Immune-Boosting Vitamins and Minerals Article

Optimal nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy immune system and a strong immune response to foreign invaders like the viruses that circulate during winter.

However, our modern diets, which contain numerous processed foods, and cooking on high heat can reduce the nutrient content of the natural food we eat. Intense and high-volume training also depletes key nutrients and, as such, increases our nutritional demands. If we don’t plug these potential nutritional gaps, particularly during winter, we can become more susceptible to illness and infection.

An intelligent approach to optimal nutrition involves supplementing your healthful diet with suitable high-potency vitamin and mineral products. This approach can help to boost immunity during winter or when stress from training or everyday life imposes higher demands on our bodies.

Look to incorporate these 7 nutrients into your daily plan for an added boost to your immune system:

1. Vitamin C

While working to fight an infection, immune cells (white blood cells like macrophages and neutrophils) burn through large quantities of vitamin C.

Without adequate vitamin C from our diets, our immune cells can not function optimally, which is why supplementing with extra vitamin C when you are sick can boost your immune response. Various studies confirm that high-dose vitamin C supplementation – up to 1-2 grams a day – can significantly enhance your immunity.

Biogen Products that contain Vitamin C:

  1. Biogen Vitamin C 1000mg capsules
  2. Biogen Vitamin C Ester Plus
  3. Biogen Vitamin C liquid shot
  4. Biogen Vitamin C fizzy
  5. Non Acidic Vitamin C Fizzy

The ‘sunshine’ vitamin plays roles in various bodily systems, including both the innate and adaptive immune responses.

Vitamin D stimulates immune cell expression and helps to maintain cell integrity. Supplements that boost vitamin D levels and address any deficiency can help to reduce the incidence and severity of viral infections and URTIs.

Biogen Products that contain Vitamin D:

  1. Biogen Vitamin D3 Oral Spray
  2. Biogen Vitamin D3 Powder
  3. Biogen Vitamin D3 capsules

Vitamin E is an important component of cell membranes, including immune cells, and also has antioxidant properties, which helps to prevent oxidation and manage free radical levels.

A lack of sufficient vitamin E can result in damage to important white blood cells like lymphocytes, which can compromise your immune system. Studies also show that supplementing with vitamin E and selenium can increase resistance to respiratory infections.

Biogen Products that contain Vitamin E:

  1. Biogen Vitamin E capsules

Selenium functions in synergy with vitamin E as an antioxidant. Due to its synergistic role with vitamin E, getting sufficient selenium from your diet and supplements is vital for a strong immune system. A selenium deficiency can also compromise vitamin E’s impact on immunity.

Zinc functions as a co-factor to other antioxidants, so it is not surprising then that studies link zinc deficiency with a rapid decline in lymphocyte function. Zinc picolinate and zinc monomethionine aspartate (ZMA) are two highly bioavailable forms of zinc supplements, which makes them ideal for immune support during winter.

Biogen Products that contain Zinc:

  1. Biogen Beta-ZMA

A large body of research shows that Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) enhances white blood cell activity and antibody-mediated immunity by boosting antibody production, which can improve our resistance to viruses. CoQ10 is also a potent antioxidant which helps to protect immune cells.

Biogen products that contain Co-enzyme Q10:

  1. Biogen Co-enzyme Q10

Beta-carotene boosts immunity by supporting immune cell (lymphocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells) activity in the body. The body converts beta-carotene in vitamin A once ingested, which protects epithelium and mucus integrity in the body, which are the primary physical barriers that protect against possible infection. Vitamin A also works synergistically with vitamin D across specific functions to boost immunity.

Biogen products that contain Co-enzyme Q10:

  1. Biogen Vitamin A with Beta-Carotene