While vitamins help, your body’s ability to fight off bugs starts with how well it’s functioning.
When it comes to boosting immunity, most people head straight for the supplement aisle—vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, probiotics, the list goes on. While these can play a supporting role, real immune strength doesn’t come from a capsule. It begins deep within your body’s systems, where your immune function is shaped by one key factor: how well your body is operating.
Your immune system is incredibly complex. It’s made up of organs, glands, tissues, and an entire network of cells constantly working to detect, destroy, and adapt to viruses, bacteria, and other invaders. But like any team, your immune system is only as strong as its coordination—and that’s where proper function comes in. When your body is functioning at its best, everything from cell communication to inflammatory response is more precise, efficient, and effective.
Many people don’t realise that your immune system doesn’t work in isolation—it’s deeply connected to your nervous system. In fact, the nervous system is what coordinates the immune response. It sends and receives the signals that tell your body what’s a threat and how to respond. If the nervous system is under stress or not functioning optimally, that communication breaks down—and so does your immune defense.
Maier and Watkins (1998) highlighted that the immune system acts as a messenger to the brain, influencing mood, cognition, and behavior. [1] This immune-brain communication explains why people feel physically and emotionally “off” during illness or stress; it’s the body’s way of encouraging recovery. They also argue that our stress response piggybacks on this ancient immune circuitry, allowing us to prepare for threats and potential injury. These findings underscore the need to care for the nervous system as a whole—not just for symptom relief, but for regulating stress, immune response, and mental clarity. Chiropractic, with its focus on optimizing nervous system function, may play a key role in supporting this balance.
Think of it this way: even with the best nutrition, if your internal systems are sluggish, blocked, or overstimulated, your body will have a harder time using those nutrients effectively. Supplements might support the soldiers, but your nervous system is the general—and without clear direction, the battle can be lost before it begins.
Supporting immune function isn’t just about adding more. It’s about ensuring your body can do what it’s designed to do. That includes reducing stress, getting quality sleep, moving your body regularly, and checking in on your body’s foundational systems. You want every organ, gland, and tissue to receive the signals they need to function optimally.
When the body is aligned and functioning well, your immune system has the best shot at staying strong and resilient—whether you’re up against seasonal bugs or everyday stressors.
So the next time you think about immune health, don’t just reach for the bottle—take a step back and ask: is my body running the way it should? Because when it is, immunity isn’t just something you boost—it’s something you live with, every day. Book your chiropractic appointment today.
Sources: [1] Maier SF, Watkins LR. “Cytokines for psychologists: implications of bidirectional immune-to-brain communication for understanding behavior.” Psychol Rev. 1998;105(1):83–107.