Want to improve your immunity? Vitamins can play a key role in improving your immune system naturally.
As we’re coming into the winter months, the prevalence of cold and flu seems to increase. The need to stay well is even more important at the moment. So, how can you help boost your immunity? Even more so, how can you do it naturally? Vitamins play an important role in helping your body to get the right nutrients in order to fight infection and sickness.
Vitamin C
There is a reason that many cold and flu medications are lemon-flavoured. Vitamin C, which is commonly found in citrus fruits, is one of the best vitamins to help improve and boost your immunity.
Vitamin C is not limited to citrus fruits. In addition to lemons, oranges, grapefruits and tangerines, you can turn to a number of other foods such as strawberries, capsicum, kale, broccoli and spinach. The best way to get the right amount of vitamin C in each day is through a healthy, varied and nutritious diet. If you’re eating the above-mentioned foods each day, you likely won’t have any trouble getting the daily recommended levels of the vitamin. If you are lacking in vitamin C due to your diet, you may consider supplementation.
Vitamin B6
If you’re looking for Vitamin B6 in foods, opt for items such as chicken and cold-water fish such as tuna and salmon. You can also find it in chickpeas meaning you have a good excuse to dig into some hummus!
Vitamin B6 is responsible for supporting the immune system through various biochemical reactions in your system. Because your body cannot produce it organically, it must be obtained through your diet or via supplementation.
Vitamin E
There are eight fat-soluble vitamins that help to prevent oxidative stress on your system; Vitamin E is one of them. It is also an important vitamin to help boost your immune system. Because it is an antioxidant, it can help fight off infection, which is useful during cold and flu season.
For Vitamin E in foods, choose sunflower seeds, avocados, spinach, almonds, broccoli, kiwifruit, squash and prawns.
Can supplements help?
Getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients each day shouldn’t be dependent on taking multivitamins. Your best source of vitamins to boost your immunity is through food. But, supplements can be helpful to fill in nutritional gaps in your diet. This is especially true if you lead a busy lifestyle or just want to ensure you are getting the right nutrients each day.
If you’re not sure if supplements and multivitamins are best for you, always seek advice from your medical practitioner. They will be able to discuss your personal needs and give you more information on improving your immunity as well as how to safeguard yourself through the pandemic and the winter months. Your doctor may also be able to check on your vitamin levels with further testing to see what supplements may be best for you.