This week saw the arrival of winter in the southern hemisphere. Whilst viruses are present in the environment all year round more cases are seen in winter. Some people rarely get viral illnesses and others are frequently sick. Equal exposure to viruses does not mean equal numbers or severity of infections.
Lois Pasteur, the father of germ theory reportedly said on his deathbed “the seed (germ) is nothing, the soil (body) is everything.” Whether you get a virus will be more determined by your health rather than the virus. If this were not the case everyone would be equally affected.
To use an analogy, if it is raining outside and you are inside a house, you won’t get wet – unless the roof is damaged and leaking. The rain is the same but your protection has been damaged.
Our protective roof against viruses is our immune system. When it is fully functional, it will stop any virus and we don’t get sick. This happens each day, as we are constantly exposed to viruses, and we don’t even realise it.
We become sick when a virus has gotten through the immune system (through the hole in the roof). At this point the immune system works double time to clear out the invader. Symptoms such as a fever and tiredness tell us the immune system is working.
Two questions that arise are what leads to a weakening of the immune system and what can be done to strengthen it. Attitude and stress are major contributors to weakened immunity. A Spanish University study showed people with a negative outlook on life had four times the likelihood of getting a cold than those with a positive outlook. Those who felt stressed had 3 times the rate. Lack of sleep, eating too much sugary food, overwork and even some medications can lower our immunity. Smoking and exposure to other toxins are also factors.
Getting a virus may be a sign that the body is overloaded and hence the virus has slipped through the immune system. When ill, people will rest and reduce their load – just what the body needs. This is a bit like repairing the hole in the roof before it gets bigger.
Our goal however is to keep the roof free of holes. Here are four simple tips on helping your immune system.
1) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, which are high in antioxidants.
2) Get enough essential fatty acids such as fish, olives (or olive oil), linseed or nuts.
3) Many people may benefit from vitamin supplements, particularly antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. Zinc, and Folate supplements are also helpful. Get enough vitamin D either from the sun or a supplement.
4) Make sure you get enough sleep, as this is the bodies recharge the battery time and drink 35ml/kilo of water each day.
Most importantly examine your workload and stress levels and take steps to reduce them before they reduce your immunity to illness.
Medical Doctor, author, speaker, media presenter and health industry consultant, Dr Joe Kosterich wants you to be healthy and get the most out of life.
Joe writes for numerous medical and mainstream publications, is clinical editor at Medical Forum Magazine, and is also a regular on radio and television.
Joe is Medical Advisor to Medicinal Cannabis Company Little Green Pharma, Chairman of Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and sits on the board of Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA. He is often called to give opinions in medico legal cases.
He has self-published two books: Dr Joe’s DIY Health and 60 Minutes To Better Health.
In 2024 due to public demand he commenced a podcast, Dr Joe Unplugged, which can be accessed via Spotify, Apple or YouTube.
Through all this he continues to see patients as a GP each week.
