2 https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/vitamin-d-deficiency-linked-to-irritable-bowel-syndrome/
