Your immune system holds the key to your healthiest self. Keeping it in top condition is a priority year-round, and it’s especially important to pay attention to immune health during colder months when health concerns tend to be more common.

 

Nutrition, exercise, sleep, weight and lifestyle factors all contribute to the health of your immune system. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is a great start. Getting at least half an hour of exercise most days of the week helps too, along with tried and true tips like washing your hands often, staying up to date on vaccinations, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general.

 

But there’s more you can do to boost your immune health. Clinical research has confirmed that certain nutrients are essential for the functioning of the immune system, and supplementing with these nutrients can help maintain adequate levels for optimal immune health. Also, certain herbs and other supplements support immune health too! Here’s a list of the 21 best immune health supplements to choose from.

 

Supplements for Immune Health

 

#1 Probiotics for Microbial Balance

 

Experts say that as much as 70% of your immune health is in your gut. If the microbiome digestive tract isn’t as healthy and balanced as it could be, your immune system isn’t either. Probiotic supplements help ensure the good bacteria in your gut outnumbers the bad to promote both digestive and immune health. Try it in Swanson’s Immunobiotic Immuno-LP20, a probiotic supplement formulated to promote microbial balance and maintain immune health. 

 

#2 L-Lysine for Immune Support

 

L-lysine is one of the 9 essential amino acids the body can’t make on its own. You need amino acids like L-lysine for healthy muscles and tissues, but L-lysine may also help your body produce immune cells, speed up muscle recovery, and block stress response receptors.7 Since stress weakens the immune system, L-lysine supplements support immune health from more than one angle.

 

#3 Antioxidant Astaxanthin

 

Astaxanthin is one of nature’s most potent carotenoid antioxidants. Antioxidants work to help neutralize free radicals—which can impact the health of cells and cellular signaling systems—to help keep immune cells healthy and responsive. Astaxanthin may also help support healthy retinas and skin. Try Swanson Astaxanthin to boost antioxidant activity and protect against free radicals. Learn more in Astaxanthin Benefits.

 

#4 Colostrum for Immune Health

 

Colostrum supplements derived from cow’s milk,are highly nutritious, featuring immunoglobulin antibodies and lactoferrin that promote health. Bovine colostrum has been used in Ayurveda, an ancient health practice from India that relies heavily on herbs, roots and nature-sourced tonics, for thousands of years. Colostrum supports a healthy gut, promotes muscle health, and may enhance immune health by boosting T-cells and white blood cells. 

 

#5 Essential Fatty Acids

 

Clinical research shows that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may help enhance the function of immune B cells and promote antibody production, thus giving the immune system a helping hand. The long list of benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include heart and brain health too, so definitely put this one on your list of healthy must-haves. 

 

 #6 Beta Glucan for Immune System Function

 

Beta glucan is a type of soluble fiber found in oats, barley, and the cellular walls of fungi and yeasts.Additional studies are underway, but scientific researchers believe beta glucan may stimulate immune system function and support heart health. People who take Swanson Beta Glucan, beta glucan derived from brewer’s yeast, rave about its benefits.

 

#7 EpiCore for High-Metabolite Immunogens

 

The broad-spectrum activity of Swanson EpiCore has made this supplement an immune-supporting favorite. Each capsule delivers high-metabolite immunogens from brewer’s yeast to nourish immune health, combined with a prebiotic to support digestive health. This is a different kind of supplement that defies classification to help strengthen resistance and maintain wellbeing.

 

#8 Immune-Boosting Vitamin C

 

Vitamin C makes every list of top immune-supporting supplements because immune cells need vitamin C to carry out their intended functions. Researchers say a higher supply of vitamin C enhances several immune system parameters, especially if you have low vitamin C intake to begin with. If you don’t meet your daily needs of vitamin C from fruits and veggies, try a Vitamin C Supplement with Rose Hips for added antioxidant support.

 

#9 Zinc for Immune Function

 

Like vitamin C, zinc is essential for immune system function. It pays a roll in cellular signaling pathways and works as an antioxidant, but researchers are certain that isn’t the extent of its immune supporting superpowers. In fact, some have even dubbed it the “Gatekeeper of Immune Function,” and research to determine its exact mechanisms are ongoing. One thing is for sure when it comes to zinc—it’s a smart idea to get your daily fill. Reinforce your body’s defenses with an antioxidant combo in Swanson Premium Zinc & C Lozenges.

