"More than 70-percent of our immune system is located in the gut," explains Dr Macciochi, so it's important that you're eating a diverse range of foods, including plants and fibre, to provide your gut with good bacteria.
Macciochi recommends eating lots of onion and garlic (to get a daily dose of plant polyphenols), which are full of antioxidants and help your immune system fight back naturally. A poor diet can also significantly disrupt your immune system in more ways than one. "If you're feeling sorry for yourself, you might be tempted to cheer yourself up with comfort foods or sugary snacks — however, eating or drinking sugar limits your body's ability to absorb vitamin C," the antioxidant fundamental for supporting a healthy immune system.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim