Help keep your immune system operating well

Sudden chilly temperatures, a few sniffles combined with news of a potential swine flu epidemic and we’re suddenly searching for an instant flu fighting remedy.

Strengthening our immune system is the best defence – so, what’s a good way to do that?  A healthy balanced diet, regular physical activity, lots of sleep and reduced stress can work wonders.

Immune-boosting options include probiotic foods like yoghourt with aBc cultures, and pre-biotic foods like wholegrain cereals. While most people are aware of the ‘good’ probiotic bacteria in some yoghourts, interesting new research shows the wholegrain wheat in Vita Brits is a natural prebiotic to nourish the ‘friendly’ bacteria in our digestive system, which helps keep our immune system operating well. I’ve just done a TV commercial talking about this valuable new research from Reading University, so you might see it soon.

Colourful fruits and vegies, particularly citrus, and green or gold kiwifruit, are high in vitamin C, plus red onion is a great source of quercertin, also found in capers and fennel. This is a natural chemical in food shown to decrease respiratory symptoms in mice, although we don’t yet know about the advantages for us just yet.

And of course, we all know how good a steaming bowl of chicken soup makes us feel! 

What about asthma in winter?

According to the Asthma Foundation colds and flu are very common asthma triggers and a flu shot or influenza vaccination is recommended for most people with severe, persistent asthma. Despite many urban myths on diet and asthma there is little evidence to support dietary restrictions unless there is a proven food allergy (e.g. peanuts, eggs).

There is no medical basis for the widely held view that dairy foods increase mucus production in the airways. So people with asthma should follow an immune boosting diet as well. In fact it may help in more ways than one. Research from the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle, showed that patients with asthma placed on a diet low in anti-oxidants, resulted in decreased levels of anti-oxidants in the blood, decreased lung function and their symptoms of asthma worsened.  

Read Hot Topics this month to learn more.

Obesity Conference

I’m excited about what I’ll learn from the European Congress on Obesity in Amsterdam. Speakers will discuss the latest cutting-edge scientific research on prevention, management and treatment of obesity. I’m particularly interested in how other countries are tackling this at a national level, compared to Australia and will fill you in on some of their approaches after the Congress.

Stay fit and well, despite the cold!

Regards
Karen Inge.