Stubborn cough or cold making you miserable? This week in ‘Ask the nutritionist’, Nutritional Director Rick Hay reveals five ways we can naturally boost our immune systems
It’s that time of year where you can’t escape the sounds of coughing and nose-blowing.
There are a few reasons people are more prone to colds this time of year, such as commuting on a stuffy train, giving your sick friend a hug or simply forgetting to wash your hands before lunch.
Whatever the cause of your cough or cold, it would be great if we could incorporate some healthy natural ways of improving our immune system’s resilience.
Nutritional Director Rick Hay reveals five natural ways we can boost our immune system.
Immune system booster #1 Colourful eating
Brightly-coloured foods such as berries, dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, sweetcorn, oranges, sweet potato, beetroot, watermelon, aubergines and turmeric to name a few all contain key vitamins and minerals to help the immune system fight off infection.
‘The deeply coloured pigments in the foods are often where their therapeutic action resides,’ says Hay. ‘So if it stains your fingers and hands it’s generally good for your immune system’.
Colourful foods also contain phytonutrients. These are natural chemicals found in plants that can help maintain immune function and research suggests that they may also have a part to play in helping to prevent lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease and even cancer.
If it stains your fingers and hands it’s generally good for your immune system
And it won’t take long to see benefits either. A study examined the effects of supplementing fruit and vegetable extracts over a four week period.
The fruit supplement contained dried fruit from oranges, apples, pineapples, cranberries and peaches and the vegetable one contained carrots, parsley, beetroot, broccoli, kale, cabbage and spinach.
Results showed that the phytonutrients in these supplements improved antioxidant levels within the very first week.
Immune system booster #2 Vegetable soups containing herbs and spices
Not only are soups beneficial in warming you up during the colder months but they are an excellent way of upping your nutrient intake.
Filling your soups with plenty of nutrient rich vegetables will also increase your phytonutrient consumption, helping to maintain your immune function.
For an extra immune system boost, add herbs and spices such as garlic, oregano, ginger and turmeric as these have antibacterial and antiviral properties. These herbs and spices also have thermogenic properties which means that may help to boost metabolism, circulation and fat burning.
The herb oregano contains two compounds called thymol and carvacrol which are responsible for its anti microbial and anti fungal effects The spice saffron contains the compound safranal which could provide relief from a low mood.
Adding garlic – as much as you (and those around you) can handle – won’t only add flavour but will also provide antibacterial properties to support immune health and keep those persistent colds at bay.
Some studies are even indicating that garlic can increase the activity of natural killer cells, which are immune cells that are involved in containing and controlling viral infections.
Immune system booster #3 Fresh fruit or vegetable juices
Fresh fruit and vegetable juices will also help to increase your antioxidant intake.
The health benefits of the coloured pigments found in foods such as beetroot, peppers and leafy green vegetables help with nitric oxide production which has been proven to aid sports performance and cardiovascular health.
Leafy greens also contain magnesium which helps the nervous system and in turn, leads to a healthier immune system.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays an important role in many functions in the body such as blood flow, mitochondrial respiration and platelet function (platelets are tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding and your mitochondria are the powerhouses in your cells where energy is made).
It has been suggested that an increase in nitric oxide production may enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery to active muscles, improving tolerance to physical exercise therefore improving your immune system health.
‘Making a carrot juice is a great way to help boost your immune system,’ says Hay. Carrots are rich in beta carotene (an antioxidant) which is converted in the body to vitamin A, which may strengthen your mucous membranes and improve respiratory system health.
Additionally the fibre found in fruits and vegetables will also help your gut health and a healthy gut has been shown to enhance immune function.
Fruit and vegetables are high in fibre and also act as prebiotics which are like fertiliser for the good bacteria in your gut, encouraging them to grow and proliferate – the more good bacteria in your gut, the better for your immune system.
Immune system booster #4 Vitamins A, C and D
In terms of supplementation, vitamins A, C and D can help to keep the immune system strong which is particularly helpful during the winter months.
