All the craziness in the world right now has us especially concerned with staying healthy. Wearing properly fitted masks and social distancing as well as washing hands or using hand sanitizer frequently are the most important, though there are quite a few well researched natural supplements that can aid our immune system in fighting off viruses of all kinds.
At this point, until vaccines are more readily available, a properly functioning immune system that is able to quickly and effectively mount a fight against invading viruses is our only real way to stay healthy, whether it’s a cold, flu, or even COVID. That isn’t to say the supplements I’ll mention below are a cure for any of those viruses, but rather they are supplements that have been clinically shown to aid in enhancing our immune system functioning-something that’s always important, but even more so this year.
Elderberry
The first we’d recommend against all respiratory viruses is elderberry. Elderberry is also sometimes known by its scientific name, Sambucus, and is a wonderful supplement for the immune system due to its potent antiviral properties. It’s been studied extensively in regards to the flu, but newer research has found it to be effective not only against the flu virus, but on viruses in general. It has been found in studies to “substantially reduce upper respiratory symptoms” from viruses of all kinds and has also been shown to reduce the duration and severity of viral illnesses. It can be used preventatively, or else in higher amounts if you do feel like you’re coming down with something and is safe for both children and adults.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a supplement beneficial for both bone health and the immune system. New research has expanded on Vitamin D’s possible benefit for dealing with coronavirus, where researchers have linked lower vitamin D levels to an increased mortality risk from Covid-19. One researcher on the novel coronavirus and Vitamin D is quoted as saying, "Our analysis shows that it might be as high as cutting the mortality rate in half," in regards to vitamin D supplementation.
It’s also been reported that countries with higher death rates from Covid-19 had larger numbers of people with lower vitamin D levels, and also that the sickest patients often had low vitamin D levels.
In general, our vitamin D levels are often lower in the colder months since vitamin D is made in our skin when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is a small, inexpensive pill, so it would probably be a good idea for all of us to add it to our regimen.
AHCC
AHCC is a well known immune supplement in Japan that works in a different way from elderberry. It’s a patented extract derived from mushrooms that has impressive benefits for immune health. Unlike elderberry, which works specifically on the viruses causing an illness, AHCC works by affecting the immune system directly.
There are a variety of white blood cells in our bodies that are involved in immune response by recognizing and fighting the foreign invaders that cause illness. Studies have found that AHCC can boost the effectiveness of our own immune system in a variety of ways, including increasing the activity of our body’s NK, or “natural killer” cells, that identify and destroy viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells in the body.
Research has also found that AHCC is able to affect other types of immune cells in the body known as dendritic cells which are found throughout the respiratory tract. These dendritic cells work to fend off bacteria and viruses as they enter the body through the respiratory tract and try to infiltrate the body.
AHCC is widely used as an immune therapy in Japan, and I’m glad that it’s becoming better known in the United States since I do believe that it’s a unique and powerful supplement to aid our immune system functioning.
Monolaurin
Another lesser known supplement that may be helpful against viruses is a supplement derived from coconut oil known as monolaurin. ABC News recently recommended monolaurin in an article titled, Coronavirus: Experts say these supplements, foods may help keep immune system humming.
An article was published by two physician researchers earlier this year recommending monolaurin as a possible antiviral treatment against the novel coronavirus (you can read the abstract here). The doctors wrote about the potent antiviral properties of monolaurin, as well as its mechanism that appeared to help to break down a virus’s outside “envelope” which then prevented the virus from being able to replicate. Another study the article cited mentioned research on a virus similar in structure to the novel coronavirus, and how monolaurin was able to inhibit that virus’s maturation and replication.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is needed for so many processes in the body, including proper immune functioning. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, which means that it doesn’t stay in the body long, which is why we need to consume vitamin C containing foods or supplements on a daily basis.
One specific, special form of vitamin C known as Ester-C has also been shown in research to significantly boost immune cell function. Additionally, that specialized form has been shown in studies to stay in the body longer than other forms of vitamin C.
In a placebo controlled crossover study, 1000mg of Ester-C increased vitamin C levels for a full 25 hours in white blood cells known as leukocytes, which protect the body against infectious diseases and foreign invaders. Vitamin C, particularly the Ester-C form, helps the manufacture more of these immune boosting white blood cells, which work tirelessly to keep you healthy.
If you regularly use vitamin C supplements, it might be worth it to switch to the Ester-C form this fall and winter.
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that is wonderful for the immune system, and the World Health Organization estimates that a third of the world’s population is deficient in zinc. Zinc deficiency impairs proper immune functioning and contributes to an increase in respiratory infections. Additionally, a new study has come out by researchers in Moscow that found that zinc supplementation may have protective effects against COVID-19 by supporting anti-viral immunity and reducing inflammation. Interestingly, while zinc can enhance immune functioning, it also has a regulating effect on the immune system, which can further help with how the human body responds to coronavirus infection, since it’s been found that the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines early in the infection is responsible for some of the worst symptoms of COVID-19.
I apologize for the length of this article, but I wanted to try to list some of the most important supplements for immune health that we’d recommend in one place. Please stop by the store so we can go into more detail with you about specific supplements and to help to find the supplement that’s right for you. All of our staff are kind and extremely knowledgeable, and can give specific recommendations and explain the differences between the various supplements that are available for the immune system. This is a crazy time, but we will get through it.
Additionally, many of the supplements mentioned above are on sale this month so it makes it easier for people to stock up.