The super nutrients that can help your body fight off coughs and colds

From A to Z, these ingredients are powerful when it comes to supporting your immunity.

Let’s face it, our immune system comes under all sorts of pressure throughout the year, particularly during the colder months.

It’s estimated there are more than 200 different cold viruses that affect human beings.

And when it comes warding off the symptoms and severity of colds, there are a few in particular that can give your immune system a good boost.

A for andrographis

It may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but andrographis is a powerful bitter-tasting herb that is rich in compounds known as andrographolides.

These handy little compounds are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties.

Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, andrographis is linked with promoting the body’s immune defence and relieving the symptoms and reducing the severity of common colds, as well as mild upper respiratory tract infections.

E for echinacea

Native Americans have long valued echinacea, a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, for its medicinal properties. And modern science is catching up.

Echinacea plants contain a complex mix of active substances, some which may have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, and others which may support the immune system.

In one review of more than a dozen studies, scientists found taking echinacea could reduce the risk of catching a cold by around 58 per cent and shorten its duration by 1.4 days.

S is for Siberian ginseng

Also known as eleuthero, Siberian ginseng has traditionally been used for centuries in Eastern countries, including China and Russia, to help prevent the common cold and increase energy and vitality.

Despite its name, it’s completely unlike American and Asian ginseng and has different active chemical components.

The active ingredients in Siberian ginseng, called eleutherosides, are also thought to help stimulate the immune system.

Z is for Zinc

We love zinc for a whole lot of reasons.

For one, it’s an essential nutrient needed to keep our immune system running at optimal levels.

Research has shown taking zinc at the onset of a cold can decrease the time that you are sick.

Can you combine these into one daily dose?

We saved the best for last – one letter we haven’t yet mentioned is T (for tablet).

Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence combines all these ingredients, and more, into one potent immune health formula.

In the form of a daily tablet, it may help you feel better by relieving the five symptoms of common cold – andrographis to help relieve sore throat, phlegm, cough and fever, and Siberian ginseng to help fight fatigue.

All in all, that means daily support for a healthy immune system.

* This post is brought to you by Ethical Nutrients Immune Defence. Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.  Andrographis is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Andrographis may cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a severe reaction (such as anaphylaxis), stop use and seek immediate medical attention. Not to be used in children under five years of age without medical advice.