Your immunity is one of your body's natural defence systems. This is how your body protects you against foreign invaders including pathogens (viruses, bacteria, etc.). Your immunity is the result of the work of your immune system, a complex system involving different organs which work together to fend off threats.
To preserve its essential role, your body must be in its best condition. Your role is therefore to avoid nutrient deficiencies and to maintain a balanced gut microbiota. Do you want to take action?
Key nutrients: vitamins and minerals
Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals could weaken defence mechanisms, especially in the elderly. It is therefore recommended to pay specific attention to the daily intake of zinc, copper, iron, selenium, vitamins A, B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E.
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of vitamin D, confirming that it contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system. Also, ensuring that you cover your daily needs (10 to 15 micrograms in adults according to the recommendations of the Superior Health Council) should be one of your priorities to support your immune system. How can we do that?
By regularly consuming fatty fish (herring, salmon, mackerel, etc.), exposing your hands and face to at least 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight every day and taking vitamin D supplements during the times of the year when is it harder to absorb vitamin D naturally (for example in autumn, winter, during trips, etc.).
Microorganisms essential to gut microbiota
Gut microbiota is another important body system to support. As you know, gut microbiota (also called gut flora) is made up of billions of bacteria that are essential to your well-being. Among the most abundant are lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium which exert, with others, a protective effect on the intestine by preventing pathogenic bacteria from establishing themselves on the intestinal wall. This is what is called the “barrier effect”1. Each type of bacteria naturally present in the intestine has unique properties2. Any imbalance can disrupt the effectiveness of our body’s natural defence (taking an antibiotic, a change in diet, travel, temporary fatigue, stress, etc.).
To support the function of your digestive tract and immune system in the best way possible, your job is to maintain the balance in microorganisms. This mainly involves eating a varied and balanced diet (yoghurts, cheeses, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, etc.). When a balanced diet cannot be guaranteed, food supplements based on "good" living bacteria can be taken to rebalance your gut microbiota.
A valuable combination
As you can see, your immunity to viruses and bacteria is based on multiple factors, and you have an important role in supporting it. Diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, etc. all count towards supporting it, even when it doesn’t seem obvious. Fortunately, there are products on the market that are specially adapted to these needs, such as the food supplement Imutis. Imutis is a unique and 100% natural combination of vitamin D, yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii), three bacterial strains (Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidibacterium longum) and fructo-oligosaccharides (natural sugars used by these microorganisms to promote their development within the digestive tract).
Taking 1 to 4 capsules of Imutis each day with a glass of water during a meal can help you support the best possible conditions for your immune system3.
1Composition of gut microbiota. (Cheng et al. 2013)
2The dominant bacteria of the microbiota divided into 3 major bacterial phyla (Barbut and Joly, 2010).
3Vitamin D contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system.