Perhaps we haven’t talked about the body’s immune system as much as we have in 2020. With a global pandemic,people around the world have been following instructions on how to handle the coronavirus and looking for ways to boost their immune system.
Virus or no virus, it’s important to enhance the immune system. It works as a barrier to protect you from infections and other types of illnesses. It’s assumed that people get enough vitamins and minerals from the food they already eat, but this is hardly the case. Most people don’t make the right food choices and need a bit of help. That’s where supplements come in.
Let’s have a look at what supplements do and how they can improve your immune system.
Vitamin Deficiency
The immune system is composed of a complex array of cells, systems, and chemicals that actively protect your body against infectious pathogens, including viruses, toxins, and microbes. Vitamin supplements, for instance, are needed when a person has a vitamin deficiency, especially vitamins C and D.
A few studies have revealed that low vitamin D levels are linked to a higher risk of respiratory infections and more serious conditions. It has also been associated with the growth of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
While getting enough vitamin C and D doesn’t mean you won’t contract a virus or get ill, it’s a good idea to take supplements that include it. This is especially true this year when we’ve been asked to stay home as much as possible, so we’re not getting enough sun; a major source of vitamin D.
Innate Immune Cells
There are basically two categories in the immune system. The first one is innate immune cells. Innate immunity is about non-specific defense mechanisms that take action instantly or after a few hours when the body detects the presence of the chemical antigen in it. Antigens are anything that causes the immune system to react. Some antigens aren’t specific, but we know they can be dangerous for the body.
Defense mechanisms use physical barriers such as skin, throat, lungs, and guts. Innate immunity is the first line of defense that protects the body and attacks foreign body cells that enter it.
The Adaptive Immune System
The adaptive immune system is a specialized area of immunity and is prompted by exposure to particular microorganisms like bacteria or viruses. It then utilizes what can be described as memory cells to recognize that particular microbe so that it can respond more quickly the next time it takes on your body. Unlike innate immunity, this adaptive immune response is slow to counter any threat but does get the body ready for future attacks from a recurrent virus, like the common cold.
Most of the time our immune system does the job to protect us, but there could be times it fails. For both types of immunity reactions, you need to eat right, get enough rest and sleep, manage stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There’s a high chance you don’t or can’t do these things on a daily basis, so this is why supplements help you. Douglas Labs of https://supplementfirst.com/collections/douglas-laboratories recommend taking supplements as reinforcement to fight off infections or illnesses along with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Since you’re not going to take nor is it recommended to take every supplement that comes your way, focus on the most important ones. These would be supplements of Vitamins A, B Complex, C, D, and E.
Different Supplements for Your Unique Body
Supplements aren’t one-size-fits-all. What works for your spouse or friend doesn’t necessarily work for you. Everyone is unique, so your supplements should suit your unique dietary and physical needs.
For instance, fish oil or Omega-3 is great to protect the heart, may reduce the likelihood of blood clot formations, and lower blood pressure. Fatty acids derived from Omega-3 can also decrease inflammation and even help improve your mood.
Magnesium is another example, and a daily dose of a magnesium supplement can help in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, energy production, bone and cell production, and more.
Joint pain and arthritis can be helped with a turmeric supplement. Turmeric and Curcumin are two of the best spices that are put into supplements to treat an array of conditions such as chronic fatigue, headaches, plus heart disease because the supplements can inhibit inflammation.
Even people very conscious of eating the healthiest food available can’t always get the daily vitamins and minerals recommended. This is because the source of all types of food has changed, and not for the better considering the ecology and the state of soil and water. Simply put, if you want to ward off disease and illness, you can’t depend solely on your diet and lifestyle. We all need an extra boost and that comes by taking supplements to help improve your health through a strong immune system.
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