Whether you are 9 or 90, it’s important to keep yourself as healthy as possible… and that includes making sure your immune system stays in fighting shape.
But if you’re an older adult (age 60 and over), your immune system may not have the same ability it once had to keep you well. So even simple bugs (like common colds) can bring on complications or secondary infections.
And if you’re already struggling with a chronic condition – diabetes, COPD, arthritis – your immune system may already be working at capacity. And it might not be able to cope with the latest bug that’s going around.
That’s why you have to give your immune system all the support it needs, so it can work optimally and keep you safe.
Quick Answer: Immune function naturally changes with age, so older adults often benefit from extra daily support. Four supplements stand out for the aging immune system: IgG (immunoglobulin) to top up the antibodies that recognize and respond to threats; spore probiotics to help rebalance the gut microbiome, where the majority of immune activity happens; precision prebiotics to selectively feed the beneficial bacteria; and vitamin K2-7 to help direct calcium and support healthy immune, heart, and bone function. Together they address three of the biggest age-related shifts: declining antibody supplies, gut imbalance, and falling K2 levels.
What does your immune system actually do?
Your immune system is your body’s built-in defense network, designed to detect and clear a wide range of foreign substances, from toxins to germs to harmful bacteria. As you get older its function gradually declines, which is why daily support matters more with age.
Your body comes with a built-in shield and alarm system – your immune system – beautifully designed to fight off a vast variety of foreign substances, from toxins to germs to infectious bacteria.
But as you get older, your immune system function starts to decline… and that can take a big toll on your health and wellness.
Luckily, there are simple things you can do to keep your immune system in fighting shape, no matter how old you are.
How does the immune system change as you age?
With age, immune responses slow down and become less precise. That can mean a higher chance of getting sick, slower healing, and a harder time recognizing brand-new threats the body has never encountered.
As you age, your immune system doesn't work as well as it used to. It undergoes changes that can result in:
- Slower immune system response
- Increased chance of getting sick
- Inability to find and repair cell defects
- Autoimmune disorders (where your immune system attacks you)
- Slower healing and recovery
One of the biggest changes involves how your immune system responds to novel threats, meaning illnesses it’s never faced before. That can make you more susceptible to infectious diseases, and put you at higher risk if you do catch whatever’s going around.
What three factors most affect the aging immune system?
Three shifts play an oversized role: dropping IgG antibody supplies, imbalance (dysbiosis) in the gut microbiome, and declining vitamin K2 levels. Addressing all three gives the aging immune system the supplies it needs to work well.
A lot of things affect your immune system, but some factors have a bigger impact than others. Three factors in particular play an oversized role in the aging immune system:
- IgG (antibody) supplies and production drop off, especially antibodies that can react quickly to novel threats
- Imbalance (dysbiosis) in the gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria in your gut, impairing your immune system response and triggering uncontrolled inflammation
- Vitamin K2 levels decline, leading to a weakened immune system and increasing the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis
But there’s a simple way to make sure you have all the immune-supporting supplies your body needs…
Why does the aging immune system need more IgG?
IgG antibodies remember past threats and help the body respond quickly the next time. Because IgG supplies dwindle with age, leaving fewer antibodies in circulation, an IgG supplement is an easy way to top them back up.
Whenever your body faces a new germ, IgG cells learn how to fight it. Then, the next time your immune system faces that threat, it knows what to do. And your immune system can mobilize those experienced antibodies against similar threats, so your body has a better chance of fighting them off.
Unfortunately, IgG supplies dwindle as you get older. That means your body has fewer antibodies circulating, putting you at higher risk for infection. Your body can’t fight as hard or as quickly to neutralize and eliminate threats… especially those it’s never seen before.
That’s why your immune system needs all the IgG supplies it can get. And the fastest, easiest way to boost those supplies is with a special IgG supplement.
How do spore probiotics and prebiotics support immune health?
Because the gut houses most of your immune system, keeping the microbiome balanced is key. Spore probiotics help restore balance and support the gut barrier, while precision prebiotics selectively feed the beneficial bacteria so they can flourish.
It’s no surprise that a healthy gut means a healthier immune system: After all, your gut contains at least 70% of your immune system.
But as you age, your gut microbiome changes… and not usually in a beneficial way. Over time, your gut may shift further and further out of balance.
