Strengthen your immune system

Eat right
The key is to eat a balanced diet and to your body’s needs. Specific foods that have been found to boost immunity include those high in vitamin C (citrus fruit, broccoli), vitamin E (nuts, wholegrains), zinc (beans, turkey), omega-3 (nuts, oily fish), bioflavanoids (fruit and vegetables), selenium (chicken, tuna, eggs, brown rice) and garlic.]

Get moving
Numerous studies show that regular exercise reduces the number of sick days. It doesn’t have to be strenuous – just 35 to 45 minutes of brisk walking five days a week will have an impact.

Get Enough Sleep
Deep sleep stimulates and energises your immune system, while just a few days of sleep deprivation can have the opposite effect. If your sleep is compromised, avoid caffeine, decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.

Manage stress
Hormones such as cortisol that linger during chronic stress can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity and a host of other diseases. Be sure to unwind a few times a week – whether it’s exercising, yoga or meditation, a warm bath or massage.

Quit smoking and limit alcohol
Ask any former smoker and they’ll tell you how much healthier they feel having quit the habit. While alcohol abuse can lead to immune deficiency, drinking wine or beer (one a day for women, two for men) may have some benefit to immunity.