Strengthen Your Defenses: 4 Essential Supplements for Immune Health

• First line of defense (innate immunity): Your skin, mucous membranes, and chemical defenses act like barriers to block germs. If something gets through, immune cells like neutrophils and natural killer cells jump into action quickly.
• Second line of defense (adaptive immunity): This side takes a little longer but is more precise. It involves B cells, which make antibodies, and T cells, which target infected cells. It’s also what helps you “remember” past infections so your body can fight them faster in the future.

Both parts need the right nutrients to do their jobs. Without them, immune cells can’t respond effectively.

Important Nutrients & Supplements for Immune Support

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of those everyday essentials your body can’t make or store much of, which is why regular replenishment matters.

It fuels both your quick-response defenses and the immune memory you build over time, so you’re covered whether you’re catching a red-eye flight or navigating cold season.

It’s also a strong antioxidant, helping shield cells from the stress of daily life — think pollution, long workouts, or late nights. Plus, it supports the activity of white blood cells, which play a central role in defending the body against illness.¹

Supplements with Vitamin C:

1. SolgarⓇ Ester-C^Ⓡ Plus 1000 mg: Elevated vitamin C supplement clinically-shown to stay in white blood cells for up to 24 hours.^* It is also non-acidic and gentle on sensitive stomachs.
2. Solgar^Ⓡ Ultra Potency Vitamin C Gummies: 1000 mg of vitamin C in just one gummy — the highest potency in a single gummy.^{^}

2. Vitamin D

Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D supports healthy bones and teeth while also helping the immune system function at its best.^*

The active form balances inflammation while encouraging immune cells to produce microbe-fighting proteins, keeping defenses sharp even in winter months or long stretches indoors.²

Research shows that adults with low vitamin D levels are more likely to deal with coughs, colds, or upper respiratory infections — the kind of setbacks no one wants during busy weeks or travel plans.³

Supplements with Vitamin D:

1. Solgar^Ⓡ Ultra Potency Vitamin D Gummies: 5000 IU (125 mcg) of vitamin D3 in just one gummy, and 2 grams of sugar.
2. Solgar^Ⓡ Vitamin D3 10,000 IU Softgels: Fat-soluble, convenient, oil-based softgels that are easy to swallow and absorb.

3. Zinc

Although your body only needs trace amounts, zinc is part of nearly 100 enzymes involved in essential functions like DNA creation, tissue repair, and immune strength.

It helps immune cells such as lymphocytes and neutrophils do their jobs effectively, which is why even a small deficiency can leave defenses sluggish.

Zinc also helps regulate immune responses and provides antioxidant support, creating balance so your system doesn’t tip into excess inflammation after stress, training, or exposure.⁴

Supplements with Zinc:

1. Solgar^Ⓡ Zinc Picolinate: A highly absorbable, chelated form of zinc picolinate that helps support immune health.^*
2. Solgar^Ⓡ Ultra Potency Zinc Gummies: 25 mg of zinc in just one gummy, and 2 grams of sugar.

4. Quercetin

Quercetin is a natural plant compound (a flavonoid) with strong antioxidant properties, found in many fruits and vegetables, especially apples, onions, berries, and tea.

It works on both sides of the immune system — the fast, broad response and the more targeted defenses built over time.

When paired with vitamin C, quercetin’s effects appear to be even stronger, the two working in tandem to bolster antioxidant activity and immune support. Together, they help the body handle daily stressors, recover smoothly, and stay resilient through whatever’s on the calendar.⁵

Supplement with Quercetin:

1. Solgar^® Quercetin Complex with Ester-C^® Plus: Offers Quercetin and Ester-C^®, an elevated form of vitamin C that is non-acidic and gentle on the stomach.^*