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There's nothing worse than getting sick, and it only gets easier if you don't have a great immune system. One of the best ways to boost your immune system health is to stick to a healthy diet and keep active, particularly throughout the cold and flu season. But, of course, if you're looking to help your system even further, there's nothing wrong with adding immune-boosting supplements to your diet too. It's also very helpful in combating vitamin C and D deficiencies.
We’ve gathered the top immunity-boosting supplements filled with vital vitamins and minerals to help your body stay strong against illness and support your overall well-being.
Which vitamins are good for boosting immunity?
When deciding on the best multivitamin or immunity supplement, pay attention to which vitamins and nutrients are included on the label. The best vitamins, minerals and herbs for immunity include:
The following supplements contain high amounts of the above immunity vitamins.
Amazon Photo Gallery 1/1 Amazon Best budget immunity supplement Nature's Bounty Immune 24 Hour Plus Dosage: 2 softgels, taken daily with a meal Nature's Bounty has been around for over 50 years and is a brand that constantly appears on our best vitamin lists. Its products are all non-GMO and contain no artificial colors, flavors, sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, yeast, sodium or fish. Two softgels of its Immune 24 Hour Plus supplements contain 750 mg of vitamin A, 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 15 mcg of vitamin D, 2 mg of vitamin B6, 666 mcg of folate, 6 mcg of vitamin B12, 600 mcg of biotin, 10 mg of pantothenic acid, 25 mg of magnesium, 15 mg of zinc, 17 mg of elderberry, 16.5 mg of echinacea and 16.6 of astragalus. Other ingredients include rice bran oil, gelatin, vegetable glycerin and 2% or less of carob powder (color), natural caramel color, sunflower lecithin and yellow beeswax. These immune boosting supplements rely on the immunity support of Ester-C, a version of vitamin C that lasts up to 24 hours in the body. Its high doses of vitamin A, zinc and B vitamins also support immune function. Take two softgels daily, preferably with a meal. One bottle will last about 25 days. Pros: Contains Vitamin C that will stay in your white blood cells for up to 24 hours
Packed with 13 vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements Cons: Not vegan, contains yellow beeswax and gelatin
One bottle lasts only 25 days ... Show more Get it now $7 at Amazon $7 at Walmart
The Vitamin Shoppe Photo Gallery 1/1 The Vitamin Shoppe Best capsule immunity supplement The Vitamin Shoppe Immune Essentials Dosage: 2 capsules, daily with a meal The Vitamin Shoppe has brick-and-mortar stores across the country, as well as an online store. The familiar brand name offers a couple of immunity supplements, and we've included the best two on this list. A serving of its Immune Essentials contains 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 50 mcg of vitamin D3, 50 mg of zinc and 250 mg of elderberry extract. Other ingredients include hypromellose (capsule), rice flour, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. The capsules are free of gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, sugar, salt and preservatives. Elderberry extract can support healthy immune system function during cold and flu season. Take two capsules daily, preferably with a meal. One bottle will last about 30 days. Pros: Does not contain any sugar
High potency of vitamin C, vitamin D3 and zinc Cons: Contains only three vitamins and one herbal supplement
One bottle will last only 30 days ... Show more Get it now $22 at The Vitamin Shoppe
The Vitamin Shoppe Photo Gallery 1/1 The Vitamin Shoppe Best gummy immunity supplement The Vitamin Shoppe Elderberry Gummies Dosage: 1 gummy, daily with a meal My favorite vitamins on this list are gummy supplements from The Vitamin Shoppe. I personally take these every day because of their high elderberry potency. On top of that, they're delicious. One elderberry gummy contains 90 mg of vitamin C, 1 g of total carbohydrates, 40 mg of elderberry extract, 1 g of total sugars and 1 g of added sugars. The other ingredients include sugar, organic tapioca syrup, purified water, MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil, pectin, tapioca starch, natural raspberry flavor, citric acid, natural color, sunflower lecithin extract for color. The gummies are free of gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, gelatin, synthetic colors and artificial colors. In addition to the vitamin C and elderberry, the supplements contain propolis extract, which can be used as an anti-inflammatory. Echinacea extract also supports a healthy immune system. Take two gummies daily, preferably with a meal. One bottle will last about 60 days. Pros: Raspberry flavor tastes amazing
Will last you about 60 days Cons: Each serving contains 4 grams of sugar
The sugary taste isn't for everyone ... Show more Get it now $17 at The Vitamin Shoppe
Amazon Photo Gallery 1/1 Amazon Best kids' immunity supplement Olly Kids Immunity Dosage: 1 to 2 gummies Olly is sold at Target, CVS, Walgreens and Amazon. The company's products are also certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, which guarantees that products have met strict standards for public health safety. Olly is also B-Corporation certified, meaning that the corporation is transparent about environmental performance (such as its waste management) and social performance (like employee benefits). Depending on the serving size, Olly's Kids Immunity supplements contain 15 to 30 mg of vitamin C, 2.5 to 5 mcg of vitamin D, 1.5 to 3 mcg of zinc, 50 to 100 mg of acerola cherry extract (a rich source of vitamin C), 35 to 70 mg of Wellmune baker's yeast beta glucan (a researched and lab-grown nutrient with multiple health benefits) and 12.5 to 25 mg of elderberry juice powder. The gummies are gluten-free and made with natural colors and no artificial flavors. The other ingredients include glucose syrup, beet sugar, water, gelatin, citric acid, natural flavor, pectin, coloring (from sweet potato, apple, radish, cherry, carrot and chokeberry juices) and lactic acid. Olly recommends that children aged 2 to 4 should chew only one gummy a day. Those aged 5 and up can chew two gummies a day. Consult with your doctor before giving your children any supplements. One bottle will last anywhere from 25 to 50 days if taken daily. Pros: Easy for children to chew
Great taste that children will like Cons: Recommend seeking a doctor before giving any vitamins to children
Easy for children to confuse gummy vitamins with candy ... Show more Get it now $12 at Amazon $14 at Walmart $14 at Target
Amazon Photo Gallery 1/1 Amazon Best immunity drink mix Liquid I.V. Immune Support Drink Mix Liquid I.V. has gained popularity in the last couple of years. The company's claim to fame is its Cellular Transport Technology, which combines sodium, glucose, potassium and water. This delivery system makes it easier for the body to absorb water and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream. Liquid I.V.'s Hydration Multiplier Plus mix now includes added immune support. One stick contains 45 calories, 500 mg of sodium, 11 g of carbohydrates, 10 g of sugar, 370 mg of potassium, 504 mg of vitamin C, 24.4 mg of niacin, 2.5 mg of vitamin B6, 7.8 mcg of vitamin B12, 11.5 mg of pantothenic acid and 10.5 mg of zinc. The other ingredients include natural flavors and stevia leaf extract. In addition to the hydration and immune support, the B vitamins in Liquid I.V. will also supply your body with energy. Choose between tangerine and wild berry flavor. Dissolve one stick of mix in two cups (16 ounces) of water. One package contains 14 sticks of drink mix. Pros: Comes in two delicious flavors: tangerine and wild berry
Faster hydration than water alone Cons: Most expensive on this list
One stick contains 10 g of sugar ... Show more Get it now $22 at Amazon $25 at Liquid I.V.