Boosting Immunity in Winter: Essential Vitamins and Minerals to Fight Seasonal Viruses

2023-10-27 06:11:18

Loss of energy, blues, seasonal viruses, low immunity… To deal with winter inconveniences, there’s nothing like vitamin and mineral treatments. Here are the substances our body needs most.

Vitamin C

In winter, vitamin C is our best friend. Also known as ascorbic acid, it provides a real boost. Ideal for combating temporary fatigue, vitamin C helps maintain the proper functioning of the immune system and the nervous system. In other words, it is a weapon of choice to prepare the body to fight infections and maintain morale. And as the body cannot produce it itself, it must be obtained from food (blackcurrant, kiwi, orange, parsley, etc.), or take a course of food supplements.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is synthesized by the body during exposure to sunlight. This is why we tend to lack it in winter, the days being short and less sunny. It is mainly found in fatty fish (salmon, trout, etc.), sardines in oil, egg yolks, and even mushrooms. If vitamin D is so important, it is because it contributes to the proper development and maintenance of bone mass by facilitating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. This substance will also act on white blood cells and thus strengthen the immune system.

Magnesium

To face winter, you can count on magnesium. This mineral salt, which participates in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body, is particularly recommended in cases of loss of tone. It helps fight against temporary depression and reduce irritability and nervousness. By acting on the central nervous system, magnesium also promotes sleep. However, our body is incapable of making it itself. Almonds and coriander seeds are well-equipped, knowing that a deficiency generally manifests itself as eyelid spasms.

Le zinc

Another essential nutrient: zinc. This trace element plays a major role in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, and it is a good ally to protect against winter ills. Present in small quantities in our body, zinc increases the activation of lymphocytes, white blood cells which participate in immune defense, and thus reduces the risk of catching a cold or the duration of symptoms. On the food side, we find it in seafood (oysters take the prize), nuts, cocoa powder, but also in cow’s milk and cheeses.

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