How to boost your immune system?

There are plenty of supplements and products in the grocery store that claim to help boost your immune system. But while it may sound like a no-brainer, boosting your immune system is actually much harder to accomplish than you might think — and for good reason.

Your immune system is incredibly complex. It has to be strong enough and sophisticated enough to fight off a variety of illnesses and infections, but not so strong that it overreacts unnecessarily — causing allergies and other autoimmune disorders to develop. To operate in such a delicate balance, your immune system is tightly controlled by a variety of inputs.

But despite its complexity, there are everyday lifestyle habits you can focus on to help give your immune system what it needs to fight off an infection or illness. Here are five science-backed ways to ensure your immune system has everything it needs to function optimally, as well as why you shouldn't rely on supplements to boost your immune system.

Maintain a healthy diet

As with most things in your body, a healthy diet is key to a strong immune system. This means making sure you eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats.

In addition to providing your immune system the energy it needs, a healthy diet can help ensure you're getting sufficient amounts of the micronutrients that play a role in maintaining your immune system, including:

Vitamin B6, found in chicken, salmon, tuna, bananas, green vegetables and potatoes (with the skin)
Vitamin C, found in citrus fruit, including oranges and strawberries, as well as tomatoes, broccoli and spinach
Vitamin E, found in almonds, sunflower and safflower oil, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and spinach

Since experts believe that your body absorbs vitamins more efficiently from dietary sources, rather than supplements, the best way to support your immune system is to eat a well-balanced diet.

How to boost your immune system?

Maintain a healthy diet

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