It’s the time of year when the risk of colds, flu and infections is increased.  So I am going to explain how each of us can invest in a strong immune status.

I will also give details of a new food supplement that was rated number 1 for effectiveness from over 300 immne enhancers.  The tests were conducted by the Department of Defence of a major NATO country against the sort of extreme hazards that troops may encounter.  It has also tested as 9 times more effective than Echinacea.

In winter, closer contact in heated offices, classrooms and crowded commuter transport coincides with lower levels of vitamin D through lack of sunshine on the skin – which reduces immune effectiveness.

Our immune system is there to protect us against infections – but stress, certain types of pollution, and sub-optimal nutrition can weaken this natural defence.

The threats are made worse by the over-sanitisation of our environment, which has left our immune systems less challenged, less active and therefore less responsive to bacterial and viral infections when these do occur.

Additional problems relate to the over-prescription and misuse of antibiotics.  This has led to widespread antibiotic resistance, the rise of ‘superbugs’ like C difficile and MRSA, and continuing and serious problems with hospital-acquired infections.  Waiting in the wings is the pending flu pandemic, predicted by almost all experts to hit in the next few years.