A leading nutritionist has offered advice on how to avoid catching a cold or flu this winter.
Dr. Federica Amati shared her personal methods to protect herself and her family, which she said are all simple steps that many can start implementing now.
The expert works at Zoe, a company co-founded by Tim Spector, professor of epidemiology at King’s College London – and her words come amid a rise in flu cases in Britain and other countries.
She said on Instagram: “I’m a medical scientist and a registered public health nutritionist. I’m going to start by helping you avoid catching that cold or flu virus.”
In her video, the doctor discussed several strategies, but in her caption she mentioned a useful way in which the responsible virus can be banished.
She explained: “I also use zinc nasal sprays and lozenges as an extra step.”
“It’s not foolproof, but viruses are more likely to be deactivated if they come into contact with zinc in your nose or throat.”
One of her most important rules is hygiene: “Start with the basics. Wash your hands regularly, sneeze or cough into your elbow and use a tissue.”
She also suggested that people “ventilate shared spaces,” noting that these “simple steps are often overlooked.”
When it comes to ventilation, she says you can solve this by simply opening a window and saying, “It helps reduce the viral load in the room. If you reduce the viral load, you reduce the chance that it will affect you, or catch enough of it to actually make you sick.”
When it comes to nutrition, the health of your gut plays a key role in supporting the function of your immune system, explains Federica.
“Your gut health is the center that keeps your immune system functioning properly. Feed your gut microbes,” she emphasized.
The nutritionist also suggested, “The combination of very high fiber diets and fermented foods is great for immune system function.” She then highlighted everyday foods, including beans, peas, nuts, seeds and whole grains like barley, that we should consume regularly.”
Dr. Federica Amati concluded her guideline by saying, “If you do these two things every day, if you eat fiber-rich plant foods and fermented foods, your gut microbiome will be very happy. It will help your immune system to function optimally. That’s how I try to protect myself and my family. It doesn’t mean you absolutely won’t get sick, but it can actually reduce your risk.”
