How To Boost Immunity | 5 Natural Supplements To Treat And Prevent Colds
We have all experienced the dreaded feeling when we have an important meeting or event looming but only to find we can’t get out of bed that morning. We’re shivering with a fever and have no appetite. We’re not even sure how we will get the kids to school that morning.
What do we do? What can we take to get ourselves up and running again and how can we prevent ourselves from getting this sick again?
Well, I have the answer! In this article, I discuss five natural remedies and supplements to take when we need something a little more than just rest and healthy eating to strengthen our immune system. And the wonderful thing about these supplements is that they also work as preventative medicine, saving us from having to deal with nasty colds and bugs in the future.
All the products mentioned are part of my immune support protocol available on my online dispensary FullScript by clicking here.
To purchase physician-grade supplements and receive 10% off your first order, click here to create an account or login to access my online supplements shop and purchase them directly or you can go straight to my immune support protocol by clicking here.
First of all, let’s discuss what makes a healthy immune system and what you should be doing to keep your immune system strong.
How to boost your immune system naturally?
Healthy Eating - Getting enough nutrients and vitamins in our diet is always key in keeping our immune system healthy and is something I frequently discuss. If you are more interested in this, I have a video on this which you can watch here as well as a Goji Berry and Shitake Immune Boosting Soup recipe which you may want to try.
Sleep and rest - Have you ever noticed that most of the time when you get sick, it’s often after you have been really busy? Well, it may seem obvious, but getting sufficient rest and sleep is crucial to helping our system fight off bugs and flu. Again, I have another video on this which you can watch here.
Taking supportive supplements - Supplements are a great way of supporting our immune system when we need to go a little further than just sleep and rest. I have also found that it is really beneficial to take supplements when we first start to notice those little aches, nose tickles or coughs which indicate we may be coming down with something. A higher dose of a supplement is usually recommended when we first start to see signs of illness.
So let’s learn more about those immune-boosting supplements…
Immuvir By Wise Woman Herbals
Immuvir is one of my favorite supplements to both take myself and prescribe to my patients! Not only because Wise Woman Herbals use organic herbs in their production process, but because much of their herb produce is wild harvest. Herb quality is crucial in choosing a supplement brand and fortunately, Wise Woman Herbals is one of my most trusted supplement brands when it comes to quality.
Immunvir comes in a tincture form which has an alcohol base and some of its benefits include supporting a healthy immune response, lymphatic function and cellular structure and function. (There is also a non-alcoholic tincture Immune Glycerite. See below.)
I recommend taking two dropper fulls 3-4 times a day when you notice the first signs of illness.
Immune Glycerite By Wise Woman Herbals
Immune Glycerite is the other immune boosting tincture that Wise Woman Herbals produce but unlike, Immuvir, this supplement does not contain alcohol. For this reason, it is perfect for children and for adults who can’t consume alcohol.
Similar to Immuvir, its benefits boast supporting a healthy immune system and response as well as a healthy respiratory tract. Yet, although this supplement is a powerful one, I think that Immuvir packs more of a punch in terms of immune-boosting qualities compared to Immune Glycerite. However, both are still great products!
Again, I recommend taking two dropper fulls of Immune Glycerite 3-4 times a day.
MyCommunity by Host Defense (Medicinal Mushroom Complex)
Another one of my favorite supplements is a medicinal mushroom complex known as MyCommunity produced by Host Defense. It contains a mix of 17 different medicinal mushrooms including Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga and Lion’s Mane. In my opinion, Host Defense is the number one brand when it comes to medicinal mushrooms as their quality is excellent.
Something else to mention is that medicinal mushrooms work really well as a preventative measure as well as when you are actually sick.
As such I recommend taking 2 capsules a day during the cold and flu season as a preventative measure. If you are unwell, I suggest upping this dose to 3 capsules a day.
Super Bio-Vegetarian By Priority One
Similar to some of the other supplements we have listed, Super Bio-Vegetarian contains immune-boosting herbs such as Echinacea and Barberry however, unlike the other supplements, this supplement also contains vitamins. This is what makes Super Bio-Vegetarian such a powerful immune booster. The combination of herbs and nutrients such as vitamin A, C and zinc makes this supplement a powerhouse of healthy goodness!
Again, I recommend taking Super Bio-Vegetarian both as a preventative measure and as a remedy for when you are unwell. Three tablets a day is the normal recommended dose and three tablets 3-4 times a day for when you are unwell. Super Bio-Vegetarian tablets are best when taken with food as they can be a little tough to digest on their own.
PureResponse Multivitamin By Pure Encapsulations
Now, the only thing that is missing from this list is a good multivitamin, which of course is essential to ensure we are getting full nutritional coverage and that our immune system functions properly. And my recommendation (which I recommend 100% by the way) is PureResponse Multivitamin by Pure Encapsulations.
This is a great immune-boosting multi-vitamin to take during the winter season to prevent any nasty colds or flu episodes. This multi-vitamin supports key pivot points in immune response and contains medicinal mushrooms, selenium (important in immune function) and high levels of vitamin D, which of course, we often lack during the winter season.
It also, importantly, contains high levels of vitamin A and C as well which are crucial in aiding a healthy immune response. Take a look at my article where I explain the benefits of high levels of vitamin A in the immune system and why you may also want to consider supplementing with Cod Liver Oil for this reason: Making Peace With Cod Liver Oil.
What I love about Pure Encapsulations is that they don’t add any additives to their supplements so again this is a brand you can rely on. But what I love about this particular multivitamin is that it also includes Siberian Ginseng which is not only great for immune function but also for adrenal support. So important for a healthy immune system!
I recommend taking 2 capsules a day throughout the winter season.
Conclusion
So there you have my top five supplements for boosting your immune system naturally. All these products I take myself and prescribe to my patients so you can be sure of their quality and efficacy! Click here to access my complete immune support protocol and save 10% on all these products through my Fullscript online dispensary.
To purchase physician-grade supplements, click here to create an account or login to access my online supplements shop and purchase them directly.
FAQs
What boosts the body’s immune system?
There are three main things you can do to boost your body’s immune system. Firstly, eating a healthy and balanced diet should be your first line of defense. Secondly, you should be making sure you get enough rest and sleep to help prevent adrenal fatigue which can negatively impact your immune system. Thirdly, taking supplements and vitamins can really help your body to produce a healthy immune response and offer extra nutrients that you might not be getting in your diet. Vitamins A, C and D are the most important vitamins for immune function as well as nutrients such as zinc.
How can I boost my immune system in 2 days?
Building a healthy immune system can take a bit of time but there are some things you can do to give yourself a quick boost if you feel like you are getting sick. Taking a higher dose than usual of Vitamin C can really help knock a virus on the head but also taking a higher dose of any of the supplements in this article can also help to stop a virus in its tracks. And of course, getting a few hours of extra sleep when you are feeling unwell can make all the difference.
How can I boost my immune system against viruses?
All of the supplements and methods of boosting the immune system that I have mentioned in this article are beneficial for treating and preventing both viruses and bacterial infections.
What foods boost the immune system?
There are many foods that you can incorporate into your diet that are good for your immune system. Some of these include fermented foods, kombucha tea, turmeric, ginger and garlic as well as zinc-rich foods such as oysters and pumpkin seeds
What are the signs of a weak immune system?
There are many signs that you may have a weak immune system. Some signs may include getting frequent colds and becoming sick more often than usual. Infections, fatigue, digestive problems as well as organ disorders can also indicate that your immune system isn’t functioning properly.
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