#1) ZINC ACETATE – Door and Window Locks

The most fundamental step to protect your home from invaders is to make sure your doors and windows are locked.

Similarly, the most fundamental nutrient to protect your body from invaders is to make sure you're consuming the right amount of zinc.

You see, zinc essentially "locks down" your immune system because it's involved in hundreds of metabolic processes – including the body's immune responses. For example, zinc is a component of over 300 enzymatic reactions including those that help secure your body against pathogens.

Furthermore, ensuring your body has the right zinc levels helps maintain T-cell lymphocyte function, Natural Killer (NK) cell activity, macrophage function, and antibody production – all essential to barricade your body against outside invaders.

Now, here are the 2 BIG CONCERNS when it comes to zinc…

First, most people are only getting the barebones recommended amount. And up to 30% of Americans are even falling short of that!

Second, while many people do take the smart step of supplementing with zinc, most supplements provide inferior forms of it.

You see, just like you don't want to depend on flimsy and weak locks on your doors and windows, you don't want those inferior forms of zinc.

Instead, you want to ensure you're getting the powerful form called "zinc acetate," which research has shown may be the most effective for supporting a powerful immune system.

For example, a meta-analysis published in the prestigious Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that zinc acetate was most effective for shortening the incidence, duration and severity of the common cold, a viral infection that can leave you sidelined and feeling lousy for days.

And research published in Oxford Academic's Open Forum Infectious Diseases showed that zinc acetate results in a 3-fold increase in the rate of recovery from the common cold!

#2) VITAMIN C – The Iron Fence

Like an iron fence protecting your home from threats, vitamin C is all-encompassing as it helps every aspect of your immune system.

Vitamin C is, of course, quite well known for its ability to support a healthy immune response.

It does so by supporting various cellular functions, such as NK cell activity and lymphocyte function. And according to research in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, it also provides antioxidant support by protecting cells against reactive oxygen species that are generated during the body's normal inflammatory response.

Furthermore, vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and protects against environmental and cellular oxidative stress.

And YES, there is compelling research, such as that published in BioMed Research International, that vitamin C can even decrease the incidence of the common cold and the duration and intensity of symptoms.

HOWEVER, please note…

According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, which analyzed the dietary habits of 10,698 American adults, less than 50% of people are getting the bare-bones minimum of vitamin C through their diet!

No wonder the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 - 2020 specifically tabbed vitamin C as an "underconsumed nutrient."

And remember, that's just the bottom-of-the-barrel amount needed to prevent deficiency – not the optimal daily dose, which is dozens of times higher, needed to "build the tallest and strongest iron fence" against invaders.

Unfortunately, most people's "Vitamin C fence" around their home is pretty easy for intruders to climb over.

#3) ECHINACEA PURPUREA – The High-End, Highly-Effective Alarm

A key part of the immune system are the "cytokines," which are a group of compounds that act as chemical messengers.

These cytokines are basically the alarm for the immune system, and when danger is detected, the alarm sends the right immune cells into fighting action.

Without the proper support, though, this "alarm system" can become severely unbalanced, sending the whole system into disarray and ultimately weakening defenses.

Enter Echinacea, which has been used for eons to support immune system health, and among its many benefits, provides powerful support for healthy cytokine balance.

More specifically, respected journals ranging from Phytomedicine to Biochemical Pharmacology have shown Echinacea to benefit immune function by:

• Supporting normal activity of white blood cells and NK cells.
• Enhancing leukocyte and granulocyte counts.
• Promoting the ability of other immune cells to respond to foreign invaders.
• Stimulating macrophages and antibody production.
• Competing with pathogens by blocking viral receptors on cell surfaces.

However, what is CRUCIAL to know is that there are three different types of Echinacea, and they are by no means equal when it comes to enabling a peak-performing alarm system against pathogens in your body.

Among the three species, Echinacea purpurea, which is native to North America and has been used for centuries to support the body's natural defense system, is supported by the most robust body of scientific evidence.

In fact, this ancient botanical has been the subject of more than 300 scientific studies, which support its application in promoting a healthy immune response.

For example, according to research published in The American Journal of Medicine and Pharmacognosy Reviews, Echinacea purpurea may decrease symptom severity of upper respiratory tract infections (such as the common cold) and may decrease the number of colds when taken preventively.

There is FAR less convincing evidence when it comes to other commonly used species, such as Echinacea pallida and Echinacea angustifolia.

The bottom line is that – when taken in concert with the other three immune-support nutrients discussed here – Echinacea purpurea appears to be THE powerhouse species of Echinacea to support the immune system's "alarms."

#4) N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) – The Big, Beefy, Armed Security Guards

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage the cells in your body, leading to a weakened immune system and potentially all kinds of health issues.

Antioxidants are compounds that essentially fight these free radicals, and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) is one of the most potent antioxidants of all.

In other words, think of NAC as supplying your body its own army of big, beefy, armed security guards to protect your home and family!

NAC is particularly important for the liver, where it supports liver detoxification. It's a precursor to glutathione, which is known as the body's master antioxidant and one of the major detoxification factors.

What's more, NAC is heavily researched for its role in optimizing lung health, as it helps maintain good pulmonary health due to its ability to support normal mucus levels in healthy sinus and respiratory systems. Along these lines, NAC is commonly used to "muscle through" and help clear sinus and airway congestion caused by mucus overproduction.

And NAC can even help "call in" additional security backup when needed…

For example, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, NAC positively impacted levels of lymphocytes, white blood cells that help fight infection. NAC has also been shown to support healthy activity of other immune cells (neutrophils) and support a healthy balance of cytokines.

So instead of having just one beefy security guard protecting your home, now you have two.