Drinking habits experts say boost immunity

In addition to a balanced diet, your immune system also requires you to avoid immunity damaging habits.

The immune system is a highly complex network of cells and molecules that work in concert with all parts of the body to respond to pathogens, viruses and bacteria.

Experts recommend watching what you drink is also key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some liquids you should drink:

• Drink water

Water is critical in maintaining a healthy immune system and it prevents dehydration, a condition that can cause your body to overheat, mood swings, unclear thinking as well as contribute to constipation.

“Water supports the detoxification process by oxygenating the blood,” says Wangari Wincate a nutritionist based in Nanyuki.

“Water is crucial for proper digestion as it allows the body to absorb key immune supporting nutrients like Vitamin C.”

• Drink your yoghurt

The gut plays a big part when it comes to your immune system. That is why when you are sick, you are told to eat something or swallow certain drugs.

Yoghurt contains probiotics; thee are microorganisms that help support the immune system.

These probiotics develop through the bacterial fermentation of milk.

Experts recommend choosing plain yogurt without any added sugar, as the added sugar may jack up carbs and raise the blood glucose.

• Add spinach to strawberry smoothies

Adding spinach increases the nutrition quality of the smoothie by upping up the fibre, antioxidant and prevent infections by their phytochemical content.

On the other hand, strawberries are packed with vitamin C, which is used by the body to produce collagen; a protein essential to skin health

• Drink more green tea

“For an unbeatable immune boosting combination, adding lemon and raw honey to your green tea increases the T cells responsible for preventing autoimmune diseases,” Wangari says.

Research has shown that green tea improves blood flow and lowers cholesterol

• Reduce alcohol intake

“Your skin gets thinner and drier as you age, due to alcohol’s dehydrating effect, when consumed in large amounts over time, contributes to more aged skin, “Wangari says.

She recommends monitoring how much alcohol one consumes on a daily basis.

“Alcohol slows your immune system by making the the bacteria fighting white blood cells sluggish and less efficient,” she says.

Research has it that heavy drinkers are more likely to succumb to illnesses such as tuberculosis or pneumonia, and increased risk of numerous forms of cancer.