Supporting Your Immune System: Gut, Sleep and a Glass of Kefir

Mehtap Ozcan

15h

2 min read

Healthy Monday is my weekly note to start your week with one small, practical step towards feeling your best. Each week: a thought, a little body knowledge, one simple tip and an ingredient to try.

This week's thought

Your immune system isn't a single organ. It's a network working throughout your entire body, and supporting it can be simpler than you might think.

Let's understand your body

A large share of your immune cells live in and around your gut, so the health of your digestive system and your immune system are closely linked. A varied, balanced gut microbiome is one part of that picture.

Chronic stress and too little sleep are two of the everyday factors that can leave us feeling run down. Your body works as a whole system, so looking after one area often helps the others.

Fermented foods are a traditional way to bring more variety of live cultures into your diet.

Your Hecna tip

This week, try including one fermented food (kefir, sauerkraut or live yoghurt) in your diet once a day. Variety across different foods is often more useful than relying on a single product.

Food of the week: kefir

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that typically contains a wider range of live cultures than yoghurt.

How to use it: sip half a glass slowly with breakfast, or blend it into a smoothie.

A little reminder

Supporting your immune system isn't about one supplement. Digestion, stress and sleep are all connected. Be patient; small, steady habits add up over time.

Want personalised support?

If you'd like a plan tailored to you, with herbal, nutritional and lifestyle guidance, you can book a 1:1 naturopathic consultation, in person in London or online.

With love, Mehtap

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your GP or another qualified healthcare professional. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, please check with your doctor before making changes to your diet or using herbs.