Choosing an immune supplement for adults | How to boost the immune system

The immune system is known for being resilient when we are young, but as we progress into adulthood, the pressures from daily life and other lifestyle factors can impact the immune system. You may have a busy life with potentially limited time to eat a healthy diet; this is where health supplements can be beneficial.

Dietary supplements are not necessary for immune health; however, vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and fats play an important role in the normal functioning of the immune system and relies on a steady supply to be able to fight infection. One way to get the proper vitamin intake daily is through a healthy, balanced diet or a carefully formulated supplement.

This article will cover what could impact the immune system and how you can support it. You will learn about the benefits of an immune supplement and what to look for when choosing an immune supplement for adults.

What can affect the immune system in adults?

Whether you are growing in your career, you have a well-established role, or you are balancing work and family life, certain lifestyle factors can affect your immune function. These are discussed below.

1. Diet

Your diet is probably the number one factor to affect your immune system. You can obtain all the nutrients your immune system needs with a balanced diet. However, adults with busy schedules may not have the time to cook balanced meals daily and miss out on key nutrients such as vitamin C, Zinc, vitamin D or B vitamins. In fact, most adults in the UK overeat on calories, fat and processed foods with lower nutritional value. Also, a vitamin D deficiency is also common in the UK.

2. Sleep

Getting enough sleep each night is essential for a healthy immune system. Adequate sleep has been well-documented to be associated with immune health. In fact, shorter sleep durations have been associated with increased occurrences of the common cold. Some scientists also found that slow-wave (REM) sleep plays an essential role in immune memory, potentially due to higher levels of growth hormone, prolactin and lower cortisol levels.

As a busy adult, you may not get enough sleep; most brits do not sleep for the recommended eight hours per night. Being aware of how inadequate sleep can negatively affect immune function is essential.

3. Stress

People experience stress in their adult lives for many reasons. However, chronic (long-term) stress can have negative health impacts, including increasing your risk of infection. In childhood, the effects of stress can be compensated by a robust immune system; however, as we age, our immune systems become less optimal. Elevated cortisol, the stress hormone, is associated with impaired immune function.

4. Excessive alcohol consumption

Researchers have documented that low to moderate alcohol consumption may provide certain health benefits. However, excessive consumption of alcohol (above 14 units per week) may impair the immune response, particularly the adaptive immune response. 30% of men (15% of women) in the UK consume more than 14 units (7 drinks) per week. Being aware of the possible impacts on the immune system is essential.

How can you support the immune system as an adult?

Since the immune system may be less optimal as an adult than it was as a child, you may find that you need to take additional measures to take care of it. Below are the top 5 immune support habits to adopt as an adult.

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet – include a variety of protein and fat sources, fruits, and vegetables in your diet each day for a healthy immune system. Make sure to pay particular attention to vitamin C, found in citrus fruits and red peppers; Zinc, found in meat, shellfish and legumes and vitamin D, found in fatty fish and free-range eggs.

2. Sleep eight hours every night - adequate sleep each night is associated with a better immune response, and most brits don't get enough sleep. The NHS recommends at least eight hours of quality sleep each night for optimal health. Try and set up a sleep routine which allows you to go to bed/wake up at a similar time each day.

1. Take steps to manage stress – Make an effort to weave stress management tools into your routine. This could be taking breaks from work to go outside or including some moderate exercise in your schedule.

2. Reduce alcohol intake – if you are consuming more than 14 units of alcohol each week, you may want to consider limiting your alcohol consumption.

3. Take an immune supplement – sometimes, it can be challenging to optimise your lifestyle. However, taking a daily immunity supplement could be an effective and convenient way to get the proper nutrients for an immune boost. Additionally, a supplement scientifically formulated for an adult's immune system will contain just the right amounts of vital nutrients for daily immune support.

Choosing the right immune supplement for you

An all-in-one, daily immunity supplement may be perfect for you if you have a busy lifestyle and find it challenging to stay on top of your healthy habits and nutrition. Here, we discuss how to choose the right supplement.

For active, busy adults, Zest Active is a great immunity booster supplement choice. It contains eight vitamins and minerals known to support the normal function of the immune system, including vitamin C, Zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12, B6, folate, selenium and copper.

Zest Active also helps support energy-yielding metabolism and cognitive and muscle function, making it ideal for busy adults looking for an additional way to boost their productivity.

For older adults (35+), you may consider a supplement that promotes healthy ageing and immune function. Revive Active also contains eight vitamins and minerals to support the immune system: vitamin C, Zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12, B6, folate, selenium and copper.

When it comes to choosing an effective immune supplement, you need to consider the ingredients, the dosage and the formula. Revive Active's dietary supplement is portioned into daily sachets containing carefully formulated doses of vitamin C, Zinc, vitamin D and amino acids for adults. Moreover, the powdered formula ensures effective nutrient delivery and is free from fillers, binders or stimulants that other brands that manufacture tablets and capsules typically contain.

Shop Zest Active today!

Sources

1. Stress responses and innate immunity: aging as a contributory factor
2. Attachment Anxiety Is Linked to Alterations in Cortisol Production and Cellular Immunity
3. Food labels.
4. UK Statistics On Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency 2021.
5. The Bidirectional Relationship between Sleep and Immunity against Infections
6. Sleep and immune function
7. Sleeping dangerously: 7.5 million Brits have under five hours' a night.
8. Moderate alcohol consumption and the immune system: A review
9. Impact of Alcohol Abuse on the Adaptive Immune System
10. Alcohol Consumption UK