Fall Ingredients for Healthy Immunity

Whether preventing a viral infection, or promoting a speedy recovery, a strong, well-balanced immune system is key for your health this fall. Immune activity is constantly changing in response to our environment, from our habits and the foods we eat, to even our thought patterns. That means we can influence and improve our immune function.

By choosing natural ingredients that support healthy immune responses and boost and create natural energy, we can support our immunity no matter the season. Here are natural ingredients and suggested immune support supplements to promote your immunity this autumn.  

Vitamin C: One of the most common vitamins used to support immunity is vitamin C. Vitamin C improves NK cell function and helps fight harmful invaders, offers powerful antioxidant support and reduces inflammation. Research shows that vitamin C can reduce the severity of illnesses and help protect against infections, and that foods high in vitamin C can improve immunity.¹

Vitamin A: A critical nutrient for the immune system, vitamin A supports many functions of immunity, especially fighting against infections. Vitamin A helps activate specific genes related to immunity, offers powerful antioxidant support, helps heal inflamed mucus membranes and supports optimal tissue repair.²  

Vitamin D3: Vitamin D3 is an important vitamin for balancing and optimizing immunity against colds, flus and chronic conditions including cancer. Vitamin D3 is critical for activating killer T cells and other immune cells, and has been shown to limit upper respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D3 helps regulate immunity and inflammation, so it’s helpful for people with autoimmune diseases as well. Vitamin D3 also supports immunity at the genetic level.²  

Vitamin B Complex: B vitamins support many areas of health including immunity. Specifically, vitamins B6 and B12 help support the actions of white blood cells. B vitamins provide essential co-factors for hundreds of cellular reactions and improve immune function overall.³  

Selenium: Selenium is a mineral that offers antioxidant support and helps protect against infections.⁴     

Zinc: Zinc is one of the most important minerals for improving immunity against colds and flu.  Zinc supports many types of immune cells: T-cells, B-cells, macrophages and more. Zinc deficiency can damage important immune cells, particularly T and Natural Killer cells. At 15-30 mg per day, zinc helps protect against viruses and bacteria, and supports tissue repair.⁵   

When choosing vitamins, make sure they are made from natural food sources and not synthetic chemicals. By combining food-based supplements with superfood fruits and vegetables in your diet, you can cover your nutritional bases with optimized sources of critical immune-supporting vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants that are available in nutrient-dense natural foods.      

Astragalus root: The root of the Astragalus herb has been used in Traditional Asian medicine for its adaptogenic stress-balancing benefits. Astragulus root helps to protect the body against physical and mental stress and other external threats, while supporting long-term immunity against colds, flus and even cancer. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits, among many others. Research suggests that astragalus contains compounds that influence our DNA for the better, to enhance vitality and longevity over time^.6     

Probiotics: Probiotics support your immunity and act as a counterbalancing force against infections. These healthy bacteria promote healthy immune function in the digestive tract, in part by increasing immunoglobin-A, an important component of immunity. They also help reduce inflammation and improve digestive function. Since a large percentage of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, making sure you have a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria is important.⁷ 

Functional Mushrooms: Certain functional mushrooms such as Reishi, Cordyceps, and more have a highly beneficial relationship with the immune system. Medicinal mushrooms are incredibly rich sources of therapeutic immunity compounds, including beta-glucans, which energize immune cells when they are underactive, and control them when they become overactive. Essentially, medicinal mushrooms help train the immune system to better respond to threats. They also support vital energy, reduce inflammation, support digestion and circulation, detoxify the body and promote optimal healing.

The easiest and best way to support your immunity is to take daily steps in your wellness routine. With immune support supplements made from functional mushrooms, you get researched and natural support you can trust.  

Physician-formulated MycoPhyto is a botanically-enhanced mushroom immune support supplement with six powerful functional mushrooms including Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, and Maitake, that are grown on a blend of immune-supporting herbs. This revolutionary cultivation practice uses herbs such as Astragalus root to fortify the mushroom varietes with powerful immune-supporting compounds during their growth cycles. MycoPhyto is a comprehensive, researched functional mushroom formula that delivers the highest level of immune support against occasional colds and flus, and provides powerful, year-round defense.* 

There are many things we can do to benefit the immune system. Adding in natural ingredient-based vitamins and targeted nutritional supplements is a powerful combination to help keep us healthy and our immune system strong throughout the year.   

Sources:

1. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211.
2. Mora JR, Iwata M, von Andrian UH. Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008 Sep;8(9):685-98. 
3. Peterson CT, Rodionov DA, Osterman AL, Peterson SN. B Vitamins and Their Role in Immune Regulation and Cancer. Nutrients. 2020 Nov 4;12(11):3380.
4. Avery JC, Hoffmann PR. Selenium, Selenoproteins, and Immunity. Nutrients. 2018 Sep 1;10(9):1203.  
5. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 25;9(12):1286.
6. Zheng Y, Ren W, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Liu D, Liu Y. A Review of the Pharmacological Action of Astragalus Polysaccharide. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Mar 24;11:349. 
7. Frei R, Akdis M, O'Mahony L. Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and the immune system: experimental data and clinical evidence. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015 Mar;31(2):153-8.
8. Wasser SP. Medicinal Mushrooms in Human Clinical Studies. Part I. Anticancer, Oncoimmunological, and Immunomodulatory Activities: A Review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2017;19(4):279-317.