Boost your immune system this winter

Boost your immune system this winter

Give your body the best conditions to stay healthy and infection-free this winter. This is how you can help your immune system with an adequate supply of vitamin D and 9 other vitamins and minerals.

To avoid getting sick this winter, there are two things you can do for your immune system:

One is to be careful about infection prevention and hand hygiene to avoid infection by viruses and other unwanted invaders in the body, and possibly vaccinate yourself against influenza. Read more about this year's flu vaccine here.

The second is prevention by "arming up" the immune system with good dietary habits, avoiding freezing, getting enough sleep and physical activity which makes you more robust against colds and flu.

Diet and the immune system

The immune system is a complicated system that consists of many things: skin, mucous membranes, enzymes in saliva, special cells, etc. And just as the diet affects other parts of the body, the immune system also depends on good and sufficient nutrition to function normally.

10 important vitamins and minerals for the immune system

When it comes to nutrients, there are 10 specific vitamins and minerals that have been shown to have a health effect on the immune system, in that they help to maintain the normal function of the immune system:

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin C

• Folate

• Selenium

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B12

• Vitamin B6

• Copper

• Zinc

• Iron

- Most people need supplements of one or more vitamins and minerals, but not necessarily in high doses. The most important thing is to ensure intake of daily doses throughout the year. If you are unsure whether you are getting enough vitamins and minerals through food and drink, a multivitamin mineral can be good. Then you are guaranteed intake of all 10 nutrients without getting too much of anything.