Have you ever wondered if there's anything you can actually do to give your immune system some support during the winter?
According to registered dietitian nutritionist Lauren Manaker, you can, and she has a few immune-support tips for how to do it: thoroughly and frequently washing your hands, prioritizing an adequate amount of sleep, participating in some sort of physical activity and getting plenty of immune system-supporting nutrients from food and/or supplements.
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Manaker's go-to vitamins and minerals for immune support are vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. You can find them in foods such as nuts and seeds, citrus fruits and egg yolks, as well as in Nature's Way® Immune Power Gummies, which provide over 100 percent of the recommended daily values of vitamins C and D‡ and an excellent source of zinc.*
Keep reading for more details from Manaker on why those three ingredients are consistently her go-to recommendations for immune support.
Vitamin C
"Vitamin C is the quintessential immune-supporting nutrient, and rightfully so," Manaker says. The vitamin is an antioxidant, which means it helps the body combat oxidative stress and it supports various cellular functions of the immune system, Manaker says.
According to a November 2017 Nutrients review, vitamin C can help protect the body from free radicals and promote the production and function of immune cells. The review also notes that the essential nutrient cannot be made by the human body, so you need to get it from your diet — which is where a supplement like Immune Power Gummies can come in handy.
Vitamin D
The body makes vitamin D with help from the sun, but during the fall and winter when the days are shorter and people are spending more time inside, vitamin D levels can dip. "I like to focus on vitamin D even more during the colder months when we aren't as exposed to sunshine, and therefore our bodies aren't converting this nutrient from those rays," Manaker says.
According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D can help the immune system, which is what makes it Manaker's second recommendation for bolstering immune support. (FYI: Immune Power Gummies provide 30 micrograms of vitamin D, which is 150 percent of the recommended daily value.)
Zinc
Zinc — Manaker's third recommendation — plays a central role in the immune system, according to the NIH. A December 2017 Nutrients article argued zinc could be considered a "gatekeeper" of the immune system because the function of nearly all immune cells is dependent on the nutrient.
A 2021 United States Department of Agriculture survey shows that 17% of Americans do not meet daily intake recommendations for zinc from the foods they eat. Supplementing with zinc can help you meet that daily intake, as can eating more zinc-rich foods such as red meat, shellfish, legumes and whole grains, according to a June 2017 Nutrients.
Immune Power Gummies have 50 percent of the recommended daily value of zinc‡, which make them a great complement to a typical diet. Plus, the gummies contain all three of Manaker's top nutrients for immune support, so you'll be hitting the trifecta every time you take them.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
‡ In each two-gummy adult serving.