• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Balance by Deborah Hutton

Inspiring Women Daily

  • Home Page
    • About
    • Deborah’s Story
    • Our Goals
    • Our Programs
    • Our coaches
    • PODCAST
  • Body
    • Body image
    • Exercise
    • Nutrition
    • Health
    • Menopause remedies
    • Style
  • Relationships
    • Giving back
    • Children
    • Couples
    • Pets
  • Home
    • Renovation Rookie
    • Decorating
    • Food & wine
    • Books
  • Work
    • Careers
    • Small business advice
    • Working mums
  • Money
    • Financial planning
    • Saving money
    • Superannuation
    • Travel
    • Retirement
  • Mind
    • Goal setting
    • Alzheimer’s
    • Mental health
    • Maintaining balance
    • Belief & spirituality
  • Emotions
    • Motivation
    • A recipe for balance
    • Menopause
    • Daily Word Vitamin
  • BUY NOW
    • Reinvention Course
    • Small Business Course
    • Menopause Course
    • Motivation Course
    • Wellness Course
    • Life Coaching
    • Simplify Your Life
    • Over 40s Beauty Course

Focus on your gut health to boost your immunity this winter

May 1, 2019 by Megan Houston

With flu season quickly approaching, one of Australia’s most trusted health and wellbeing experts says we should be focusing on improving our gut health to boost immunity this winter. 

Dr Joanna McMillan, renowned nutrition scientist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, believes gut health isfar from a passing health fad with scientific research showing there is a proven link between our immune and gastrointestinal system.  

“Close to 70 per cent of your immune system is actually housed in your gastrointestinal tract, so it’s important to keep it in good shape,” she said.   

“Probiotics can be a valuable strategy for boosting immune function during winter as they have been shown to reduce the number and severity of respiratory infections.”  

According to Dr Jo, one of the simplest ways to improve gut health is to increase the intake of probiotics – living bacteria present throughout the human intestinal tract. 

Probiotics can be helpful to boost the balance of ‘good bacteria’ in the intestines, to maintain a healthy gut and boost our immune function.

“You can take them naturally by consuming traditional fermented foods and drinks, including kombucha. However for optimum results, it’s really important to choose a kombucha with a probiotic strain backed by science,” Dr Jo said. 

Dr Joanna McMillan’s top five tips for boosting winter immunity

  1. Limit junk food and eat more fibre

Junk foods encourage the wrong types of bacteria to grow and become dominant in the gut. Instead, Dr Jo recommends eating a plant-rich diet with whole, minimally processed foods packed with fibre. Many fibres are also prebiotics, which fuel the growth of good bugs in your gut, resulting in a healthier immune system.  

  • Make sure you’re getting enough probiotics

Probiotics should be taken every day for maximum benefit, especially in winter. You can get your probiotic-fix from a daily supplement, or for a tastier and more refreshing alternative, try kombucha*. Just remember to always choose a kombucha that’s chilled, and contains a scientifically proven strain of bacteria.

  • Get enough sleep

There’s a link between sleep and immunity, and it’s only just being recognised for its importance. If you’re sleeping poorly or not getting enough sleep, you’re more likely to snack on sugary foods throughout the day to boost your energy levels, and then skip exercise due to tiredness. Dr Jo says most adults need seven to nine hours a night. 

  • Limit alcohol

Alcohol can irritate your digestive system by causing inflammation, so if you’re experiencing problems with your gut, it’s best to avoid it. Even moderate drinking increases your risk of bowel and other cancers, so if you choose to enjoy alcohol, be sure you do so in moderation. The Australian guidelines recommend drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day for healthy men and women.

  • Stay hydrated

Not drinking enough water can slow down your digestive system, resulting in harder stools that are more difficult to pass. According to Dr Jo, there’s an easy way to tell whether you’re drinking enough – your urine should remain a light straw colour, all day long. 

** Kombucha is a sparkling, fermented tea with living probiotics (‘good’ bacteria), organic acids and vitamins, that’s taking Australia by storm. 

As one of the original makers of kombucha in Australia, MOJO kombucha quantifies its proven probiotics on pack, with an exclusive probiotic strain that is designed to survive the journey from mouth to stomach to optimise the drink’s gut-health benefits.

MOJO Beverages has a commercial partnership with Dr Joanna McMillan

Filed Under: Uncategorised

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Follow by Email
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Follow
YouTube
Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Need some inspiration to tackle your Spring cleaning?
  • Aquarius Blood Moon Ritual with kindness
  • Diabetes and diet: why low-GI foods are important
  • A life of greatness – How Sarah found her balance podcasting
  • The Heart Breaking Memory and Impact of Dementia

A word from Deb

Confidence

This article originally appeared in Virgin Voyeur Magazine. I believe we all have capabilities beyond what we give ourselves credit, so why do we often mark ourselves down in the company of others who we perceive as being smarter and more successful than us? Perhaps it’s just human nature but where does our self-doubt stem […]

What’s your future hold?

This article originally appeared in Virgin Voyeur Magazine. I love the speed of digital communication! You don’t know how good it feels to be able to write on a subject, post a few candid interviews and then receive an immediate response from you as a topic that hits a hot button. One such hot button […]

Topics

Archives

Tags

Age-defying beauty Amanda Gore Balance Balanced Style beauty tips brain health Brave careers Confidence courage Deb's blog Deborah Hutton Dr Sarah McKay empowerment Esma Versace fashion food Gerald Quigley Guest blogs health inspiration joy Joy of Business Katrina Cavanough Lee Holmes LifeShape Clinic Lyndall Mitchell makeup tips Margie Warrell Megan Dalla-Camina menopause mental health Michelle Hamer recipe Recipe for Balance recipes Relationships Spirituality style super charged food super foods travel Weight loss wellness women

Footer

Balance by Deborah Hutton
Balance by Deborah Hutton is created and edited by Australian media personality and brand ambassador Deborah Hutton. Deborah is one of the most recognisable and best-known personalities of modern Australia. Balance by Deborah Hutton is a program that brings together a team of expert coaches to help us unlock the key to a successful and happier life. Using new media, Balance by Deborah Hutton can easily be experienced in your own time. Followers will be able to join the online forums and connect and share with others on similar journeys.

Copyright © 2019 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in