Experts recommend focusing on boosting your immune system year-round, with diet playing a crucial role. According to Kim Shapira, a dietitian and nutrition therapist, gut health is key in maintaining a strong immune system. Shapira suggests simple ways to improve gut health and enhance immunity, such as consuming omega-3 rich foods, incorporating fruits and vegetables, taking probiotics, and adding fermented foods to your diet. Additionally, she advises eating foods high in antioxidants and whole grains for optimal benefits.
Shapira also emphasizes the importance of not just what you eat, but how you eat it, suggesting to smell your food before consuming it and to chew your food longer for better digestion. These practices can help ensure your body gets the maximum nutrition from the foods you eat. Prioritizing these habits can lead to a healthier immune system and overall well-being.
Vocabulary Insights
- Boosting /?bu?st??/ (verb): Increasing or improving something.
- Immune system /??mju?n ?s?st?m/ (noun): The body’s defense against infectious organisms and other invaders.
- Dietitian /?da???t???n/ (noun): An expert in diet and nutrition.
- Nutrition therapist /nju??tr???n ???r?p?st/ (noun): A specialist who uses nutrition to promote health and manage diseases.
- Omega-3 /?o??me??? ?ri?/ (noun): A type of essential fatty acid beneficial for health.
- Probiotics /?pro?.ba???t?ks/ (noun): Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system.
- Antioxidants /?ænti??ks?d?nts/ (noun): Molecules that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals leading to cell damage.
- Whole grains /ho?l ?re?nz/ (noun): Grains that contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed.
Vocabulary List:
- Boosting /ˈbuːstɪŋ/ (verb): Increasing or improving something.
- Dietitian /daɪəˈtɪʃən/ (noun): An expert in diet and nutrition.
- Probiotics /ˌproʊbaɪˈɑːtɪks/ (noun): Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health especially your digestive system.
- Antioxidants /ˌæntiˈɑːksɪdənts/ (noun): Molecules that inhibit oxidation and prevent cell damage.
- Nutrition /njuˈtrɪʃən/ (noun): The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
- Optimal /ˈɑːptɪməl/ (adjective): Most conducive to a favorable outcome; best.