And when your gut microbiome is out of balance (dysbiosis), it sends your immune system into a panic. When bad bacteria – pathogens – outnumber beneficial bacteria, it throws the whole system out of whack. That’s because those pathogens:
- Hijack essential nutrients (like vitamins) that you need to stay healthy
- Produce compounds that trigger runaway inflammation, which confuses your immune system
- Attack the gut barrier, which normally prevents toxins and germs from escaping from the gut into the bloodstream
- Prevent beneficial bacteria from helping your immune system work properly
The solution to all of those problems: rebalance your gut microbiome, and allow beneficial bacteria to flourish. The best way to do that takes two simple steps.
Step one, give your body a daily supply of beneficial spore probiotics. These powerful probiotics were designed by nature to survive extreme conditions and thrive when they reach the gut. Spore probiotics work quickly to s, support the gut barrier and restore healthy balance to the gut microbiome.
Step two, nourish only the beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome with their favorite “food,” precision prebiotics. Prebiotics are special kinds of fiber that bypass digestion so they can feed the probiotics – but not the pathogens (the bad bacteria) – in your gut microbiome. Precision prebiotics team up with spore probiotics to quickly rebalance your gut, and provide excellent support to your immune system.
What does vitamin K2 do for immune and overall health?
Vitamin K2 acts like a master nutrient, activating proteins your body needs to function. It supports healthy immune response along with heart, bone, and kidney health, and the most absorbable form to look for is K2-7.
Vitamin K2 works like a master nutrient. Not only does vitamin K2 support your heart, bones, and kidneys, studies on Vitamin K2 have shown that it can help you live a longer healthier life.
That’s because vitamin K2 activates several essential proteins that your body needs to function properly. By activating those proteins, vitamin K2 supports:
- Healthy immune system response
- Healthy blood sugar management
- Healthier blood vessels
- Healthier heart function
- Healthier kidneys
- Healthier brain function
- Healthier, stronger bones
- Longer, healthier life
It can be hard to get enough vitamin K2 from food (unlike vitamin K1, which is found in many natural foods). But getting enough K2 from supplements can also be tricky.
For full K2 benefits, you’ll want to take supplements containing vitamin K2-7, the most absorbable, bioavailable form of this essential nutrient.
Support Your Immune System with these Just Thrive products for targeted support for your immune system and a lifetime of good health.
Get a full daily dose of each immune-supporting supplement:
Probiotics to encourage beneficial bacteria, and maintain a healthy immune response.
Precision PREbiotics to selectively nourish the most important probiotics in your gut microbiome.
Ultimate IgG to boost your body’s supply of front-line immunoglobulins (antibodies).
Vitamin K2-7 to keep your heart, bones, and kidneys healthy and strong.
Count on Just Thrive to help you stay young at any age.
| Supplement | Age-related issue it addresses | How it helps the immune system |
|---|---|---|
| IgG (immunoglobulins) | Antibody supplies drop with age | Tops up front-line antibodies that recognize and respond to threats |
| Spore probiotics | Gut microbiome shifts out of balance | Help restore balance and support the gut barrier, where most immune activity happens |
| Precision prebiotics | Beneficial bacteria need fuel | Selectively feed good bacteria, not pathogens, to speed rebalancing |
| Vitamin K2-7 | K2 levels decline with age | Activates key proteins and supports healthy immune, heart, and bone function |
Frequently Asked Questions About Supplements for the Aging Immune System
Why does immune function decline with age?
As the body ages, immune responses slow and become less precise. Antibody production drops, the gut microbiome shifts, and the immune system has a harder time recognizing threats it has never encountered before.
What are the four supplements for the aging immune system?
IgG (immunoglobulins), spore probiotics, precision prebiotics, and vitamin K2-7. Each targets a different age-related change, from falling antibody supplies to gut imbalance to declining K2 levels.
Why does gut health matter so much for immunity?
The gut houses at least 70% of the immune system. When the microbiome is balanced, beneficial bacteria help the immune system function properly, which is why spore probiotics and prebiotics are central to immune support.
What kind of vitamin K2 should I look for?
The most absorbable, bioavailable form is K2-7 (MK-7). It is hard to get enough K2 from food alone, so many people choose a K2-7 supplement.
Can I take these supplements together?
Yes. They work in complementary ways, IgG for antibodies, probiotics and prebiotics for the gut, and K2-7 for protein activation, so a full daily dose of each provides well-rounded support. Check with your healthcare provider about your own routine.
