Cold and flu season always has us restocking our vitamin C supplies, but this year, as the pandemic continues and with the threat of a coronavirus-and-flu “twindemic” on the horizon, immune system health has become particularly important. (Quick PSA to get your flu shot.)
If you’re looking into vitamins, minerals, and supplements to boost your immune system, go for it — but remember to do your research first. “For these kinds of questions, the gold standard of truth is the randomized controlled trial,” said John Mafi, MD, MDH, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “While it’s complicated to directly measure immune system strength, a good marker for it is how often or how long you get colds and flu viruses.”
Ahead, we’ve rounded up a few of the vitamins and supplements that have proven benefits to your immune system so you can stock up as cold weather approaches.
—Additional reporting by Maggie Ryan