By Katie McCallum | Houston Methodist

There are plenty of supplements and products in the grocery store that claim to help boost your immune system. But while it may sound like a no-brainer, boosting your immune system is actually much harder to accomplish than you might think — and for good reason.

Your immune system is incredibly complex. It has to be strong enough and sophisticated enough to fight off a variety of illnesses and infections, but not so strong that it overreacts unnecessarily — causing allergies and other autoimmune disorders to develop. To operate in such a delicate balance, your immune system is tightly controlled by a variety of inputs.

But despite its complexity, there are everyday lifestyle habits you can focus on to help give your immune system what it needs to fight off an infection or illness. Here are five science-backed ways to ensure your immune system has everything it needs to function optimally, as well as why you shouldn’t rely on supplements to boost your immune system.

Maintain a healthy diet

As with most things in your body, a healthy diet is key to a strong immune system. This means making sure you eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats.

In addition to providing your immune system the energy it needs, a healthy diet can help ensure you’re getting sufficient amounts of the micronutrients that play a role in maintaining your immune system, including:

• Vitamin B6, found in chicken, salmon, tuna, bananas, green vegetables and potatoes (with the skin)
• Vitamin C, found in citrus fruit, including oranges and strawberries, as well as tomatoes, broccoli and spinach
• Vitamin E, found in almonds, sunflower and safflower oil, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and spinach

Since experts believe that your body absorbs vitamins more efficiently from dietary sources, rather than supplements, the best way to support your immune system is to eat a well-balanced diet.

Exercise regularly

Physical activity isn’t just for building muscles and helping yourself de-stress — it’s also an important part of being healthy and supporting a healthy immune system.

One way exercise may improve immune function is by boosting your overall circulation, making it easier for immune cells and other infection-fighting molecules to travel more easily throughout your body.

In fact, studies have shown that engaging in as little as 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day helps stimulate your immune system. This means it’s important to focus on staying active and getting regular exercise.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Water plays many important roles in your body, including supporting your immune system. A fluid in your circulatory system called lymph, which carries important infection-fighting immune cells around your body, is largely made up of water. Being dehydrated slows down the movement of lymph, sometimes leading to an impaired immune system.

Even if you’re not exercising or sweating, you’re constantly losing water through your breath, as well as through your urine and bowel movements. To help support your immune system, be sure you’re replacing the water you lose with water you can use — which starts with knowing how much water you really need.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep certainly doesn’t feel like an active process, but there are plenty of important activities happening in your body when you’re not awake — even if you don’t realize it. For instance, important infection-fighting molecules are created while you sleep.

Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough quality sleep are more prone to getting sick after exposure to viruses, such as those that cause the common cold. To give your immune system the best chance to fight off infection and illness, it’s important to know how much sleep you should be getting every night, as well as the steps to take if your sleep is suffering.

Minimize stress

Whether it comes on quick or builds over time, it’s important to understand how stress affects your health — including the impact it has on your immune system. During a period of stress, particularly chronic stress that’s frequent and long-lasting, your body responds by initiating a stress response. This stress response, in turn, suppresses your immune system — increasing your chance of infection or illness.

Stress is different for everyone, and how we relieve it is, too. Given the effect it can have on your health, it’s important to know how to identify stress. And, whether it’s deep breathing, mediation, prayer or exercise, you should also get familiar with the activities that help you reduce stress.

One last word on supplements

There’s no shortage of supplements claiming they can stimulate your immune system — but be wary of these promises.

First thing’s first, there’s no evidence that supplements actually help improve your immune system or your chances of fighting off an infection or illness. In addition, unlike medications, supplements aren’t regulated or approved by the FDA.

If you’re looking for ways to help boost your immune system, consider keeping up with the lifestyle habits above, rather than relying on claims on a label.

Concerned you may have COVID-19?

If you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you can speak to a Virtual Urgent Care provider 24/7. The provider will help you determine if testing is needed and advise you on where you should go.

For more information, visit https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/mar/5-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system