How to Boost Your Immune System for Fall

The arrival of autumn brings changing leaves, fuzzy sweaters, spiced treats, and all that is cozy. Unfortunately, it’s also when sniffles, sore throats, fevers, and coughs start making the rounds. As America prepares for a cold and flu season exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, immune system health is top of mind for many.

While there’s no magic pill to keep you healthy—your best bet is to follow the CDC’s guidelines, practice social distancing, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, and wear a face mask when you go out—certain supplements may give your immune system a boost. Read on to learn about how immunity works, the best vitamins for immune support, and how we’re making it easy for you to feel your best this year with wellmade by Thrive Market, our line of high-quality, affordable supplements available exclusively for members.

How Your Immune System Keeps You Healthy

Think of immunity as your body’s home security system. When an entity your body doesn’t recognize, like a virus, tries to “break in,” it causes your immune system to activate. This triggers an immune response, which is intended to protect you from getting sick.

The human body has two distinct types of immunity:

• Innate immunity is the immunity you’re born with, and which provides general protection against illness. Your skin is an example of innate immunity because it naturally forms a protective barrier to keep pathogens from getting in.
• Adaptive immunity is immunity developed over the course of human life, such as the immunity that comes from getting a vaccination or having an illness, like chickenpox, that produces an antibody response.

Ways to Support Your Immune System

Like all the body’s systems, your immune system works best when you incorporate health-supporting habits into your daily lifestyle. According to Harvard Health Publishing, practices that may help boost your immune system include:

• Eating a nutritious diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Getting sufficient sleep (between seven and nine hours per night, depending on your age)
• Exercising regularly
• Regulating stress

In addition to living a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle, many people choose to bolster their immune systems with dietary supplements and herbal remedies, which can help round out the diet and make up for dietary deficiencies.

Meet wellmade by Thrive Market

Purity, potency, and ingredient quality: these are essential criteria in your search for high-quality supplements to boost your immune system. A close look at many popular supplements reveals that they are often made with inexpensive, low-quality filler ingredients or lack the required potency to truly make a difference to your health. A study of herbal supplements in 2013 found that many contained ingredients that weren’t listed on the label, and that could potentially cause allergic reactions.

Simply put, it’s important to do your research…or, you could let us do it for you. On that note, say hello to wellmade by Thrive Market, an exclusive line of supplements for immunity and beyond. If you’ve used Thrive Market supplements before, rest assured that these are the same supplements you know and love, with a refreshed look.

Our immune boosting vitamins and other dietary supplements are produced in FDA-regulated facilities that practice current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), the gold standard for quality and safety, and are thoroughly tested for potency and purity.

The Best Immunity Supplements

To strengthen your defenses against germs this fall (and every day), complement healthy habits like nutrition, exercise, and sleep with a regimen of supplements that may support immune function.

wellmade by Thrive Market Vitamin C

It’s the nutrient you think about when you drink a glass of orange juice, and one of the most popular vitamins for immune system health. Go straight to the source with wellmade by Thrive Market Vitamin C. Each tablet serves up 1,000 milligrams of this vitamin known for its antioxidant properties.

wellmade by Thrive Market Vitamin D3

The connection between vitamin D and immune system health has been making headlines since the COVID-19 pandemic began. While it’s not certain whether low vitamin D is a risk factor for the disease, it is true that vitamin D is necessary for human health. Since your body absorbs it from sunlight, it’s possible that you’re not getting enough, especially as the seasons change and you start to spend more time indoors. Taking a daily vitamin can fill in the gaps, but many vitamin D supplements are made with animal-based ingredients, or contain vitamin D2, a less absorbable form of the nutrient. For vegans, vegetarians, or anyone seeking a plant-based vitamin D3 supplement, wellmade by Thrive Market Vitamin D3 is for you. Each serving provides 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 sourced from lichen.

wellmade by Thrive Market Chelated Zinc

Zinc is a mineral with antioxidant effects that supports the immune system and may shorten the duration of the common cold. While most people get sufficient zinc from their diets, this is another nutrient that vegetarians and vegans may lack. Taking a daily supplement can help ensure you get the immunity-bolstering zinc you need. Importantly, our zinc is chelated, which means it’s in a highly absorbable form.

wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Greens & More

Sneaking some extra greens into your diet is always a good idea. Sneaking them into a fruit smoothie? Even better. Greens are an immunity ally because, with their substantial amount of fiber, they help support a healthy gut. (Did you know that much of your immune system is actually located in your G.I. tract?) By adding a scoop of wellmade by Thrive Market Greens & More to your smoothie, you’ll get a helping of raw, organic, field-grown greens like wheatgrass, barley, spinach, and alfalfa. What you won’t get? Soy, stevia, GMOs, or gluten. Parents of picky eaters, take note: since wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Greens & More can be hidden in juice or smoothies (and is available in a berry flavor as well as original), it’s a great way to ensure your little ones get those all-important leafy greens.

wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup

If you favor plant-based remedies with storied histories, try elderberry syrup for immune system health. Elderberries are the fruit of a flowering shrub called Sambucus nigra, first cultivated as early as 2000 B.C.E. The deep purple berries contain antioxidants like anthocyanins and flavonoids, as well as vitamins A and C, all of which may support immunity. To make wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup, we source black elderberries from the Haschberg varietal of Sambucus nigra, grown on a co-op of family-owned farms in the Styrian region of Austria. While many elderberry supplements are sweetened with cane sugar, the naturally tart flavor of our syrup is balanced by just a touch of coconut sugar, making it a great option for those following a paleo diet.

3 Ways to Use Elderberry Syrup

Sure, you can simply knock back a spoonful of elderberry syrup to get the benefits, but it’s more versatile than you might think. Try one of the following ideas to see how wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup is actually a year-round pantry staple:

• In hot tea: Brew a cup of your favorite herbal tea (try one with echinacea, an herb thought to support immune function), then stir in a teaspoon of wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup for subtle sweetness along with the benefits.
• In an alcohol-free libation: Fill a glass with ice, then add kombucha or a mixture of sparkling water and fresh-squeezed citrus juice. Add a teaspoon of wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup and stir. Garnish with a citrus wheel or a few sprigs of fresh herbs (try mint or rosemary).
• As a drizzle: Swirl a teaspoon of wellmade by Thrive Market Organic Elderberry Syrup over oatmeal, yogurt, a smoothie bowl, pancakes, waffles—basically anywhere you’d use maple syrup.

This article has not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The information provided in this article is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have.