Health

5 Myths About "Boosting" Your Immune System, Debunked By Doctors

Plus, the super easy thing that *does* help.

by JR Thorpe
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
A woman holds persimmons. Vitamin C is marketed as a booster for the immune system, but it doesn't h...
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Eating lemons, downing whole garlic cloves, big cupfuls of nourishing beef broth — if you’ve been at all concerned about your immune system during the pandemic, chances are somebody’s offered you a trick or tip for “boosting” your immune system.

The problem is that the immune system isn’t a single organ or area of the body that can be easily strengthened by drinking orange juice. It’s a complex mix of hormones, cells, and proteins that try to fight off illnesses, and nobody has yet invented a magic pill, including vitamins, to make it work better.

"There's no specific medication nor a single vitamin that has been proven to boost a person's immune system,” Dr. Robert Mordkin M.D., chief medical officer for testing company LetsGetChecked, tells Bustle. When it comes to your immune system, he says it’s the boring stuff that matters: getting enough sleep, eating fruit and veggies, and washing your hands.

Although a mug of tea with ginger in it isn’t going to hurt (thanks, gran), it’s not going to be the wonder that makes your T-cells dance with happiness. Here are some of the most common myths about "boosting" your immune system, and the truth behind them.

Myth 1: "Vitamin C Can Kick-Start Your Immune System"

It’s true that vitamin C can play an important role in immune function. A study published in Nutrients in 2017 noted that vitamin C helps with everything from killing off microbes to clearing away spent immune cells. However, giving yourself high doses of vitamin C doesn’t have any apparent advantage when it comes to staving off colds, according to Harvard Health.

“Emergen-C isn’t your best bet for boosting your immune system,” Christina Belitsky M.S. RPA-C, advanced practitioner lead for Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, tells Bustle. “Instead, eat real, whole foods, especially leafy greens.” Maintaining a reasonable level of vitamin C in your diet will sustain your immune system much better over time than lots of it in big bursts.

Myth 2: "A Multivitamin Is All You Need"

Multivitamins, which contain a range of vitamins, are rarely a bad idea — but Harvard Health points out they’re not likely to make any difference to your immune system unless you’re seriously malnourished. “A good multivitamin is great for your daily routine, but nothing compares to proper sleep hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular exercise,” Belitsky says. A multivitamin will ensure you have enough vitamins to support your health, but it's not likely to make any difference to your immune function.

Myth 3: "Tea Can Boost Your Immune System"

You’ve probably heard some variation on the idea that drinking tea helps your immune system, or at least makes you feel better when you're sick. One study published in 2011 in Immunology Letters found that a polyphenol found in green tea could help T-cells in mice, but it’s not clear if this happens in humans. “No need to buy pricey beverages labeled as 'immune boosting'," Belitsky says. “Instead, choose water.” Hydration, she says, is a part of good immune functioning, because the immune system relies on the bloodstream to transport its cells around the body, and that becomes hard if you''re dehydrated. Keep a bottle of water around even when you're not thirsty to make staying hydrated a habit.

Myth 4: "The Stronger Your Immune System, The Better Off You Are"

The idea of boosting immune function makes it seem like the sky’s the limit, but when the immune system is too strong, it can start causing health problems, according to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. This is the root of conditions like autoimmune diseases, where the immune system starts attacking healthy tissue instead of viruses or illnesses. It's also what lies behind the "cytokine storms" that can cause serious symptoms for people with COVID-19; their immune systems over-react to the virus, causing a blast of immune activity that damages tissue and organs. You want an immune system that’s balanced, not one that’s super-powered.

Myth 5: "The Whole Idea Of Boosting Your Immune System Is A Myth"

While there’s no way to take a pill or eat a certain food and immediately gain 10 immune system points, there *are* definite ways to influence your immune function over time. “The best way to develop and maintain healthy immunity is to get adequate sleep, eat a balanced diet that emphasizes vegetables and fruits, exercise regularly but not to excess, and stay current on all vaccinations including yearly flu vaccines,” Dr. Mordkin says. All of these can support immune system function by giving it enough fuel and rest, and, in the case of vaccines, building it up to fight specific threats.

Making lifestyle changes over time can help your immune system in the long run, so that it operates smoothly and defeats all those pesky pathogens trying to ruin your day.

Experts:

Christina Belitsky M.S. RPA-C

Dr. Robert Mordkin M.D.

Studies cited:

Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211

Ragab, D., Salah Eldin, H., Taeimah, M., Khattab, R., & Salem, R. (2020). The COVID-19 Cytokine Storm; What We Know So Far. Frontiers in immunology, 11, 1446. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01446

Wong, C. P., Nguyen, L. P., Noh, S. K., Bray, T. M., Bruno, R. S., & Ho, E. (2011). Induction of regulatory T cells by green tea polyphenol EGCG. Immunology letters, 139(1-2), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2011.04.009

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