How to build a robust immune system and keep yourself safe from diseases
The year 2020 has almost passed by us and we have been witness to a pandemic that has challenged the human race like never before. COVID-19 put the entire world’s population at risk which has forced us to look at boosting our immunity levels and keeping ourselves safe from this deadly disease. Fortunately, these risks can be reduced to a great extent by enhancing our immunity by increasing our intake of nutritious food. The focus has also been on immune booster supplements which can support our immune system to a great extent and help us stave off the effects of this never-before pandemic.
If you are wondering what these immunity supplements are and how they can help us in keeping this disease and other viruses at bay, then read on to know the facts:
Supplements are any kind of food that supplements or enhances our regular diet so that our body receives the necessary nutrition. These include amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Through this blog we shall discuss the basics of immunity, its importance to keep our body healthy and also understand the importance of immune system booster supplements in doing so.
What is Immunity?
The human body has an inbuilt first-line defense mechanism that keeps us protected from all kinds of external infections, bacteria, viruses or toxins. We can inhale or consume pathogens through the air we breathe or the food we eat, which could make us sick.
While we are young, our bodies are blessed with strong immunity and the need for any immune system booster is less. However, with age, our immunity system becomes less effective against external viruses and bacteria and we could fall sick more often than earlier. As our body ages, it becomes weaker, appetite reduces and this has an impact on our immunity and this is when the need for immune booster supplements becomes necessary.
Which Vitamins can help boost our immune system?
- Omega 3: This is a fatty acid and a versatile nutrient that provides a lot of benefits to our body by protecting it from the effect of viruses and harmful bacteria. There are three types, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which is found in omega plants, while DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are in omega animal foods. While non-vegetarians can source their Omega-3 from meat, vegetarians can begin with supplements that supply them with the required amounts of Omega-3.
- Probiotics: These are bacteria that are good for our health and when there is a reduced supply of these in our body, external supplements can be taken to boost its levels. Experts in this field are of the opinion that probiotics are useful in balancing the good and bad bacteria in our body and help our body to remain healthy and function normally. Especially as we age, probiotics can be good to ensure we lead a disease-free life.
- Vitamin D: This is an important vitamin that our body needs and is essential to keep our bones strong. Growing children and aging elders require a great deal of Vitamin D as it maintains good health of our heart, brain and muscles and is also effective for fighting against various infections. Also known as the sunshine vitamin, it helps in enhancing the absorption of calcium and phosphate in our body.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, Melatonin and zinc are vital for boosting the effectiveness of our immune system, acting as immune system booster and should be included in our daily diet.
Amongst the top Herbal supplements that boost the immune system, Curcumin is a bioactive component that is found in Turmeric roots that is used in many immunity enhancers. It is extremely effective against old age diseases like arthritis, dementia and amnesia. Curcumin has excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which help in fighting free radicals in the body. Hence Curcumin is an important ingredient of immune booster supplements that are available in the market.