Immune Support- Vitamins & Minerals to Boost Your Immune System
Your immune system is your personal bodyguard. It fights off unwanted invaders such as viruses, infections, bacteria, and even toxins. But for it to be in pristine condition, it requires some care. A balanced lifestyle of healthy food, rest, and exercise can help maintain your immune system. However, we all have periods of feeling run-down, or maybe we need added protection with a stressful situation occurring or flu season approaching. To prepare or give your immune system a powerful boost, we have created Immune Support. Let’s explore and delve deeper into some of the natural vitamins and minerals in our supplement.
• Vitamin C
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
• Lysine
• Fulvic acid
• Zinc
• Final Thoughts
Vitamin C
What is it?
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin found in juicy oranges, tropical fruits and the good old spud. It is crucial for optimal health and this tiny little vitamin carries a lot of responsibility. Vitamin C protects cells from the damage of oxidative stress, reduces tiredness and fatigue, and is the number one go-to for immune support.
How can Vitamin C help my Immune System?
Although vitamin C supports many functions within the body, we think the immune system is where it shines. Vitamin C is an all-round supporter of immune cells. It provides protection by blocking environmental oxidative stress. The oxidative stress, if not controlled, can damage cells and lead to illness (1).
Vitamin C enhances the function of T-cells and B-cells. These cells are lymphocytes, white blood cells that fight infection and disease. Vitamin C enables them to mature and function optimally. Research shows that by taking vitamin C prophylactically, your immune system can be strengthened. One study revealed that vitamin C could shorten the duration of a cold and reduce the chance of a respiratory infection (1,2).
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
What is it?
NAC is derived from L-cysteine, one of the essential amino acids required for a healthy functioning body. It plays a big role in replenishing glutathione, a vital antioxidant in your body. L-cysteine is found in poultry, dairy products, eggs, and legumes.
How can NAC help my Immune System?
When a cold or flu kicks in, our bodies go into natural defence mode. One of these defence mechanisms is the production of mucus. It’s that sticky stuff in your lungs that you may cough up. Mucus is a natural response to protect your respiratory system from contaminants, but too much can reduce your lung function, resulting in an infection.
NAC is an anti-viral, antioxidant, and an anti-inflammatory. It works on the epithelial cells in your respiratory tract to reduce respiratory mucus and minimise inflammation. NAC is commonly used as a mucolytic compound. It loosens and breaks up sticky mucus, making it easier to expel or cough out from your lungs. At the same time, NAC stimulates glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that supports your immune system (3,4).
Lysine
What is it?
Lysine is one of the 9 essential amino acids the human body needs to function optimally. Amino acids are essential for optimal health. Lysine has a variety of roles, from wound healing to supporting the immune system. Essential amino acids are not produced by the body. You can find lysine in daily food such as red meat, fish, spirulina, beans, dairy, and lentils.
How can Lysine help my Immune System?
When you are run down, your immune system can be weaker, leaving you wide open to illnesses. Lysine has a unique function, enabling it to slow down or stop the growth of a virus. Studies have shown this special amino acid can be beneficial in halting the spread of a virus within your body (5).
One of the most common viruses lysine is used to combat is the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1), typically known as cold sores. HSV-1 or cold sores usually start with a tingling feeling on the lips or around the mouth. The sensation erupts into tiny fluid-filled blisters. Cold sores can be painful, lasting a few weeks before they clear up. It has been discovered that lysine may be used as a potential treatment. It appears lysine may prevent and treat cold sores, eliminating them quickly (6,7).
Fulvic acid
What is it?
Fulvic acid is derived from organic matter. A deluge of rich forgotten minerals and nutrients, it is found in streams and lakes, peat and soil. N alternative way to obtain vital minerals, fulvic acid is antioxidant-dense with anti-inflammatory properties, perfect to support the immune system.
How can Fulvic Acid help my Immune System?
How many times have we heard, “You are what you eat!”? There is pretty clear evidence that gut health is linked to overall health. Maintaining a healthy digestive system can prevent the colonising of unwanted bacteria and maintain a healthy balance between gut health and immunity. Fulvic acid is a rich source of nutrients and minerals that support the immune system and improve gut flora.
