Getting the flu or flu-like symptoms is not nice as you feel awful.
Having a sore throat, congested nose or a relentless cough is not only unpleasant, it can also drain your energy.
You may consider taking the following supplements to protect yourself from viral infections.
Vitamin C is an important vitamin for the immune system as it helps us make antibodies and immune cells to protect us against viruses and bacteria.
Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in helping our bodies to ward off infection. It helps our T cells (the “soldier” immune cells) to seek out foreign invaders and destroy them.
Low vitamin D can make you prone to infection.
Probiotics help to restore gut microflora, especially when there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria which may be contributing to lowered immune function.
Echinacea has Immune enhancing and lymphatic properties making it an excellent herb for viral infections. It helps to increase your white blood cell count so your body can fight off infections efficiently.
References:
Bae, M., & Kim, H. (2020). The role of vitamin C, vitamin D, and selenium in immune system against COVID-19. Molecules, 25(22), 5346.
Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211.
Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Chang, C., Slama, J. V., Barton, R., Gahler, R., ... & Basu, T. K. (2005). A proprietary extract from the Echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 19(8), 689-694.
Klaenhammer, T. R., Kleerebezem, M., Kopp, M. V., & Rescigno, M. (2012). The impact of probiotics and prebiotics on the immune system. Nature Reviews Immunology, 12(10), 728-734.