6 Ways To Boost Your Immunity This Winter
Supporting a healthy gut-immune response is a multi-factorial process. Author and nutritional therapist, Eve Kalinik, suggests 6 ways to support your gut health and immunity this festive season:
1. Aim for 30 plants a week
Increasing our overall plant diversity supports a more diverse gut microbiome and immune system. This can be from vegetables, fruit, whole grains and nuts and seeds as well as spices and herbs. Consider making up nut and seed mixes that you can sprinkle over soups, salads, cooked vegetables, overnight oats and more.
2. Consume Gut Nourishing Foods
This includes organic bone broth, fermented foods, mushrooms, seeds, nuts, salmon, mackerel, prawns, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, spinach and more. Spices such as turmeric also contain vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, amino acids and types of fibre that all help to support the health of the gut and the immune system. Try making up a stewed apple compote with cinnamon that you can serve alongside breakfast or as a tasty snack.
3. Supplementation
Whilst a food-first approach is recommended, if you are struggling to get enough fibre to support your gut health from your diet, you could also consider using a high-fibre supplement, such as Bimuno. Bimuno is an award-winning, scientifically-backed prebiotic supplement that feeds bifidobacteria, a ‘good bacteria’ found in the gut, connected with digestive health, immunity, and mental wellbeing. Gluten-free and taste-free, the sachet powder can be added to any food or drink and is shown to begin working in just 7 days of routine daily use.
4. Include key co-factor nutrients
Vitamin C and zinc are integral for the health of the immune system. Vitamin C is found in strawberries, avocado, broccoli, peppers, spinach and citrus fruit. Zinc is abundant in shellfish, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cashew nuts and traditional hard cheese, which also includes a boost of beneficial bacteria for the gut too!
5. Let the Sunshine in
Sunshine is a key component of how our body makes vitamin D. For those of us living in the UK it is essential that we supplement our stores during the winter months, as from October through to May the intensity of the sunlight is not strong enough to naturally produce Vitamin D from the sun. It can be challenging to achieve the recommended daily dose of 10 micrograms just through your diet alone, which is why we recommend MOJU’s Vitamin D shot which is packed with 396% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin D3. Comprising a blend of orange juice, turmeric, ginger and even a bit of seaweed, this tasty shot has a fiery kick to really start your day with a goodness bang.
6. Prioritise Rest
It’s one of the busiest times of the year, from both a work and social perspective. Too much stress and not enough sleep can encroach on the health of our immune system. Allowing sufficient time before we go to bed without the devices in sight can help to cultivate a more restful night’s sleep.
