This post lists herbs and supplements that I have used to boost my immune system.
NOTE: What is listed here is not intended to be an exhaustive list of herbs and supplements to boost the immune system. Also I am not giving advice – medical or otherwise. Some of the supplements I share may not be suitable for you. Should anything sound appealing, always check with your doctor before proceeding. This is even more important if you’re under medical supervision, and/or taking medication on a regular basis.
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links (marked with asterisks) in this post.
Noni Juice
I’ve been taking Noni Juice off and on for several years based on an online article I saw touting it’s many benefits. I mainly rely on it to boost my immune system during periods when many people around me are sick with colds, flu, etc. There are many brands and variations of Noni Juice that contain more or less of the Noni fruit. My favorite brand is *Tahiti Trader Original High Potency Noni Juice. I emphasize Original because there are other variations available for this brand which have a different taste. Typically when the percentage of Noni fruit in the juice is higher, the taste is a bit less appealing. In my humble opinion, the best supplement is one that I will actually take. In other words, the way something tastes to me is very important!
At first glance, I thought the list of benefits on the back of the bottle were overstated. I would now argue the opposite. I continue to find other uses for this stuff! In terms of how much I take, I do the lower end of the Suggested Use (1 oz).
Safety: Please expand the Do Not Take If section of the linked article to see if you should avoid Noni.
Side Effects/Interactions: Please check the Side Effects and Interactions tabs of the linked page to get more information. Once you’re ready to give Noni Juice a try, get it *here.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen and has so much information, that it has a dedicated post.
Vitamin D3
A few years ago, after getting my bloodwork checked, my doctor informed me that I was Vitamin D deficient. At the time I remembered thinking “My bones are fine!” Turns out Vitamin D helps more than bones. After doing some research and finding out that Vitamin D3 is absorbed better by the body, I took a Vitamin D3 1000 I.U. supplement daily – ish. When they next checked my bloodwork, I was no longer deficient in Vitamin D.
Very recently I was surprised to find out that Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system! University of Copenhagen scientists found that Vitamin D is important for activating our immune defenses. Without sufficient levels of Vitamin D, the killer cells of the immune system are not able to fight off serious infections in the body. Further, based on studies, there are indications that Vitamin D can be used to help prevent respiratory infections. The bottom line is to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D to help your immune system help you.
Side Effects/Interactions: Please check the Side Effects and Interactions tabs on the linked page to get that specific information for Vitamin D. Once you know it’s a good fit for your individual situation, get your Vitamin D3 *here.
Vitamin C
*Vitamin C is a well known go to vitamin for many people when boosting the immune system, but how effective is it, and how much do we need daily? Take a look at this article to find out how much is recommended. Further, when we take more than a specific amount, it gets excreted from the body in our urine. Note that the doctor cited in the article advises that we get our Vitamin C through our foods. This is consistent with the information presented in *Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss and Transform Your Health, by Drew Ramsey MD. BTW… according to Dr. Ramsey, the top food sources for Vitamin C are papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and strawberries.
Side Effects/Interactions: Please see the Safety and side effects section of the linked page to get that specific information for Vitamin C. Please see the Interactions section of the linked page to get information regarding the list of possible interactions for Vitamin C. Once you have confirmed that it’s safe for you, and that taking a supplement better fits your needs, give this *Vitamin C a try.
Chlorella
Chlorella is a nutrient rich superfood that among other benefits can strengthen the immune system. Before a few years ago, I had never heard of it. At the time, a friend who had been treated for prostate cancer told me that he takes chlorella as a supplement in an effort to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence. Along with protein, iron, vitamins B, C and other antioxidants, chlorella may contain substances that fight bacteria, fungi, tumors, and viruses.
Chlorella can be purchased in capsule, tablet or powder form. I decided to purchase this *Organic Chlorella in tablet form, and initially started taking only 1 tablet daily versus the suggested amount.
Side Effects/Interactions: Please see the Side Effects and Interactions tabs on the linked page to get more information regarding this information. Ready to give Chlorella a try? Get it *here.
Organifi Green Juice
I am including *Organifi Green Juice here because this drink contains some of the adaptogens, superfoods, and nutrients mentioned above. It also has many other beneficial ingredients. It has ashwagandha, and chlorella, as well as lemon (Vitamin C), spirulina, turmeric, beet root, wheat grass, and more. Even better, the ingredients are organic, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and keto friendly!
After researching the Green Juice, I confess to being a bit skeptical because there were some comments about the taste. I gave it a try anyway and I was pleasantly surprised that the taste was fine to me. While eating well and taking supplements is my preferred way to get what I need, I accept there will be some days when I cannot accomplish that goal. When deciding on whether to purchase the jar or the GO Packs, I opted to get the Organifi Green Juice GO Packs for convenience. I can also share them with family and friends.
Safety: As mentioned above, this product contains multiple supplement ingredients. It is very important to be aware if any of them cause side effects, or interactions based on your individual circumstances. Even better, the packaging appropriately contains a Medical Disclaimer advising that you check with your healthcare practitioner before using the product. See this Organifi Health Disclaimer page for more information. Further, the state of California requires a Proposition 65 Warning to be displayed on the packaging. For more details regarding this warning and it’s purpose, please see the information at this link before deciding if this product meets your needs: Organifi.com Prop 65
If Organifi Green Juice sounds like a great fit for you, get yours *here.
Well that’s it for now. I’ll be posting more about the immune system, and other topics soon.
Hi There,
Just a heads-up that I believe this link is broken on your website: https://verasfaves.com/wellness/2021/04/18/all-about-reiki/
I had a couple of them on my own site before I started using a service to monitor for them. There are a few sites that do this but we like DeadLinkSearch.com.
-Rebecca
Hi Rebecca!
Thank you so much for the info, and the tip regarding the service. I had gone through my site and fixed the broken links. Not sure if I missed one within the site. (?) Additionally, I am currently working to get them corrected on Google Search Console. In the meantime, the corrected link for that post is:
https://verasfaves.com/all-about-reiki/
Thank you again Rebecca!
Thanks for the reminders about Noni juice. It has a taste that only a health conscious person could love. But when I was taking it regularly I felt so energetic. I need to get back to it.
Virdella
You’re welcome. Actually your comment reminded me of Acai juice which is missing from this list. I will have to remedy that in the near future since it too is great for the immune system. Thank you so much for your comment!