The start of a new year is often coupled with self-reflection and the desire to adopt healthy lifestyle choices, but this year prioritizing health takes on greater meaning as people look to boost their immune system and prevent illnesses. Holistic health and immunity against common colds go hand in hand – according to U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, healthy individuals should make sure to maintain their immune system to lower the incidence of infection, lessen severity of symptoms, shorten duration of colds, which suggests that regular supplementation could be encouraged for preventing and treating their colds. Nicole Avena, Ph.D., nutrition expert and author of Why Diets Fail, provides recommendations to boost immunity through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplementation which can easily be incorporated into one’s daily health and wellness routine.

1. Go outside to enjoy Vitamin D. A quick walk during the day can do wonders for the body, especially when the sun is shining. Make sure to apply SPF and head outside for 10-30 minutes per day to take advantage of the sun’s natural form of Vitamin D as this vitamin helps protect against common colds and can decrease inflammation. Can’t go outside? Not too many foods contain vitamin D naturally, but salmon and white mushrooms are some options to try. Also, try to include Vitamin D-fortified food products in your diet, like milks, cheeses, and cereals.

2. Power up your Zinc intake. Zinc helps build the innate immune system and shorten the duration of colds. Macrophages and other white blood cells that attack pathogens need zinc to function at full capacity. vitafusion Gummy Vitamins makes an easy-to take and highly potent Zinc supplement that contains 15mg of Zinc and 270mg of Vitamin C.  

3. Magnesium does it all, especially when about 300mg is consumed per day. There’s evidence that magnesium plays a major role in brain function, sleep regulation, and emotional stability. The mineral contains calming properties while activating your parasympathetic nervous system and can be found naturally in leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and milk. vitafusion Gummy Vitamins fuses together this essential mineral with a tropical citrus flavor into a yummy gummy with 165mg of magnesium that can be supplemented into the diet.