With winter fast approaching, now’s the time to consider support for the immune system. Gabriela Peacock, a nutritional therapist based at Grace Belgravia, shares her dietary and wellbeing advice below
1. Eat more garlic! When crushed, it produces an ingredient called allicin, which fights infection and bacteria.
2. Selenium from Brazil nuts and shellfish help white blood cells produce cytokines that help clear viruses.
3. Iron isn’t just found in red meat! By eating leafy greens, beans and lentils you can be sure to get enough iron to keep you strong and healthy. Consume alongside vitamin C for maximum absorption.
4. Zinc is an immunity bolstering mineral and even a mild deficiency can increase infection risk. Try zinc- rich foods such as beef, poultry, fortified cereals, yoghurt or milk.
5. Vitamin A plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, such as skin, which acts as the first line defence against bacteria, viruses and other nasties. One of the best ways to get vitamin A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene like sweet potatoes, squash and carrots, which your body turns into vitamin A.
6. And don’t forget to include exercise in your daily routine. Find a class (I love pilates) inside so you can’t use the excuse that it’s cold or wet! Regular exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health.
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