Ask Dr Miriam

Q My little granddaughter is subject to a lot of coughs and colds and I’m dreading the winter. Can you suggest any way in which we could boost her immunity? A

I honestly don’t believe that the immune system can be boosted other than by vaccinations. However, there are certain steps you can take to make sure your granddaughter’s health, and therefore her immune system, is in good shape.

She’ll be most healthy if she has lots of different bacteria within her intestine so give her a varied diet to help build this

diversity which will contribute to her strong immune system. It’s essential that she’s exposed to household germs so don’t use those disinfectants that are advertised on TV claiming they kill all household germs. Get her outdoors as much as possible so that she’ll be exposed to outdoor microbes. Avoid using antibacterial soaps because they can cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria.Get a dog. There’s lots of research showing children exposed to dogs early in life have a strong immune system.