10 Ways to Support Your Immune System

When you consistently sleep seven to eight hours a night, your body has a chance to repair cells and maintain your immune system. Now, with the help of the scientists from Vicks, you can make your sleep work even harder for you. Vicks Immunity Zzzs Gummies, with zinc and elderberry, help to sustain a healthy immune system, plus melatonin to promote a healthy sleep cycle.^*

Research shows that stress decreases your ability to stay healthy, especially during cold and flu season.² For instance, worrying has been shown to reduce normal, healthy activities of the immune system.³ When flu season hits, try taking a mini meditation break during the day—just close your eyes and focus on breathing in and out for a few minutes (and if you have even more time, go for it!).

Vaccines are well-recognized within the medical community as the most effective measure for preventing infections.¹ Getting a flu shot each year can prepare your immune system for exposure to the flu virus and reduce the chances that you become sick if you encounter it.

Most people know that a nutritious and well-balanced diet gives your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. What we consume has indeed been implicated in our immune response to infection.⁵ The best diet-related thing you can do to support your immunity is to ensure that you do not have any nutritional deficiencies.⁴ Get the essential nutrients you need by incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Good fats are often found in fish, olive oil, and avocado.⁶ Researchers suggest that low-fat diets may help to maintain immune responses and thereby prevent disease.⁷ While healthy fats are important for nutrition, unhealthy fats are harmful, short term and longterm.⁷

The amount of sugar in your blood has been shown to affect immune responses.⁸ As with dietary fat, sugar intake should be approached with moderation and with an eye to supporting overall health.

There has been a lot of research on the effects of vitamins on different aspects of our health. Based on the known benefits of several vitamins, dietary recommendations include daily intake of fruits and vegetables. However, for people who are deficient in certain vitamins because they do not get enough through their diets, vitamin supplements may help to support immune responses by improving the functioning of specific cells of the immune system.⁹

Regularly engaging in moderate activity has been shown to support the immune system.¹³ An active lifestyle in adults aged 18 to 85 has been shown to be associated with fewer upper respiratory tract infections.^10,11

Cigarette smoke is associated with a compromised immune system.¹³ Given that it is also well-established that smoking cigarettes is deleterious to your health in a number of ways, quitting smoking or refraining from smoking in the first place is a straightforward way to prevent health problems.

Like cigarette smoke, alcohol is known to be bad for our health. The immune system is no exception. Alcohol has indeed been shown to affect the activity of several different cell types that are critical to the proper functioning of the immune system.^14,15 Limiting alcohol consumption can therefore improve your chances of keeping your immune system healthy.