Your immune system is a gateway that either protects you, or leaves you vulnerable to illness. When your immune system is running well you won’t even notice it. If it weakens or you encounter an aggressive germ, then you can become ill. Most germs only make you feel ill the first time you meet them, as your body has a memory for fighting them afterwards.

The usual fear of flu season is currently greatly amplified by concern about coronavirus (COVID-19). You can control your own level of hygiene but not necessarily your chance of exposure – as your location, contacts and travel will determine this.

In a situation where everything feels largely out of control, is it possible to boost your immunity and lower your risk of infection? There is no guarantee against catching any virus and nothing substitutes following current Public Health England guidance regarding hand washing, social distancing and exposure control. However, there are a number of lifestyle changes you can start implementing now to give your immune system a fighting chance.

Dr Louise Wiseman shares her expert tips on how to boost your immunity to ward off nasty infections and get the very best from your health:

How does your immune system work?

Humans have a multi-layered defence thanks to a network formed by the lymphatic system, specifically designed organs (eg spleen and thymus gland) and circulating cells and proteins. The body is also cleverly designed to ‘stop bad things getting in’ in the following ways:

Skin: your skin provides a great barrier (unless you have cuts or abrasions).

Bugs: bugs that enter the nose trigger cells to make more protective mucus.

Sneezing: sneezes and coughs force invading microbes out.

Stomach acid: acid in your stomach destroys pathogens that you swallow.

Gut lining: your gut has a whole mucosal defence team onboard.

Tiny hairs: small hairs in the airways known as cilia keep mucus moving to remove infections. Read more

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