DID you know that up to 80 per cent of your immune system is in your gut? This means that a healthy gut is essential if you want to stay well. Here are some general tips for looking after yourself before and during flu season.
1. Probiotics. Our gut is home to both good and bad bacteria. A healthy person has the right balance and volume of bacteria (good and bad) as well as different types (diversity). Foods such as live natural yogurt, Kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kombucha and pickled vegetables (if pickled in a salt brine), can provide the probiotics your gut need.
2. Vitamin D is really important for immune health, but as the best source of vitamin D is sunshine, many Irish people find that they are deficient. Feed the Good Bugs! Prebiotics are the fibre rich foods that our good bacteria feed on, so to keep them growing we need to eat foods like garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, barley, oats. apples and flaxseeds.
3. Eat garlic! Yes, we already know it’s a prebiotic, but it is also a natural antibiotic, as well as being antiviral and antiseptic. Try to eat raw if you can tolerate it or be adventurous and ferment some for an added boost to your health.
4. Add the following to your shopping list – onion, ginger (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory), cayenne pepper and a pure raw local honey (honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic).
5. Use some thyme in your cooking – this tasty herb is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral. It is great for respiratory infections and coughs.
6. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, including a wide variety of colours, especially those high in vitamin A (dark green leafy veg, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots) and vitamin C (chili peppers, peppers, parsley and thyme, kale, kiwi, broccoli, blackcurrents, lemons, oranges and strawberries).
Nicola Brady (BSc., Dip NT, mNTOI). Registered Nutritional Therapist. See www.thefoodclinic.ie or www.facebook.com/nicolabradynutrition