 

#10 Vitamin D for Immune & Bone Health

 

Your body uses vitamin D to keep bones strong by enabling calcium absorption, but did you know your immune system needs vitamin D too? It contributes to immune cell modulation and response, and studies show vitamin D supplementation may have beneficial effects on immune function. 

 

#11 Vitamin B-6 for the Immune System

 

You need every B vitamin to support overall wellbeing and energy production, but one of them is particularly beneficial for immune health. Vitamin B-6 supports biochemical reactions in the immune system, making it our top B-vitamin pick for immune health. Vitamin B-6 is also known to help reduce stress and fatigue. Try it in Swanson Premium Vitamin B-6 Pyriodixine, or get full-spectrum support from B vitamins plus vitamin C in our Super Stress B-Complex.

 

#12 Antioxidant Vitamin E

 

Vitamin E was the very first supplement Swanson Health offered in 1969, and its antioxidant prowess and popularity haven’t lost momentum today. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant vitamin with the ability to modulate immune functions.18 Vitamin E supplementation has been shown to have various benefits for the immune system, and researchers say it’s an important nutrient for maintaining immune health.

 

#13 Echinacea for Immune Support

 

Echinacea is an herb that’s native to North America and was used as a health tonic by Native Americans.There are 9 known species of this antioxidant-packed plant. Taking echinacea may reduce your risk of some health concerns, and it may stimulate the immune system.21 More research is needed to determine its mechanism of action, but this herb remains an immune-health staple across the country.

 

#14 Elderberry and Immune Health

 

As one of the most commonly used health tonics in the world, elderberry’s popularity dates as far back as ancient Egypt. Elderberries have been used for many health purposes since then, but in modern times it’s used as a potent immune-supporting tonic. Elderberries are high in vitamin C and a good source of antioxidant flavanols and phenolic acids, among other health-supporting substances. It’s so popular that it often sells out! 

 

#15 Turkey Tail Mushroom

 

This wild-sounding mushroom gets its name because, as you might have guessed, it’s shaped like a turkey tail. Turkey tail mushroom is a common mushroom with uncommon benefits for immune health. Research shows it may boost immune health by modulating cytokine production, a substance made by immune cells that influences the health of other cells. Try it for yourself in Swanson Superior Herbs Turkey Tail Mushroom.

 

#16 Reishi

 

An adaptogenic herb with a long history of combatting stress and promoting wellbeing in many aspects, reishi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, contains several molecules that promote health—triterpenoids, polysaccharides and peptidoglycans. Reishi mushroom has been scientifically proven to boost the immune system and it may positively influence the genes in white blood cells, a critical component of immune health. 

 

#17 Black Cumin Seed

 

Black cumin seeds are the seeds from the plant Nigella sativa. As a supplement, black cumin seed nourishes your body from head to toe. This botanical is most often taken to maintain immune health, support microbial balance and promote respiratory health. Try it in Swanson Premium Full Spectrum Black Cumin Seed.

 

#18 Olive Leaf Extract

 

The same olive plant that gives us healthy Mediterranean staples like olive oil and delicious olives also contains an antioxidant substance known as oleuropein in its leaves. This is no modern secret—olive leaves have been used in Greece, Morocco and Tunisia as a health tonic for centuries, and modern wellness-seekers are catching on to its immune-boosting benefits.

 

#19 Garlic

 

Another feature of the healthful Mediterranean diet is humble garlic. You may have tried it in your favorite pasta dish, but if you’re looking for a health boost, you might want to consider trying it in a concentrated supplement. Garlic supplements are a wellness trend worth trying. It boosts the immune system by producing more natural killer cells in the blood. Try it in Swanson Best Garlic Supplements Odor-Controlled Garlic to get the benefits without the smell of garlic.

 

#20 Essiac® Tea

 

Essiac® tea is an herbal blend traditionally comprised of four ingredients: slippery elm, sheep sorrel, Indian rhubarb root, and burdock root. Essiac® was popularized by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse, in the 1920s, but it originated long before then with Ojibe healers.28 This combination of herbs is often used to support immune health. We’ve taken the traditional Essiac® herbs and combined them with four additional synergistic herbs for wellbeing. 

 

#21 Bonus: Sleep Supplements

 

Nothing wears you down quite like missing out on sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, the effects go much deeper than simply feeling fatigued. Lack of sleep suppresses immune function and has been linked to a long list of health concerns. If you have trouble sleeping, try a sleep-promoting supplement like melatonin or magnesium.