Being proactive about your immune health is essential. Here we want to break down what is a myth and what is a fact according to research we’ve discovered, so you can make the best proactive decisions when it comes to your immune system. 

If you are constantly waiting until you are sick and run down to care for your body properly, you will find yourself sick more often than you’d like. With that being said, it can be hard to figure out what exactly is good for your immune system and what is just an old wives tale.

There’s so much information out there, that it can become overwhelming. From social media memes to armchair experts, the false information surrounding health can distort our view of reality. Boost your immune system the right way by knowing what is true and what is false when it comes to your immune health.

We want to do the best we can to debunk any myths that you may have heard so you can improve your health naturally. If there's anything we've missed in this post, please let us know what you want to be researched by joining our Facebook Tribe group and commenting on anything you have questions about!

As we transition into fall, it's more important now than ever to begin boosting your immune system. Stop health problems before they really become a health problem by implementing the facts provided in the list below.

Immune Health: Myth Vs. Fact

It's time to boost your immune system!

Myth #1: Vitamin C fixes everything!

Fact: Vitamin C does help increase immunity, but it isn’t the end all be all. 

Here's why: While getting enough vitamin C is certainly important, there is a point where too much vitamin C can be problematic. Healthy adults need a maximum of 2,000 mg per day.

Eating vitamin C-rich foods alone would be hard to reach problematic levels of vitamin C, but if you are taking a vitamin C supplement in the case of a cold, it may be helpful to take into account how many milligrams you are actually consuming daily.

Myth #2: Extreme exercise will boost immunity.

Fact: If you’re not used to exercising and you put your body through extensive exercise, you may actually weaken your immune system.

Here's why: Extreme exercise, or even mild exercise for those who don't regularly work out, can put your body through stress. When you use muscles and body movements that you are not used to, you may experience soreness. This is the result of putting your body through stress.

According to researchers, prolonged bouts of strenuous exercise cause a temporary depression of various aspects of immune function. However, regular exercise is a great way to stay healthy and build strength in your immune system. Work up to those extreme workouts by starting small.

Myth #3: Stress doesn’t affect the immune system

Fact: Stress has a major impact on your immune health. 

Here's why: Stress releases a hormone called cortisol that can take a negative effect on your immune system. The health issues that come with excess stress make it harder for the infection-fighting white blood cells to identify where they are needed in the body. With this confusion, your immune defenses are lowered and it is easier to become sick.

Myth #4: I have to lose weight to improve my immune system.

Fact: Weight loss helps increase inflammation response, which can lead to a healthier immune system, but losing weight too quickly can result in lower immunity. 

Here's why: Oftentimes weight loss comes from a restricted diet. This can sometimes lead to a lack of proper nutrients we need in order to help our immune health.

If you are overweight, it is important to try to incorporate healthier habits to maintain a healthy weight and therefore inflammatory response. However, losing weight rather quickly can be harsh on your system and may leave you feeling weak.

Myth #5: If I take supplements, I don’t have to watch what I eat.

Fact: Supplements are designed to be taken with a healthy diet. 

Here's why: Supplements are just as they sound, they are to supplement your health. While taking supplements is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to your health, they rely on your positive health behaviors such as restorative sleep, exercise, and nutrition to do what they are meant to do.

It's always a good idea to speak with your doctor when it comes to adding supplements to your health routine. They may even be able to run tests to let you know which supplements are right for you. 

Myth #6: Taking loads of multivitamins keeps you healthy.

Fact: Multivitamins alone cannot improve your immune response. 

Here's why: As we discussed in #5, multivitamins, like supplements, are not solely responsible for keeping you healthy. They are a great way to get added benefits to an already healthy lifestyle but increasing your multivitamin intake, can actually be quite harmful.

Multivitamins contain a complex of different vitamins that you can incorporate into your lifestyle if you feel you don't already get enough of them or are lacking in a particular area. Your immune system needs vitamins and minerals to stay strong, but just because you take multivitamins does not mean you are guaranteed good health.

Myth #7: My immune system is strong, so I won’t get sick.

Fact: Everyone is susceptible to sickness every once in a while. 

Here's why: You may have been told by the doctor or have proven to stay mostly healthy for the majority of your life, however, everyone is at risk of getting sick now and again. Bacteria and germs are everywhere. It's impossible to escape them. That's why it is so important to protect your immune system, even if it has proven to be strong over the years.

Also, as we age, our immunity naturally declines. So, your once strong immune system may surprise you as you get older. Again, it's important to be proactive now and continue giving strength to the system that protects you most.