If you are wondering why you always catch colds or flu, you are not alone. There are many people that ponder this question, and find that their bodies never seem to be in a position to detect the early signs of a influenza virus.

Colds and flu’s are common illnesses that can hit anyone at any time. If you come down with a cold or the flu, a good idea is to set up a regimen of rest and light eating, to aid your body in its final healing process. If you are on top of your game and brush yourself off and continue as usual, then you should be prepared to battle with colds and flu to not only get over the infection, but to make up for lost time. Medicine’s with paracetamol or a decongestant in them can often treat and alleviate symptoms but not cure the virus itself. Still, its useful if you lead a busy life and cannot afford to be ill. Still, depending on the severity of the virus, it is not always possible to up, out and about, especially if you have a severe bout of the flu. Bed rest is always essential in these matters.

Now is always a good time to embark on a program of supplements to start preparing for colds and flu, especially when winter comes about. Take precaution and use this as the wind behind your sail. The best news is that you may be able to win the battle that way. There is good news and bad news for you both. The good news is that by increasing your immune system, supplementing with the right vitamins and minerals will strengthen your ability to fight the virus and reduce the odds of it getting worse. There may be no easy way to avoid the flu or cold, but there are measures you can take to minimize the odds. Supplementing with the right vitamins and minerals will strengthen your ability to fight the virus and reduce the odds of you ending up with a case of cold or flu.

But what are the vitamins and minerals? In short, you need a diverse mix of minerals and vitamins to keep your immune system in the strongest possible form to ward off any of the illnesses that may try to invade it.

A diverse mix of five vitamins and minerals is your best bet for building a well functioning immune system. Here is a handy list of the five different vitamins and minerals that you will need so you can see how varied they are and how they may act to fend off various challenges.

1. Zinc – This is responsible for boosting the activity of the immune system when it is weakened from lack of minerals such as selenium and b12.

2. mg ascorbic acid – This is the most important of the five minerals for a healthy immune system and assists in the production of white blood cells.

3. mg/dl ascorbic acid – This is the most accurate measurement used to determine an accurateiquiry of healthy blood levels.

If your doctor measures zinc levels as the zinc binding capacity, then you have a good level of zinc in your system and are in a position to prevent infection. Zinc is also responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system.

4. Selenium – This antioxidant is responsible for the production of Vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant and can be directly protective against infection.

5. mcg ascorbic acid – This is the second most important mineral for a good immune system; mcg is also the body’s natural sunscreen. It guards against excessive exposure to the sun, which causes skin cancer and aging.

It should be noted that zinc is a mineral is responsible for the growth and development of your immune system. While this is a mineral that is well known for the role of protecting against infections, there is another bodily function that is oftentimes independent of the immune system, which is the production of interferon. When the immune system is far gone, this mineral is in short supply, which causes disease. The best harbingers of immune system degradation are inflammation and oxidative stress.

Along with efficient digestion, vitamin C is also a key component of your antigenic response to disease. There is a long list of benefits that people who have received from including taking in large amounts of vitamin c as consistent with their diet. Some of the known health advantages of being properly hydrated, include the reduction of hypertension, cardiovascular and cancer concerns.

Taking minerals on a daily basis pays dividends for your health. Your body uses vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to protect your system from the daily onslaught of toxins and pollutants. That reduces your susceptibility to bacterial infections, as well as viral infections. Daily consumption of oysters, fish, antiviral and antibacterial herbs will strengthen your immune system, keep your bones strong and youthful, as well as develop your overall immune system capability.

A fully functioning immune system is vital for sustained health and its important to treat your body like a temple and never take it for granted. Hopefully, the snippets of information in this article has given you much food for thought.