Vitamins that Boost the Immune System

Many of us don't realize just how many bacteria we're exposed to on a daily basis. This is one of many reasons we get sick easily if our natural defenses aren't working as hard as they possibly can or should be. Luckily, you will find multiple ways to boost your defense mechanisms, including the oral consumption of vitamins. The Mayo Clinic offers useful vitamins for boosting your defense mechanisms (see Resources).

Vitamin A

Vitamin a is the defensive line of the defense mechanisms. Vitamin A keeps viruses, infections along with other germs from getting into the body. Vitamin A keeps mucous membranes which line the throat, nose, mouth along with other parts of the body, soft and moist. When these membranes are kept soft and moist they're better able to trap germs, stopping their infiltration. Furthermore, vit a helps to boost the immune system by looking into making enzymes that look for and kill germs that get inside the body.

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, unlike vitamin A, is not a area of the defensive line for the defense mechanisms. Rather, vitamin C takes the offensive line against germs. Ascorbic acid boosts the immune system by boosting cells that are responsible for killing germs in your body. Vitamin C makes interferon, a protein that can help destroy viruses in the body. Ascorbic acid also increases the level of glutathione, which reinforces the immune system.

Vitamin E

E vitamin has also been known to boost the defense mechanisms. Vitamin E boosts the immune system by producing interleukin-2, an immune protein that kills bacteria, viruses as well as cancer cells. Interleukin-2 is manufactured in the body when the body suspects it's been invaded by germs also it helps white blood cells multiply and mature to battle off infections and diseases. The FDA has approved using Interleukin-2 in the treatment of some types of cancers.

B-Vitamins

B-vitamins are energy-boosting vitamins which boost the immune system. Vitamins for example folate, B6 and B12 do a lot to bolster and boost the immune system. Vitamin B6 especially, has been confirmed in studies to boost the defense mechanisms by increasing white blood cell count in your body. The Department of Nutrition and Food management at Oregon state University conducted research and found that when women increased their B6 intake from 1.5 milligrams to two.1 milligrams, their white blood cell count increased by 35%.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral to add to your diet when you wish to boost the immune system. Zinc helps you to boost the immune system by assisting to manufacture infection-fighting white bloods cells. Zinc cuts down on the symptoms of colds and flu when given within Twenty four hours of the first signs of these illnesses. Zinc also lowers our likelihood of getting fevers, coughs and lowers the develop of mucus.

Boosting the defense mechanisms is an easy thing to do. All you have to do is consume a wide range of healthy food containing minerals and vitamins known to boost the immune system, while avoiding food that weaken the defense mechanisms. Foods that are high in fat accelerate the aging and weakening from the immune system.