BY TERRASEED / October 20, 2020
In the midst of a pandemic, people are rightfully concerned about improving their immune health. The Center for Disease Control has provided many important measures to avoid COVID-19 infection (mask wearing, regular hand-washing, and social distancing to name a few), but ensuring your immune system is equipped with vitamins and nutrients to function optimally is also crucial.
The following nutrients are beneficial to the body for a number of reasons, but below are how they affect your immune system and ability to fight illness!
➡ Omega-3’s
Omega-3 fatty acids come in three forms, ALA, DHA, and EPA-- and all are extremely important for immune health. Equipped with amazing anti-inflammatory properties, Omega-3 assists in the functioning of white blood cells and the immune system overall.
Food sources of Omega-3 ALA include walnuts and flaxseeds. DHA and EPA Omegas are harder to find on a plant-based diet, but can be sourced from algae and supplemented!
➡ Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably the most well-known vitamin for illness prevention. A natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, the nutrient has proven to help with shortening the duration and severity of colds.However, Vitamin C is much more effective when supplemented over long periods of time, as opposed to large doses at the start of cold symptoms.
Vitamin C is found in foods like bell peppers, citrus fruits, and tomatoes!
➡ Vitamin D3
Deficiency in Vitamin D is linked to increased susceptibility to infection, making it an important nutrient for immune health and overall wellness. Supplementing with Vitamin D boosts natural defenses against illness and prevents inflammation- allowing the immune system to function properly.
Plant-based sources of Vitamin-D are hard to come by, but it can be sourced from reindeer lichen, which is a species of moss!
➡ Zinc
The best way to ensure that you’re getting the immunity-boosting nutrients you need is to supplement! Taking a daily multivitamin takes the guesswork out of your diet, and allows vegans to continue living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle!