Your immune system has a very tough job… especially right now.
It’s doing the best it can to keep you safe in the face of constant threats.
And while you’re doing your part washing your hands and making smart/protective choices, it’s likely your immune system simply needs more.
To run smoothly and effectively, it specifically needs two essential minerals:
Zinc and Selenium.
As with most things in life, nature provides these minerals through natural means (certain foods, etc)… But can you be sure you’re getting enough?
Because even minor deficiencies in either of these minerals can make you much more vulnerable to infections – and that includes viral infections.
And if you do get sick, your quick and complete recovery will benefit greatly from the support essential minerals like zinc and selenium provide.
Quick Answer: Two essential minerals, zinc and selenium, play outsized roles in keeping your immune system strong, responsive, and balanced. Your body cannot make them, so you have to get them from food and supplements, yet even minor shortfalls are common and can leave you more vulnerable to infections. Zinc helps immune cells develop and function, supports antiviral defenses, and helps prevent immune overreactions, while selenium adds antioxidant protection and helps your body make protective selenoproteins. Vegetarians, vegans, and people with digestive issues are at higher risk of low levels. Because diet alone often falls short, many people supplement both, for example through a formula like Just Thrive Immunity Plus.
What Makes a Mineral Essential?
What Makes a Mineral Essential?
An essential mineral is a nutrient your body cannot make on its own, so you must get it through food and supplements. These minerals are essential because your cells, organs, and whole body cannot function properly without them.
When it comes to essential minerals, there’s a technical definition and a practical definition.
Technically speaking, essential minerals are nutrients you need to get through food and supplements because your body can’t generate them.
Practically speaking, these minerals are essential because you can’t live without them. They play important roles in how your cells, organs, and whole body function.
Two essential minerals in particular (zinc and selenium) keep your immune system strong, responsive, and balanced.
And when you don't get enough of these two essentials – which is much more common than you might think – you’ll be vulnerable to viral infections and chronic illness.
Bottom line: You simply can’t be in your best health without them!
How Do Zinc and Selenium Protect Your Health?
How These Essential Minerals Protect Your Health
Zinc and selenium keep your immune system functioning properly, so without enough of both, your risk of infection rises and outcomes can be worse if you do get sick. They are quieter than popular minerals like calcium or iron, but just as important for lifelong immune health.
The two most important minerals for immune resilience – zinc and selenium – don’t get nearly enough attention.
They’re not as popular as splashy minerals like calcium or iron… but they’re even more important for your lifelong health because they keep your immune system functioning properly.
And without them, your immune system can’t fight off the constant barrage of infectious bacteria and viruses you’re exposed to everyday.
Your immune system counts on zinc and selenium in dozens of critical ways. When it doesn’t have enough of both, the likelihood of you getting infections skyrockets.
And if you do get sick, you could be facing worse outcomes if you don’t have zinc and selenium on board.
In fact, one study found that among people hospitalized with infectious diseases, 66.7% had zinc deficiencies and 46.6% had selenium deficiencies.
Plus, infections can drain your body’s supplies of zinc and selenium. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure you're getting enough of both of these essential minerals… and giving your immune system a fighting chance.
How Does Zinc Support Your Immune System?
7 Ways Your Immune System Relies on Zinc
Zinc helps immune cells develop and function, supports your body’s antiviral defenses, and strengthens the barrier cells that keep pathogens out. It also helps prevent immune overreactions, and low zinc can leave you more vulnerable to a wide range of pathogens.
Your body needs zinc to stay healthy.
This essential mineral works quietly in the background, allowing your cells to function properly. And one of its most important jobs involves helping your immune system fight off infections in several critical ways.
Decades of scientific studies demonstrate just how essential zinc is for your immune system:
- Immune cells can’t develop or function properly with out zinc
- Zinc helps your immune system learn how to respond better and smarter during the course of viral infections
- Zinc directly fights viruses and stimulates your immune system’s anti-viral attack
- Zinc boosts immune function and reduces the risk of infection, especially in older adults
- Zinc stops potentially deadly immune system overreactions – like cytokine storms – from ever starting
- Zinc strengthens the natural barrier cells that prevent pathogens from entering your body
- Low levels of zinc can make you more vulnerable to a wide variety of pathogens
You can see why getting plenty of zinc can make all the difference when viruses are going around. Because without enough zinc, your immune system simply can’t fully protect you.
How Does Selenium Support Your Immune System?
Superstar Selenium Supercharges Immune Resilience
Selenium strongly influences your immune and inflammatory responses, and its antioxidant activity protects immune cells from free radicals. Your body also uses selenium to make protective selenoproteins, and low selenium makes it harder to handle viral infections.
Selenium has mightily powerful effects on your immune system, and it strongly influences your body’s immune and inflammatory responses.
When selenium supplies run low, your immune system can’t take on viral infections as effectively.
Some of selenium’s immune-boosting powers come from its strong antioxidant activity. By protecting critical immune cells from free radicals, selenium helps your immune system stay alert and resilient.
Your body also uses selenium to make selenoproteins, which perform countless protective functions.
Case in point: Research shows that selenium helps lower the incidence and severity of many viruses. That means you get sick less often… and for shorter periods when infections do take hold.
Studies show that selenium helps keep you stay healthy by:
- Initiating immune system responses
- Reducing chronic inflammation
- Preventing excessive immune reactions
- Improving anti-viral immunity
Selenium makes a powerful ally in the fight against contagious infections… so it’s critically important to make sure you’re getting enough of this essential mineral.
Are You Getting Enough Zinc and Selenium?
You Probably Don’t Get Enough Zinc and Selenium
Many people fall short of the zinc and selenium needed for optimal immune health. Vegetarians and vegans are at higher risk because the richest sources are animal products, as are people with GI conditions such as IBD or celiac disease that affect absorption.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone…
Millions of us don’t get enough zinc and selenium for optimal immune health
But some groups of people face higher than normal risk for too-low levels of these two essential minerals.
Since many of the richest sources come from animal products, vegetarians and vegans may not get enough zinc or selenium to stay in peak health. Plus, it can be hard for your body to absorb enough of these minerals from plant food alone.
People with gastrointestinal (GI) issues may also have trouble absorbing zinc and selenium from foods. That group includes people with GI disorders like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and celiac disease, as well as people who’ve undergone GI surgeries (like lap-band surgery).
But even without intake or absorption issues, it can be tough to get all the zinc and selenium your immune system needs to fight off everything going around.That’s why scientists recommend supplementing these two essential minerals to boost your resistance to pathogens.
| Immune role | Zinc | Selenium |
|---|---|---|
| Main immune contribution | Helps immune cells develop and function; supports antiviral defense | Antioxidant protection for immune cells; makes protective selenoproteins |
| Barrier and overreaction control | Strengthens barrier cells; helps prevent immune overreactions | Reduces chronic inflammation; helps prevent excessive immune reactions |
| If levels run low | More vulnerable to a wide range of pathogens | Less able to take on viral infections effectively |
| Common food sources | Largely animal products; harder to absorb from plants | Largely animal products; absorption affected by GI issues |
Frequently Asked Questions About Zinc and Selenium
Why are zinc and selenium important for immunity?
Both minerals help keep your immune system strong, responsive, and balanced. Zinc supports immune cell function and antiviral defense, while selenium adds antioxidant protection and helps your body make protective selenoproteins.
What makes a mineral essential?
An essential mineral is one your body cannot produce on its own, so you have to get it through food and supplements. They are essential because your cells, organs, and whole body need them to function.
Who is most at risk of low zinc or selenium?
Vegetarians and vegans are at higher risk because the richest sources are animal products. People with GI conditions such as IBD or celiac disease, or who have had GI surgery, may also have trouble absorbing these minerals from food.
Can you get enough zinc and selenium from food alone?
It can be difficult. Even without intake or absorption problems, many people do not get optimal amounts from diet alone, which is why supplementing both minerals is often recommended.
How can you supplement zinc and selenium together?
Look for a formula that pairs both minerals with other immune-supporting ingredients. Just Thrive Immunity Plus combines zinc and selenium with polyphenols, echinacea, and Epicor for added immune support.
Get Your Daily Zinc and Selenium with Just Thrive Immunity Plus
An effective, resilient immune system requires constant supplies of zinc and selenium. Those two essential minerals work together with the other supportive compounds in Just Thrive Immunity Plus to keep your immune system alert and responsive… without overreacting!
Immunity Plus combines zinc and selenium with powerful polyphenols and Epicor®, a natural whole-food immune supplement derived from baker’s yeast. Every capsule of Immunity Plus contains:
- Selenium, a powerful antioxidant that keeps your immune system in top shape
- Zinc, a critical component of optimal immune function and response
- Pomanox® Pomegranate Extract, which contains 300% more immune-activating polyphenols than red wine or green tea
- Echinacea, the world’s most relied on immune-strengthening herb
- Epicor®, shown in 8 human clinical trials to deliver significant relief when you need it most
This season (and ALL seasons), keep your immune system running strong with Just Thrive's Immunity Plus