Sometimes, gut flora can be out of balance through diet, stress, or the use of antibiotics. By introducing alternative nourishment such as fermented foods or providing a source of fulvic acid, you can take steps towards restoring an equilibrium of the microbiome, reawakening gut flora, and supporting your immune system (8,9).
Zinc
What is it?
Zinc is an essential trace mineral. It is found in vast bodies of water, yet our bodies only require minuscule amounts. The small measures of zinc needed by our bodies go a long way. Zinc is responsible for optimising brain health, providing protection from oxidative stress, and supporting the immune system, amongst many other functions.
How can Zinc help my Immune System?
Zinc is responsible for over 100 enzyme responses within the body. There is evidence to suggest that nearly every immune cell in the human body is zinc-dependent. It makes sense then that with a zinc deficiency, the immune system may not function as well, and those with inadequate levels of zinc can be more susceptible to illness (10).
Did you know that ensuring your body receives an adequate supply of this vital mineral may even reduce the length of illness? A 2020 study suggests just this. The findings show that supplementing zinc could reduce a common cold by 2.25 days! (11)
Final Thoughts
Your immune system is precious. To ensure it does the best job, we need to provide the best. By taking time to rest, exercise, and provide optimal nutrition, our immune system can do its fighting best. Our carefully formulated Immune Support supplement is packed full of natural vitamins and minerals to optimise your health and support your wellbeing. To try it for yourself, you can buy it here.
Or perhaps you would like to explore our full range of vitamin and mineral supplements here, each designed to enhance your health.
References
1. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999;22:530–533. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
2. Manning J, Mitchell B, Appadurai DA, Shakya A, Pierce LJ, Wang H, Nganga V, Swanson PC, May JM, Tantin D, Spangrude GJ. Vitamin C promotes maturation of T-cells. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013 Dec 10;19(17):2054-67. doi: 10.1089/ars.2012.4988. Epub 2013 Feb 5. PMID: 23249337; PMCID: PMC3869442.
3. Tenório MCDS, Graciliano NG, Moura FA, Oliveira ACM, Goulart MOF. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC): Impacts on Human Health. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jun 16;10(6):967. doi: 10.3390/antiox10060967. PMID: 34208683; PMCID: PMC8234027.
4. Schloss J, Leach M, Brown D, Hannan N, Kendall-Reed P, Steel A. The effects of N-acetyl cysteine on acute viral respiratory infections in humans: A rapid review. Adv Integr Med. 2020 Dec;7(4):232-239. doi: 10.1016/j.aimed.2020.07.006. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32837898; PMCID: PMC7398034.
5. Stagi L, de Forni D, Innocenzi P. Blocking viral infections with lysine-based polymeric nanostructures: a critical review. Biomater Sci. 2022 Apr 12;10(8):1904-1919. doi: 10.1039/d2bm00030j. PMID: 35297436.
6. Mailoo VJ, Rampes S. Lysine for Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of the Evidence. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017 Jun;16(3):42-46. PMID: 30881246; PMCID: PMC6419779.
7. Singh BB, Udani J, Vinjamury SP, Der-Martirosian C, Gandhi S, Khorsan R, Nanjegowda D, Singh V. Safety and effectiveness of an L-lysine, zinc, and herbal-based product on the treatment of facial and circumoral herpes. Altern Med Rev. 2005 Jun;10(2):123-7. PMID: 15989381.
8. Vucskits AV, Hullár I, Bersényi A, Andrásofszky E, Kulcsár M, Szabó J. Effect of fulvic and humic acids on performance, immune response and thyroid function in rats. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2010 Dec;94(6):721-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01023.x. PMID: 21073632.
9. Winkler J, Ghosh S. Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes. J Diabetes Res. 2018 Sep 10;2018:5391014. doi: 10.1155/2018/5391014. PMID: 30276216; PMCID: PMC6151376.
10. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 25;9(12):1286. doi: 10.3390/nu9121286. PMID: 29186856; PMCID: PMC5748737.
11. Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J. Zinc Supplementation Reduces Common Cold Duration among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with Micronutrients Supplementation. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Jul;103(1):86-99. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718. Epub 2020 Apr 23. PMID: 32342851; PMCID: PMC7356429.
