Immune health and your gut

Always on the go? Find you don’t seem to shake off those coughs and colds? Is a busy lifestyle making you feel ‘run down’?

Help is at hand. Scientists have discovered your body has a natural self defence against illness and infection in the form of the good bacteria that live in your gut. In fact taking care of your gut is essential for your immune system health as around 60% of your immune system is actually based there.

It’s all about balance

A healthy gut relies on keeping a positive balance of good and bad bacteria. However skipping meals, too little sleep and the stress of a hectic lifestyle can all affect the natural balance of the good bacteria in your gut. Harmful ‘bad’ bacteria may then take over, putting a weak immune system under constant pressure as it fights to keep you healthy and well.

It is also why, after taking a long course of antibiotics, people often feel generally exhausted and unwell, because antibiotics kill your good, protective bacteria as well as the harmful invaders.

However you can help maintain a healthy immune system by boosting your body’s own good bacteria.