Chase Away Summer Colds with THIS Mineral
We don’t often think of boosting our immune systems in the summertime.
After all, spending time in the sun takes care of that for us, with its ability to supercharge our immune systems with a direct dose of vitamin D.
But a lot of my patients could use a little extra boost, regardless of the time of year.
For that, I turn to a trusty nutrient that can help strengthen your immune system, heal wounds, help your body fight infections, shorten the durations of colds, and more.
I’m talking about the mineral zinc.
I like to keep zinc on hand and take it whenever I start having cold symptoms. Lots of times (if I catch it early enough) it knocks out a cold before it really has a chance to take hold.
When it comes to strengthening your immune system, it’s hard to beat the science behind zinc.
But while scientists have known that zinc produces these benefits, they haven’t exactly understood HOW.
A recent study finally answered that question.
In a mouse study, researchers discovered that zinc works in two ways to support immunity:
- It helps your body produce immune-fighting T cells. These are the cells that help protect your body from infection and help fight cancerous cells.
- It promotes the regeneration of the organ that produces T cells, the thymus.
The thymus helps produce and mature immune cells like T cells and B cells. With age, your thymus can shrink, increasing your risk of cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases.
If zinc has the ability to regenerate your thymus, that indicates its potential to help prevent a symptom of aging that increases your risk of infection and disease.
And in fact, one study showed that having a healthy thymus can HALT the effects of aging.
This is right in line with previous studies showing that low levels of zinc are linked to fewer T cells and a smaller thymus.
If you’re interested in trying zinc, you can get it through foods like meat, seafood, and legumes.
Or you can find it in supplement form at your local health food store or online. But please, talk to your diet before trying a new supplement.
P.S. If you’re trying to stay healthy (and who isn’t?), you’ll need to take extra measures to support your immune system this summer. Click here to find out how.
