AND THE IMMUNITY WRECKERS . . .

WHAT you’re doing on a daily basis could be putting your immune system at risk. it’s not just the things that we all know can cause problems — such as lack of exercise or sleep: other unexpected factors could be sabotaging your immunity, as i reveal here . . .

Cooking with omega-6

SEED oils high in the omega-6 fat — such as soybean, corn, safflower and cottonseed oils — are highly susceptible to what’s known as oxidative damage when you heat them. Over-consuming these oils may lead to inflammation and can even deplete the levels of beneficial omega-3 levels in the body, which have important anti-inflammatory functions, especially during infections.

Extra-virgin olive oil is much more stable as it contains polyphenols, compounds that help protect it from oxidising when heated.

Being cold

VIRUSES tend to replicate better in cold climates and that also includes colder parts of the body. This is why many viruses propagate initially in the nasal cavity and sinus passages, which tend to be cooler areas of the body.

So raising core body temperature may be a great way to help support the immune system — for instance, having a sauna, or increasing core body temperature through other ways, such as exercising with thick layers on.

The body’s first line of defence against an infection is a fever. When we go into a sauna or exercise to the point of raising our own internal body temperature, we mimic the benefits that occur with fevers. Increasing core body temperature releases heat shock proteins, which have various antiviral benefits.

Going into a sauna multiple times per week has even been associated with a lower risk of viral infections including the common cold, influenza and even pneumonia.

Processed foods

PROCESSED foods typically make up 60 per cent of the UK diet. They are often laced with artificial preservatives and sweeteners and contain added fats that when combined can pack on the pounds. An over- consumption of processed foods is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome, two conditions that put people at an increased risk from Covid-19.

Reducing your intake of refined foods and eating whole foods is a great way to improve your metabolic health ( ie, blood sugar levels, blood pressure etc) and immune health.

Foods high in immune-supporting nutrients include grass-fed meat, eggs, wild salmon, spinach, nuts, peppers, oranges and dark chocolate.