Boost your immune system

Your immune system is important at all times. These tips for staying healthy are just as relevant when fighting off colds and flu.

How does my immune system work?

The immune system is made up of various organs, cells and proteins. It plays a vital role in your body, protecting it from harmful substances or cell changes that could make you ill.

When your immune system detects foreign and potentially harmful microbes in your body, it quickly sets to work fighting them off.

Sometimes your immune system can’t fight these microbes off so easily, which means you get ill. Many of the symptoms you experience will actually be caused by your immune system reacting to the invading substance(s).

The germs that tend to make you ill will be:

• Germs that are particularly strong
• Germs you have never encountered before

Often, once your body has successfully fought off an infection it will remember how to fight it, so next time you come into contact with those germs you won’t get ill. This is true for chickenpox, for example.

What happens if my immune system is weakened?

Some people have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition called an immunodeficiency disorder. This could be present from birth or be as a result of a disorder that has developed, for example HIV or certain types of cancer.

Other people considered immunocompromised include those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. You may also have a weaker immune system if you are pregnant or elderly.

The most common symptom of a weakened immune system is an increased risk of infections – getting them more frequently and suffering more intensely from them.

Many people classed as immunocompromised will already be under medical guidance on how to protect themselves from infection. They will know how to be careful and protect themselves from infection.

If you think you may be immunocompromised and have not yet spoken to your doctor, seek advice from your GP.

How can I boost my immune system?

There is no magical immune system booster that will bolster your defences overnight, but there are things you can do to protect your immune cells, potentially lowering your susceptibility to infection.

Looking after yourself in body and mind is the best way to improve immunity, and the better your immune system functions, the better your whole body functions. Health benefits can include everything from lowered blood pressure to reduced inflammation.

1. Eat the right foods

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to look after your body. Focus on whole foods, eating from all the key food groups, and avoid overly salty, fatty, sugary or processed foods.

There are certain foods that are thought to be particularly good at boosting immunity, but really the most important thing is to eat lots of different healthy foods.

2. Get the nutrients your immune system needs

Certain nutrients are essential to the good running of your immune system. These are found in fresh produce; you shouldn't rely on supplements to get them.

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body. This vital nutrient is found in many foods, not just citrus fruits. It’s also in leafy green vegetables, bell peppers, strawberries, carrots and many more fruits and vegetables
• Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight infection. Find it in spinach, broccoli, almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts
• Vitamin B6 is essential to your immune system. Bananas, lean poultry, tuna and chickpeas are all high in this nutrient
• Vitamin D - A daily dose of vitamin D is one of the few things you may need a supplement for, though eating fatty fish (or fortified cereals and spreads) and being exposed to sunlight do help. Vitamin D helps the body regulate immune responses, so check these guidelines on who needs a vitamin D supplement.
• Vitamin A - Brightly coloured foods often contain vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and squash are all high in this nutrient.
• Folate – also known as folic acid – helps our body create cells, meaning a deficiency can lead to a weakened immune system. Get yours from beans and peas or leafy green vegetables. You’ll also find it in certain fortified foods
• Iron helps your body carry oxygen to cells, including the white blood cells that are central to the immune system. Find it in lean poultry or in dark, leafy greens
• Selenium plays a crucial role in the functioning of our body’s defences. Find it in garlic, broccoli, sardines, tuna and mushrooms, among many other foods
• Zinc is thought to help control inflammation. Zinc is found in oysters, crabs, poultry, beans and chickpeas

3. Exercise more

Regular exercise can strengthen your immune system, as well as helping you sleep better and reducing your stress levels – two things that have an impact on immunity.

Regular exercise has been shown to improve immune response even in those with weakened immune systems.

4. Control your stress levels

Stress and anxiety can have a physical effect on our bodies, including a negative impact on our natural defences. This is particularly true if you are stressed over a long period of time.

One study even found a link between chronic stress-related conditions and autoimmune diseases.

Everyone gets stressed now and again, so it’s a good idea to find a few stress-busting techniques that work for you. Try breathing techniques, yoga or meditation.

5. Get enough sleep

While you sleep, your immune system produces proteins called cytokines, which target infection and inflammation. These are also released during sleep, meaning losing out on shut-eye could seriously impact your defences.

Most adults need around eight hours of good quality sleep a night. Some will need more, some less. If you regularly feel tired throughout the day, you probably aren’t getting enough sleep.

Many people treat sleep as a luxury, but it is truly a necessity. Make a conscious effort to sleep more as it could really boost your immunity.

6. Have a healthy, happy gut

The health of your digestive tract has a huge impact on the health of your whole body, and your immune system is no different. A healthy gut microbiome encourages healthy defences.

• Read our guide to ensuring a happy, healthy gut

7. Maintain good personal hygiene

It’s all well and good doing all the above things to make sure your immune system is fighting fit, but are you taking measures to stop germs entering your body in the first place?

The most important of these is also the simplest: keeping your hands clean.

Wash your hands for 20 seconds (two rounds of Happy Birthday) using warm water and soap before cooking or eating and after you cough or sneeze. Do the same after you use the bathroom or touch public surfaces.

Washing your hands is listed as one of the key things you can do to protect yourself from the coronavirus. If you’ve touched something outside of your home and haven’t washed your hands since, don’t touch your face.