There are plenty of supplements and products that claim to help improve immunity. But boosting your immune system is a bit harder to accomplish than you may think — and for good reason.
Your immune system is incredibly complex. From a cold to the flu to COVID-19, 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 autoimmune disorders to develop. To operate in such a delicate balance, it’s tightly controlled by a variety of inputs.
Despite this complexity, there are things you can do to help give your immune system what it needs to ward off infection or illness.
Here are five science-backed ways to build and maintain a strong, healthy immune system, as well as why you shouldn’t rely on supplements instead.