Support Your Immune System: Habits, Foods & Supplements

How to Support Your Immune System Year-Round: Habits, Foods and Supplements

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No single food, habit or supplement switches the immune system on. What you can control is the everyday groundwork: sleep, meals, movement and stress. This guide covers that groundwork, the foods most worth building meals around, and a plain comparison of the immune-related supplements Forever sells, using only what Forever states on its US product pages.

The groundwork

  • Sleep — keep a consistent sleep routine and aim for enough sleep.
  • Regular meals — regular, healthy meals rather than skipped ones.
  • Movement — regular exercise, at a level that suits you.
  • Stress — relaxation practices and time with people who help you cope; see stress and everyday coping.
  • Hand washing — still the simplest daily habit.

The sleep, meal, exercise and stress points follow the coping advice from the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Foods to build meals around

A varied diet does more than any single “immune food”. These groups are worth including:

  • Fruits and vegetables — vary the colors; citrus, peppers, berries and leafy greens are common vitamin C sources.
  • Protein foods — fish, eggs, poultry, beans, nuts and seeds.
  • Whole grains — oats, brown rice and whole wheat.
  • Healthy fats — olive oil, nuts and fatty fish.

Pairing meals with enough water matters too. Forever Aloe Vera Gel and Aloe Berry Nectar are drinks, not meal replacements; see the Aloe Vera Gel guide.

Three nutrients people ask about

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) publishes fact sheets on each. These are the basics from them, not claims about any product.

Nutrient What ODS says it does Food sources Adult daily amount (recommended / upper limit)
Vitamin C An antioxidant; helps the immune system work properly Citrus fruits, red and green pepper, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes 90 mg men, 75 mg women / 2,000 mg
Vitamin D Helps the body absorb calcium; the immune system needs it Few foods naturally; fortified milk, fatty fish; sunlight on bare skin 15 mcg (600 IU) ages 19 to 70, 20 mcg (800 IU) from 71 / 100 mcg (4,000 IU)
Zinc Helps the immune system; needed to make DNA and proteins Oysters, meat, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, dairy 11 mg men, 8 mg women / 40 mg

ODS adds that most people in the United States get enough vitamin C and zinc from food, and that the upper limits count food, drinks and supplements together. Taking too much of any of the three can be harmful: too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps, too much zinc can cause nausea, dizziness and headaches, and very high vitamin D levels, almost always from supplements, can cause nausea, vomiting and kidney problems. If you take several products that contain these nutrients, add the amounts up. Several of the products below contain one or more of them.

Forever’s immune-related products, side by side

Forever describes each of these as supporting the immune system or immune function. The table lists what the US catalog says about form, directions and allergens.

Product Form Directions Allergens and notes
ImmuBlend 60 tablets, vegetarian 2 tablets daily Contains soy; consult a doctor if pregnant, trying to conceive or nursing
Absorbent-C 100 tablets, orange and honey flavor, vegetarian 1 tablet three times daily Contains honey and oat bran
Immune Gummy 60 gummies, gelatin-free, vegan-friendly Chew 2 gummies daily Contains tree nuts (coconut); keep out of reach of children
Garlic-Thyme 100 odorless softgels 1 softgel with each meal Contains soy; gelatin softgel
Bee Propolis 60 chewable tablets Chew 1 tablet twice a day Contains soy and tree nuts (almond)

Use the table to compare form, count and allergens; it does not rank the products. Check the full Supplement Facts on each product page, and talk to a doctor before combining several. The Forever Living supplements guide lists the rest of the range.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can supplements replace a balanced diet?

No. Supplements add to a diet, they do not replace one.

Which Forever product is for the immune system?

Forever positions ImmuBlend, Absorbent-C, Immune Gummy, Garlic-Thyme and Bee Propolis as immune-supporting. The table above shows how they differ in form and allergens.

Should I see a doctor before taking them?

Yes, if you are pregnant or nursing, take medication, or have a medical condition. A supplement is not a substitute for medical care.

Sources: NIMH, I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet; NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheets for consumers on vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc; Forever Living US product pages.

* 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.

Browse the range: Forever Living immune health products

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