Stress, not getting enough sleep, and obviously exposure to bugs can all make you more susceptible to getting sick. Why not try including these three foods in your diet to give your immune system a boost and help you fight off sickness.

Probiotics

Whether you choose tablet, powder, or liquid probiotics as a supplement, or choose to include more yoghurt with good levels of all of those healthy bacteria is up to you and what works fits in best with your day and diet.

There’s evidence that daily probiotic use helps improve immune function as well as improve symptoms of IBS, bloating, and overall gut health.

Milk with added vitamin D

Low vitamin D levels have been shown to reduce immune function. For those of us who don’t get a lot of direct sunlight (such as with desk jobs), or who have skin that burns easily and apply sunscreen and wear sun protective clothing, choosing a milk fortified with extra vitamin D can be a great way to boost intake.

Fresh ginger

Long used in natural medicine, ginger has fantastic nutritional and immune boosting properties, it can help ease nausea and vomiting with a stomach bug or morning sickness, and is a source of antioxidants to fight free radicals causing damage in our body.