Trust your gut for winter proofing your immunity

Having good microbiome health is increasingly linked to strength to fight illness. By Matt Nixson

- By Matt Nixson

OUR gut has a huge impact on immunity and health. It's where 70 per cent of the body's immune cells are found, and recent evidence has confirmed good gut health strengthens both "innate" immunity - our frontline defence - and "adaptive" immunity, which provides a rapid-response force when bacteria or viruses breach defences.

Nutritionist Suzie Sawyer says: "This dual action means optimising your gut health will not only help reduce the risk of catching colds and other infections, it will also bolster your ability to fight them off and minimise symptoms."

Earlier this year, scientists detailed growing evidence which points to a critical pathway from the gut to better health and immunity, called the gut-lung axis.

Suzie explains: "While it's true the vast majority of our immune cells are in the gut, they are also present in mucosal tissue throughout the body, including nasal passages, mouth, lining of the lungs and eyes - all recognised entry points for bugs."