Reliable information to help you support your immune system
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, collective awareness of our immune system has increased. Once an invisible ally, our immunity is now the topic of TikTok videos, news articles, and endless product recommendations. Sifting through the hype represents a monumental task, especially if you’re already sniffling under your duvet.
To boost or not to boost?
Pandemic-driven Google searches focused on strengthening the immune response, but that may not be the best course for everyone. Indiscriminate immune boosting could be damaging for people with autoimmune disease. Immune system regulation may be a more appropriate goal and may warrant a medical consultation rather than a Google search.
Research literacy 101
If you’re going to use online resources, avoiding the pitfalls of misinformation can be overwhelming. “Be wary of statements that sound too good to be true,” Dr. Ellen Conte, ND, cautions. She guides people toward evidence-based resources like PubMed.gov as well as university and hospital websites.
Websites reporting only positive results should be viewed skeptically. Even the most effective treatments won’t work in all people. Look for balanced reports to guide your information searches.
Understanding the specific immune influences of individual supplements can help you put reliable research into action.
Probiotics
Probiotic bacteria, both supplemental and naturally occurring, interact directly with our immune system, positively influencing its function by creating a living shield to protect us from infection.
Elderberry
Elderberry is an important Indigenous medicine that has action against tonsilitis and can reduce fever. It may boost the immune response by interacting with our dendritic cells (helper cells that spur other cells into action against invaders).
Garlic
In addition to banishing certain pointy-toothed figures of folklore, garlic is equally offensive to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Taking aged garlic extract may reduce the intensity and duration of colds while gently enhancing immune function.
Curcumin
Similar to probiotics, curcumin can dampen the inflammation that accompanies an immune response.
If you are immune suppressed, talk to your health care provider to find out which supplements are safe for you.
Blending an understanding of immune support mechanisms with a research-informed perspective can help you to get the most out of online resources.
Your internet toolkit
Ask the following questions to guide your online readings.
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Is the claim based upon personal experience? |
Blog posts, Facebook feeds, personal stories, and testimonials are interesting but subject to bias |
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Are there studies that back this up? |
Prefer information quoting studies in people over animals or cells |
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Is someone making money here? |
Steer clear of health claims linked to product sales |
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Is it too good to be true? |
A sensationalist claim of a “cure” for just about anything is a big red flag |
Eating for immunity
Include the following nutrients in your diet for ongoing immune benefits:
- fats and omega-3 fatty acids
- mushrooms and seaweed
- protein
- vitamin C
- zinc
- selenium
- B vitamins