Sometimes the transition between summer and fall puts added stress on our immune system and bodies. Your body is constantly out of balance, trying to navigate a fine line between internal and external challenges. Walk that line more confidently with the right nutrition. We all know how beneficial vitamins and minerals are for us, but do you know which are the best and most readily available?

We’ve compiled a list of five immune-boosting foods to help keep you happy and healthy during the fall and winter months.

Seeds and Nuts — Zinc is an essential mineral that helps support healthy immune function, but it’s not stored by the body. Consuming nuts and seeds is a great way to boost your intake. A quarter cup of raw pumpkin seeds contains 2.57 mg of zinc. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDAs) for zinc for adults is 8-11mg. Daily Build contains 20mg of zinc per serving, and CalciuMK+ contains 7.5mg zinc per serving.

Mushrooms — Surround yourself with fungus, mushrooms that is. All mushrooms contain beta-glucan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide. Studies suggest that beta-glucan might stimulate the immune system.¹ Oyster and portabella mushrooms are good choices. Add mushrooms to stir-fry or pasta dishes. Greens contains an organic mushroom blend of shitake, maitake and reishi varieties — all good sources of beta-glucan. GoYin contains Coriolus versicolor mushroom, another great source of beta-glucans.

Fruits and Vegetables — Vitamins A, C, and E are particularly helpful in supporting immunity. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots, dark leafy greens and sweet potatoes. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Dark leafy greens, butternut squash and avocado are excellent sources of vitamin E. Pairing these and other fruits and vegetables with adequate protein intake will help supercharge your immunity. Immune⁶ is an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as vitamin D3. Daily Build contains 446% vitamin E in each serving, as well as over 600% vitamin C. GPS Adapt contains 200% vitamin C. CalciuMK+ is a great source of both vitamin A, D and E.

Garlic — Garlic contains allicin, a component that has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A review published in the February 2009 issue of “Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry” notes that allicin has a variety of antimicrobial properties.²

Probiotics — Probiotics have specific compounds that may help regulate the functions of immune cells and intestinal cells.³ Probiotic is uniquely formulated with seven different types of beneficial bacterial strains of healthy bacteria to support digestive health. Additionally, Probiotic contains beneficial prebiotics to help foster the growth of good bacteria, setting it apart from other products on the market.

To help maintain a health immune function, it’s always important to exercise regularly, get adequate sleep and visit your healthcare provider, in addition to eating a balanced diet. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be on your way to a lifestyle of Whole Health.

 This article is for nutrition information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any health concerns you may have.

¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19515245

² http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1271/bbb.90096

³ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006993/