Vitamin A is required to maintain immunity and is a key micronutrient needed for combating infection, supporting the integrity and barrier defence of our mucous membranes.
Smoking and stress can deplete vitamin C levels
Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, red or green peppers and vegetables such as broccoli and you probably know it’s beneficial to the immune system at high doses.
Therefore if you find yourself struggling to consume vitamin C from food alone and are wanting to lessen cold symptoms, it may be an idea to supplement with vitamin C to decrease the duration of cold symptoms by one to one and a half days.
Last year, a report published in the journal Nutrients concluded that, ‘Vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections by enhancing various immune cell functions at levels of 100-200mg a day.’
Smoking and stress can deplete vitamin C levels, so if you are a smoker or find your stress levels are rising, Hay advises that you increase your Vitamin C levels with supplementation.
Where vitamin D is concerned, this time of year especially, we know that the sun can sometimes go days without being seen and when it comes to immunity, it’s super important.
In fact, last year, a major global study published in the British Medical Journal suggested that adding more vitamin D to your diet could significantly cut NHS costs, by reducing the risk of colds, flu and other dangerous respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
The study, undertaken by Queen Mary University of London, reanalysed data from 25 clinical trials involving around 11,000 people from 14 countries.
The authors suggested their work settles the question of whether an increase in colds and flu in the winter is partly due to a vitamin D deficiency in the winter.
Your vitamin D levels can be determined by a blood test from your GP or can be done via private testing
So how can we keep our vitamin D levels sufficient? Taking a supplement might be needed as large proportions of the UK reportedly are deficient in vitamin D. Foods rich in vitamin D include egg yolks, fatty fish such as mackerel and salmon and fortified cereals.
Your vitamin D levels can be determined by a blood test from your GP or can be done via private testing, as well as finger print testing which can be ordered online from reputable companies such as BetterYou.
Government recommendations for vitamin D are 10 micrograms (600iu) per day to avoid deficiency, however higher levels can be supplemented, especially during the winter months and in those with a higher risk of deficiency.
The research suggests that vitamin D in the form of D3 is the more affective from of this nutrient.
Additionally, supplementing with an emulsified vitamin D supplement, as it is a fat soluble nutrient, can further help to maximise absorption, especially for those with digestive issues. Try BioCare’s Nutrisorb Liquid BioMulsion D which provides 1000iu of vitamin D a serving.
Immune system booster #5 Sage and elderberry
For centuries, herbal remedies have been used traditionally to treat a range of conditions to help strengthen and heal the immune system.
Sage in particular is known for it’s antibacterial properties, antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties, traditionally believed to enhance memory.
Sage is also known to help ease congestion and respiratory issues and is often used in homemade remedies to help with cold and flu symptoms.
The botanical elderberry is also used traditionally used to strengthen the respiratory tract and helping fevers as well as for promoting healthy skin.
Historically, elderflowers were used externally as a wash, infused oil, cream or salve for red, inflamed or itchy skin and can also be used topically to treat rashes, sunburn and rosacea.
A study investigating the effects of oral elderberry syrup for treating flu infections saw 60 patients aged 18-54 years suffering from flu-like symptoms for 48 hours or less receive 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for five days, and record their symptoms.
The study found that symptoms were relieved on average four days earlier and the use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo.
Biocare’s Immune Intensive, delivers high potency doses of immune support from vitamins A, C and D together with elderberry, sage and beta glucans to enhance natural killer cell function. Beta glucans support the innate and adaptive immune response and are particularly supportive against upper respiratory tract infections and colds.
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Rick Hay is a nutritionist with a special interest in anti-ageing and many years clinical experience in nutrition, naturopathy and botanical medicine. He specializes in obesity treatment and weight management. He writes a regular Natural Health and Fitness Blog for Healthista. Find out more at rickhay.co.uk. Follow Rick on Twitter @rickhayuk
Rick Hay’s book the Anti Ageing Food and Fitness Plan is available to buy on Amazon.
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