NETWORK WINTER 2020 | Page 24

CEC ARTICLE 1 OF 5 ARTICLES OPTIMISING IMMUNITY BUILDING DEFENCE AGAINST SICKNESS Nutritionist Zoe Dent looks at how you can bolster your body’s natural defence against illness to reduce your chances of getting sick. Y our immune system is your body’s natural defence against illness – so it should be an ongoing goal to keep it as strong as possible. During these times, more and more people who have never previously spared it much thought will be realising the importance of improving their health. The keys to a balanced immune system and better overall health are optimising your diet, movement and sleep, while reducing stress. Diet and gut health When it comes to diet, a low-processed, antioxidant-rich whole foods diet can support the body’s ability to repair itself and ensure optimal gut health. Over 70% of the body’s immune cells are located in the gut walls, which explains why good gut health is key to robust immunity. This can be achieved by consuming a variety of pre and probiotics, and soluble and insoluble fibre, while avoiding toxins, pharmaceuticals and chemicals which can degrade our gut health. Specific probiotic strains that have been studied in the prevention of colds and viruses have been shown to shorten the duration and severity of illness through their impact on the gut. A balanced microbiome provides the building blocks for our immune system and plays a regulatory role keeping it in check. We also have immune cells located in the THE QUICK READ • The keys to a balanced immune system and better overall health are optimising your diet, movement and sleep, while reducing stress • Movement can increase the circulation of white blood cells which can kill pathogens (germs) and can also positively affect mental health and sleep • When we’re stressed, the immune system becomes weaker and makes us more susceptible to infection • When it comes to diet, a low-processed, antioxidant-rich whole foods diet can support the body’s ability to repair itself and ensure optimal gut health. 24 | NETWORK WINTER 2020