Exercise smarter

Working out creates inflammation in the body, but it’s the good kind, says Dr Wherry. “It’s counterintuitive, because exercise disrupts your body’s normal state of play.” But when your sweat sesh is finished, your body goes back to its status quo – keeping your immune system on its toes. People who exercise regularly may develop more or healthier white blood cells, a study in the journal Aging Cell found. It also helps moderate cortisol, which, when raised for long periods, can lead to harmful levels of inflammation. That said, some experts believe that overtraining can have the opposite effect and hinder immunity. So moderate exercise on a consistent basis is what to aim for.

You know your body best, so you’ll know if you’ve been pushing yourself too hard (injuries, poor performance and daylong fatigue are clues). Trackers can help, too.