Here are our tips on how to boost your immune system
As the Coronavirus continues on its infection rampage, I thought I’d write a blog post to give a little more information about why you should be thinking about how to boost your immune system in this very important time.
There’s no denying that in about a week the UK will be on lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. If I am honest, I am not sure why lockdown isn’t happening now. We only have to look at the other countries affected by the virus to understand that this too is going to cause major problems in the UK. The biggest concern I have is the lack of intensive care unit beds in our hospitals up and down the country. If we were to lockdown the country now, then would we have a better chance at protecting those who are highly vulnerable before they get the virus?
So, what can you do to protect yourself against the Coronavirus?
The biggest action you can take right now is to look at your diet! This is no joke. What you eat can have an immediate influence on your immune system. Certain foods can help improve the function of the immune system and I will list some here and then explain why.
- Top of my list is bone broth. Yes, I know I am biased towards broth, but the reason is because it works. You are better off choosing beef broth for your immune system because our beef broth is high in natural protein. Two important proteins found in bone broth are glycine and glutamine [1] It is these proteins that can help with the reduction of inflammation in the body, Glycine is known to decrease activation of inflammatory cells [2] By reducing inflammation in your body, you are increasing your body’s ability to fight off infection, because it is no longer dealing with the demands of inflammation.
- Kefir water. Our kefir water is abundant in Lactobacillus bacteria. In science, we understand that your gut bacteria has evolved with your immune system since the day you were born. The two communicate with each other in effect working with each other as the immune system evolves. The immune system monitors the state of the gut microbiome, so any dysfunction in the gut such as an imbalance in the gut flora, will affect the signals between the microbiome and the immune system. If the gut and the immune system aren’t talking properly, the immune system will not be able to respond to damage within the gut thus leading to complications related to the gut [3]. Lactobacillus, found in our kefir water, is a friendly bacteria that can help us break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off “unfriendly” organisms that might cause diseases [4]
- Eat lots of vegetables. Vegetables contain dietary fibre. In science, we understand that fibre is important for your gut microbes because they contain the nutrients the bacteria need to thrive and survive. Eating more vegetables means that you are giving your microbes the best opportunity they can to colonise and ward off other harmful microbes. As a result, you will reduce inflammation of your gut and improve your immune system.
- Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for the immune system because it supports the functions of the immune cells needed for fighting off infection. Some of the foods that contain Vitamin C are broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, orange juice, papaya, red, green or yellow pepper, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes [5]
- Get plenty of sleep. Not a food, but equally important when it comes to your immune system. When you sleep your body produces an antibody protein called Cytokine. Some cytokines are inflammatory mediators, which means their job is to help reduce inflammation caused by infection and stress. If you are not getting enough sleep, then the production of cytokines reduces meaning that the inflammatory response is depleted.
If you would like any more information about any of our products or some help with regard to your immune system, then please feel free to contact us.
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