Did you know that you can support your immune system by eating a good diet? With all of us wanting to keep colds and flus at bay, we have enlisted the help of our Chief Nutrition Officer, Clinical Nutritionist Cailie Ford, to find out how.
Firstly, it’s important to understand:
- 70% of your immune system is located in your gut - to strengthen your immune system you need to focus on gut health.
- Low plant consumption negatively impacts your gut health because our good gut bugs feed on fibre in plant foods - so eating more greens improves your gut health.
- Eating a diet rich in wholefoods, with lots of fruits and veggies has an anti-
inflammatory effect on the body, which means you're more resilient against illness and infection.
What are the key foods for immune health?
- Capsicum - rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps produce antibodies to protect
you from viruses.
- Bananas - rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C speeds up immune activity making
your response more effective.
- Onion - rich in prebiotic fibre that feeds your good gut bugs and helps build up your army against infection.
- Ginger - antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, ginger helps reduce inflammation associated with illness and infection.
In addition to these nutrient-dense foods, ALL fruits and vegetables are crucial for your immune health because they contain an array of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to build up it’s defense against infection and speed up recovery from illness.
To check out a range of Cailie’s recipes using these key foods, visit our recipe
library.
About Cailie:
Cailie Ford is a motivational speaker, corporate nutritionist and accredited change manager. Cailie works with businesses across the globe, providing customised programs to support employees to feel better and achieve more.
Workplace programs focus on the relationship between physical and mental wellbeing and their impact on business performance, working towards a healthier, happier and more engaged workforce.
Cailie also runs a private practice, partnering with individuals on a range of health conditions to empower people to prioritise their wellbeing. Some of Cailie’s areas of interest include gut health, menstrual health, pregnancy and postnatal nutrition, autoimmune conditions and mental health.
