5 Nutrients To Support Your Immune System
Your immune system needs all the support it can get when fighting off infections.
This article highlights five nutrients that offer great support to your immunity.
But, remember that these nutrients aren’t a quick fix.
There’s no immune system pill you can take to fight off a cold, or a flu, or even covid.
Instead, by maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and restful sleep, you can keep your immune system at its strongest so that it’s ready to fight when pathogens do show up.
To this end, working with an Ottawa naturopathic doctor is a great resource to ensure you’re maintaining a healthy diet.
They can also recommend supplements if you’re missing certain nutrients from your diet.
If you just read that and are now thinking “where can I find an immune system naturopathic doctor near me in Ottawa south?” look no further – I can help.
Now, let’s dive in.
What Is Your Immune System?
Your immune system is the system that protects your body from outside invaders.
These invaders can take on many forms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins.
There is a wide system of different organs, cells, and proteins that work together to form your immune system.
This system can be roughly divided into two main parts:
- Your innate immune system
- Your adaptive immune system
You are born with the first and you develop the second as you come into contact with different bacteria and viruses throughout your life.
Before We Start
Now, before we dive into the five nutrients recommended to support your immune system, it’s worth noting that these nutrients are not a quick fix.
You can’t just pop a vitamin C pill and expect to not get sick if you feel a cold coming on.
You need to support your immune system with a healthy diet full of whole foods like fruits and vegetables over extended periods of time.
Having a balanced and varied diet will provide your body with the wide variety of nutrients it requires to stay healthy.
Think of it like training for a sport or studying for a test.
Your body needs to prepare and be ready to attack any invader.
There is no quick fix here.
Plus, making sure you regularly exercise and consistently sleep well will help your body prepare to the best of its ability.
There’s no substitute for a healthy lifestyle
Nutrients To Support Your Immune System
The majority of these nutrients can be found in food, which is the ideal way to absorb them.
That being said, supplements can be a great resource to top up what you’re missing in your diet.
A naturopathic doctor is a great help here to point you in the right direction in terms of diet and supplements.
They will tailor their approach to your health needs, which is especially important if you’re considering supplements because they can prescribe appropriate amounts to you.
Now, let’s find out more about five great nutrients that support your immune system.
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a vitamin that helps to prevent infections and shortens their stay in your body.
If you’re fighting a cold, taking more vitamin C for the duration of your cold can help you to get over it faster.
Where To Find It
Vitamin C is found in many foods.
Some examples include:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Bell peppers
- Brussels sprouts
- Pumpkins
- Strawberries
- Papaya
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin because we get it when our skin absorbs sunlight.
It’s one of the most important nutrients for supporting the immune system, in addition to supporting your bone and muscle growth.
Related: Naturopathic Solutions For Osteoporosis
Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with depression, and since we get it from the sun we don’t generally get enough of it during the winter.
As a result, vitamin D is also useful as a naturopathic solution for seasonal affective disorder and other mental health struggles.
Where To Find It
In addition to the sun, you can also find vitamin D in food and in supplement form.
If you live in a country that has long winters, you especially might want to consider supplementing so that you get enough vitamin D during the long winter months.
This is because we just need so much of it.
Food sources of vitamin D include:
- Tuna
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Fortified milk, orange juice and cereals
3. Iron
Iron is a nutrient that helps your body to carry oxygen to its cells, which is important for your energy levels.
It also plays an important role in many immune system processes.
Where To Find It
While it comes in a number of different forms, your body can absorb iron best from animal products.
Heme iron, iron from animal sources, is found in:
- Red meat
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Clams
- Mussels
- Tuna
If you’re a vegetarian, you can find iron in:
- Broccoli
- Beans
- Kale
- Fortified cereals
But, you’ll need to eat more because your body has a harder time absorbing iron from vegetable sources.
4. Zinc
Zinc is required for the production of new immune system cells in your body.
Where To Find It
You can find zinc in:
- Baked beans
- Yogurt
- Chickpeas
- Chicken and lean meats
- Crab
- Oyster
5. Selenium
Selenium is incredibly important for your immune system because it helps to prevent infections.
It’s also particularly healthy for your thyroid, as a number of hormonal imbalances are linked with your thyroid.
But, too much selenium can be a problem so it’s important not to overdo it.
Where To Find It
You can find it in:
- Seafood like tuna, halibut, sardines
- Meat and liver
- Poultry
- Cottage cheese
- Brazil nuts
Book An Appointment With Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
So, these are five great nutrients that support your immune system.
It’s a good idea to incorporate them into a healthy, balanced diet in order to maximize your immune function.
To that end, working with a naturopathic doctor is a great way to make sure that you’re getting all of the nutrients your body needs for you to feel good.
That includes keeping your immune system healthy.
Book an appointment today with the Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic to get started.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic
6899 Sunset Blvd,
Greely, ON K4P 1C5
-https://g.page/dawdynaturopathicclinic
Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic offers a variety of naturopathic health solutions for individuals and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area.
