Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 7th September 2020

Is your immune system optimised during the Covid-19 pandemic? Are you really that strong to tackle the Coronavirus? In this article let’s talk about some of the top 5 immune-boosting vitamins that not only boost the immune system but also uplift the activity of cells, tissues, and organs that protect us from the microbes and help fight the diseases. The best-known immune boosters don’t just excite the defence mechanism of the body; they hone and reinforce them for a very long time. According to Dr. John McCarty, director of the Cellular Immunotherapies and Transplant program at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, “You want to give the immune system a chance to react in its appropriately designed way. You don’t want to get in the way of it.” So, your immune system can surely get help in its job and functionality by: Exercising, Relieving stress, Having more sleep, Consuming a healthy diet, Increasing nutrients intake, Getting regular vaccinations, Avoiding alcohol intake and cessation of smoking.

How the above-mentioned measures help our immune system? 

Exercise has always been known to be the best immune booster as it reduces the risk of obesity, flushes bacteria out of the lungs, and causes beneficial changes in the antibodies and WBCs. Now, let us briefly describe the role of stress reduction in enhancing our immunity. Stress causes the production of a hormone called cortisol, which tends to inhibit the immune system. Thus, doctors advise not to stress too much as it makes a person prone to serious ailments. Having more sleep increases the number of circulating immune cells and thus boosts immunity.

Immune Boosters: Recommended Nutrients in a Healthy Diet 

We’re now going to highlight the main immune-boosting substances that must necessarily be part of a healthy diet. 

Quercetin 

Quercetin is a pigment found in many vegetables such as onion, fruits, and some herbs. Chemically, it is a flavonol providing a wide-range of health benefits to the body. Quercetin is best known for its anti-allergic properties as it stimulates the immune system as well as acts as a scavenger of harmful free radicals within the body. Moreover, it reduces the chronic inflammation that can be harmful to the body and can lead to serious health conditions. Quercetin has gained popularity as it’s being utilised as part of the critical care protocol for Covid-19 patients based on the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS).  

Elderberry 

Elderberry possesses flowers and berries enriched with antioxidants and vitamins that help boost the immune system. They also help decrease stress, tame inflammation, and protect the cardiovascular system. Most scientists believe that elderberry is a natural treatment of boosting immunity during the cold and flu season. Another research study showed Sambucol, a black coloured elderly-based extract, activating the healthy immune system by increasing the inflammatory cytokine production.

Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for the human body that is widely found in citrus fruits and other natural foods. It is also known as ascorbic acid. Studies have shown that vitamin C contributes to the immune defence by supporting and maintaining various cellular functions of the immune system. This occurs by: 

- Supporting the epithelial barrier against the invading pathogens and microbes.

- Enhancing the oxidizing radicals scavenging activity of the skin. 

- Accumulation of vitamin C within the immune cells and increasing their efficiency.

Thus, vitamin C is necessary, and its deficiency results in impaired immunity along with greater susceptibility to deadly infections. Almost every health practitioner advises vitamin C supplementation whenever a person is suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. 

Zinc (Zinc Picolinate) 

Zinc is a mineral that is very useful for the human body. Zinc comes in many forms. We like Zinc picolinate because research suggests the human body may absorb this form better than other types of zinc, including zinc gluconate and zinc citrate. It is due to the fact that it has the following clinically substantiated benefits: 

- Zinc remodels the immune alterations in elder patients leading to healthy ageing. 

- Helps control infectious diseases by tapping the breaks on the immune response such that out-of-control inflammation is prevented. 

- Regulates cytokine release to cause proliferation and induction of T-lymphocytes.

Organic Turmeric  

Turmeric (curcumin) is widely used for its medicinal properties and it is found to boost the immune system in people with immune disorders. It is a natural way to help bolster the immune system by way of enhancing the immunomodulating capacity of the body. Turmeric possesses curcumin in it, which is found to have antiviral properties. In addition to all of this, curcumin also suppresses various sorts of inflammatory molecules that do more harm to the body than the microbes in times of chronic inflammatory conditions. 

The Bottom Line 

Our immune system is a vital part of our body. It is because of the immune system we’re still alive and are able to tackle all the deadly microbes entering our body. It is essential to consume such useful nutrients and substances that increase our immune system functionality. Vitamins such as vitamin K and vitamin C, curcumin in turmeric, zinc, and quercetin are considered the best natural supplements that boost our immune system and help us combat the diseases. If you are looking for an easy to use all in all immunological booster, we recommend Onco-V.

We discuss Elderberry, Organic Turmeric, Zinc Picolinate, Vitamin C, and Quercetin in this guide to the Top 5 Immune Boosters.