How to nourish your body to keep cold and flu away.
As the cold season approaches, the best thing you can do is to give some extra love to your immune system. Starting now by taking proactive steps to protect your health and strengthen your immunity will reduce your risk of spending the whole winter sniffling and coughing. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this? Nourishing food!
Your immune system acts as a defense mechanism, protecting your body against harmful pathogens and viruses. Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in maintaining a robust immune system. When you provide your body with the right nutrients, you equip your immune cells to function optimally, enabling them to detect and eliminate invaders effectively. As a result, you can reduce the risk of getting sick during the cold and flu season.
THE LINK BETWEEN NUTRITION AND IMMUNITY
Developing a regular habit of consuming a nourishing and well-rounded diet is key to supporting your immune system and promoting overall well-being. It's essential to incorporate a wide range of whole foods into your meals, ideally in their natural form. This includes vegetables, fruits, lean sources of protein, beans and legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats. By embracing this diversity of nutrients, you provide your body with the necessary building blocks for a properly functioning immune system.
A healthy and balanced diet isn't just about the immune system; it also plays a crucial role in maintaining your digestive system healthy and the good bugs living in your gut. Optimal immune function relies on a happy and balanced gut microbiota, which is supported by a fibre-rich diet. So, be sure to include an nice amount of fibre in your meals.
While diet plays a significant role in shaping the gut microbiota, it's important to recognise that other factors can influence its composition as well. Factors like stress levels, quality of sleep, and medications can impact the delicate balance of microorganisms in your gut. Taking a holistic approach that addresses these factors alongside a healthy diet can lead to optimal immune function and overall health.
6 MUST-EAT FOODS TO STRENGHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
These 6 foods are a must-have in your arsenal to strengthen your immune system:
TURMERIC: This holy spice is a powerful anti-inflammatory…a true ally for your immune system.
GARLIC: it’s a natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic. Adding it regularly to meals can boost its immune benefits.
CHILLI: it’ll warm you up in winter and can help clear sinuses
HONEY: it has antibacterial property and can help relieve a sore throat
ONION: it’s a great source of the antioxidant quercetin, which helps clear your airways from mucus. It aslo contains vitamin C, zinc and selenium, all important for immune functions
CITRUS FRUIT: Vitamin C powerhouses, they’re all rich in vitamin C, which works as an antioxidant and antibacterial
LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR OPTIMISING COLD & FLU PREVENTION
But it’s not only about diet! A healthy lifestyle must complement nutrition to really boost immunity. Here are some of the most important factors to work on:
Good Hydration: Drink plenty of water and warming herbal teas
Mind your Sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of good sleep each night to recharge your immune system
Manage Stress: Stress is the enemy of the immune system. Find the best stress-management techniques that work for you
Regular Exercise: moderate exercise enhances immune function and overall health.
Preventing illnesses is much better than curing them! So if you don’t want to sneeze your way into winter, now it’s the right time to prepare your immune system to keep cold and flu away by prioritising nourishing, immune-boosting foods and fine tuning your lifestyle habits.
Is your immune system winter-ready? Book a FREE 15 minute call with me to understand how I can help you strengthen your immunity with a personalised nutrition plan.
