Winter is conducive to the development of microbes and epidemics, some of which can go so far as to leave us bedridden for several days. An immunologist reveals that health requires a balanced diet and specifies which dishes should be favored to avoid getting sick during the season.
The flu epidemic is gradually taking hold in France, while bronchiolitis has already been there for several weeks. While winter is fast approaching at the same time as the Christmas holidays for which the French are actively preparing, it is appropriate to pay particular attention to the body which is put to the test during the season. Some health experts recommend dietary supplements to strengthen immune defensesothers to continue a regular sports practice or to ensure its food in favoring certain dishes over others.
Currently, it is the different recipes for raclettes or tartiflettes that are successful at the table! And you are probably looking for the best foie gras that will delight your guests on Christmas Eve… But, for the British immunologist Jenna Macciochi, author of the books Immunity: The Science of Staying Well And Your Blueprint for Strong Immunityit is appropriate to focus above all on seasonal products. “In winter, plants do like humans: they adapt to the drop in light and temperatures. Winter fruits and vegetables store energy (in their roots, generally) in order to survive until ‘in spring”she remindsiNewsdebriefing 20 years of research about the immune system.
The rest after this ad
Seasonal fruits and vegetables, vitamin D intake
The specialist emphasizes that it is “Essentially through your diet you can improve your immune system”. Starting from this basis, we retain that the “orange colored winter vegetables” as the pumpkinTHE pumpkinthere butternut squash and the Yam are particularly appreciated during the season because “they contain beta-carotene”. “However, this pro-vitamin A is known for its anti-infectious properties”insists Jenna Macciochi, adding that it is entirely possible to add a source of fat so that the beta-carotene is properly assimilated by the body.
What’s more, it is preferable to consume seasonal fruits which are the citrus. And for good reason, “they are concentrated in vitamin C, a very useful micronutrient in the prevention of infectious diseases”. Namely the clementinesTHE oranges where the lemons which can go well with herbal tea or tea.
Doctor Jenna Macciochi also recalls that hydration is also fundamental. In winter, the feeling of thirst is less present than in summer. But “Our airways can be more susceptible to infections when we are dehydrated. I recommend herbal teas for a hot drink because they are an excellent source of phytonutrients”she advises iNews, before recalling that the intake of vitamin D is also important. Finally, the specialist explains that fermented products “are excellent for the intestinal microbiota”, “these good bacteria that we find in our intestines and which have an influence on our immune system”. She then cites Korean cabbage (Kimchi) as an example, to garnish with a bowl of rice; or even the mushrooms which contain beta-glucans, which nourish the intestinal microbiota. You are ready!
Journalist
If writing is a pleasure, being read is even more so. Passionate about pop culture, Jonathan sets the pace in the right tone to always keep you well informed. Attracted by …