Immunity is the capability of an organism to resist infection or disease. Immunity can be acquired naturally or artificially and can be active or passive. An immune system typically includes innate immunity (natural resistance) and adaptive immunity (the ability to learn how to recognize new invaders).

The two types of artificial immunity are vaccination-induced immunization and transplanted organ transplantation. The latter replaces damaged tissue with healthy cells from another person who has a natural resistance to the disease in question. Artificial immunization introduces antigens into your body so that it will produce antibodies against them, making you resistant to future infections by those same antigens.

Many people suffer from low immunity due to diet & lifestyle habits, stress, pollution, medications & toxins. Also, some vitamins and minerals are hard to get into your diet every day through foods. Fortunately, some vitamins can boost your immune system to help improve resistance to infections and maintain better health.

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet & exercise routine is an excellent way to improve your immune system's ability to fight off infection. By taking the right vitamins and ensuring you are getting adequate exercise, you can provide additional support to your immune system and maintain better overall health.

Several vitamins can boost your immune system. However, the three most important are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D.

Vitamin C

Most types of white blood cells depend on the presence of Vitamin C to stimulate the production of protein for cell walls and other substances needed for white blood cell activity. The immune system's first line of defense against viruses and tumors, natural killer cells are also compromised by low vitamin C levels. For these reasons, Vitamin C has been shown to help prevent upper respiratory infections like the common cold. Vitamin C is abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables (one example is oranges) and relatively inexpensive.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and can be found in many different types of food, including fruit and vegetables. Vitamin C plays a vital role as an antioxidant and improves immune function. When the body is under attack from bacteria, free radicals are often produced, damaging cells, tissues, and DNA leading to sickness or even death. Antioxidants have been proven to protect against these free radicals and improve immune function by increasing natural killer cell response and antibody production.

In one study, vitamin C was found to help with upper respiratory tract infections. In the study, a group of runners was followed for 5 months to determine if vitamin C supplementation could prevent upper respiratory infections in athletes. The results showed that those taking 1000 milligrams daily had half as many colds as the placebo group. Also, when the subjects did get sick, their symptoms were lighter, with less severe nasal congestion and fever.

Make sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Vitamin C is more abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables than dried, so including a glass of orange juice or an apple with your meal will help you get the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C.

Vitamin A and Beta Carotene

The immune system needs vitamin A to function properly; in fact, deficiency in vitamin A may be the single most significant cause of immune deficiency in developing countries. Vitamin A is essential for proper response to infection and healthy skin. Foods rich in Vitamin A include carrots, cantaloupe, and yogurt.

Beta carotene is a precursor for Vitamin A and is found in dark green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and kale. Additionally, both beta carotene and vitamin A are antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage by free radicals.

One study showed that a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A could increase natural killer cell activity. Participants were given a variety of beta carotene and vitamin A or a placebo every day for 12 weeks.

Again, make sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A and dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin D

A vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections in children, multiple sclerosis, the flu, type 1 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even certain cancers. The immune system has vitamin D receptors. It uses this vitamin to communicate with T-cells and B-cells to ensure an appropriate response. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for boosting your immunity. It helps to regulate the immune system and can help to prevent infection. Vitamin D is also critical for maintaining bone health. You can get Vitamin D from sun exposure, food, and supplements.

One study showed that African Americans with low levels of Vitamin D were more likely to have respiratory infections than their fellow black counterparts with higher levels.

For food sources of vitamin D, look to fatty fish for your primary source, eggs and mushrooms. You can also get vitamin D from sun exposure, but only 20 minutes per day is needed.

Conclusion

It's important to boost your immune system against sicknesses such as the flu and colds throughout the year so that you stay healthy even during peak seasons of infection.

The foods we eat are integral to integrity of our immune system. We need a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Stress can also have an impact on how well our immune system functions. When the body perceives a threat or stress, it ramps up certain hormones such as cortisol to help fight the perceived enemy. This hormone puts a strain on the immune system as inflammation increases as well as how quickly your body recovers from illness as cortisol blocks other essential hormones required to fight infections.

Some vitamins and minerals are hard to get into your diet every day. Still, immune system boosters give your body exactly what it needs to stay healthy. All it takes is a daily vitamin focused on supporting immune response to provide your body with the proper support. Remember, supplementing key vitamins and minerals missing from your diet can help improve your immunity and overall health.

As noted, many vitamins can help boost your immune system. Still, the three most important ones include Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D. These three vitamins are the absolute best for boosting immunity, according to multiple research studies. If you want to avoid seasonal colds and the flu, be sure to include these vitamins in your daily routine. Also, stay physically fit, and your immune system will thank you!

Contact our team today if you want information on how these vitamins can benefit your health! We're happy to help educate you about how supplements like these can help you stay healthy all year long.