In addition to our lifestyle tips for staying healthy naturally as the cold weather approaches, we wanted to tell you about our top five supplements for boosting immunity and preventing, or limiting, the severity of a cold.

Prior to starting any supplements be sure to speak to a healthcare provider.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often known as the “sunshine vitamin” and unfortunately, due to the lack of sun during the winter months, people can often become deficient. A lack of Vitamin D can lead to a weakened immune system, so in order to help avoid catching a cold or flu it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough throughout the fall and winter months, and taking a supplement is often a good idea. Be sure to choose a supplement with D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the natural form of Vitamin D that your body makes from sunlight and is better absorbed into the bloodstream.

 Vitamin C

Vitamin C doesn’t necessarily reduce your risk of catching a cold, but it has been shown to be effective at reducing the severity and length of a cold. This is because Vitamin C is highly concentrated in immune cells and gets quickly depleted during an infection, which then further weakens the immune system. Good sources of dietary Vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, sweet peppers, kale, and spinach.

Probiotics

Probiotics provide good bacteria to your gut that helps with proper digestion and supports your immune system. Leaky gut is a major cause of immune imbalance and a weakened immune system, so it’s important to consume probiotics to keep the immune system in good shape and the lining healthy. It’s most beneficial to choose a probiotic with several strains of good bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, because the more diverse your gut microbiome is the more beneficial for maintaining health.

Zinc

Zinc is a popular natural remedy for fighting colds. Taking zinc regularly can reduce your risk of developing a cold, but can also speed up healing if taken shortly after you feel a cold coming on. The research found that when zinc was given within 24 hours of cold symptoms appearing the duration of symptoms was greatly reduced compared to the control group. Zinc also interferes with the processes that cause mucus and bacteria to build up in the nasal passage.

Echinacea

Echinacea is an immune system stimulant and has powerful cold prevention and cold treatment benefits. Studies have shown that Echinacea reduces the chances of catching a cold by 58% and reduces the duration of a cold by 1.5 days. Echinacea is also effective when used for recurring infections.

Feeling under the weather already? Try this turmeric ginger remedy!

Ingredients: (serving size: 4 shots)

8 ounces hot water
Juice of ½ lemon
1 teaspoon of raw Manuka honey
1 to 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine turmeric, ginger and water and bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Then add lemon, honey, and cinnamon. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!