Supporting your Gut Health to Support your Immunity
The Gut-Immune Connection: What’s Really Going On?
Your gut and immune system are in constant communication. In fact, nearly 80% of your immune cells live in or around the digestive tract. This makes your gut a frontline player in immune defence.
Here’s how:
The intestinal lining acts as a protective barrier, preventing pathogens from entering the bloodstream.
The gut microbiota (your gut’s bacterial ecosystem) helps regulate immune responses, keeping them balanced so you can respond to threats without triggering unnecessary inflammation.
A healthy gut produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other anti-inflammatory compounds that support immune regulation.
When this system is compromised by things like poor diet, stress, antibiotic use, or infections, the immune system becomes dysregulated. This can lead to increased susceptibility to infections.
Signs Your Gut Might Be Undermining Your Immune Health
You catch colds and flus frequently
Recovery from illness takes longer than it should
You experience chronic allergies or sinus congestion
Skin issues like eczema or acne flare up during winter
Ongoing digestive complaints like bloating, reflux, or constipation
You feel chronically inflamed, tired, or foggy
These can be signs that your gut lining or microbiome may be compromised, and that your immune system is feeling the effects.
Winter Gut Health Tips to Strengthen Immunity
Eat warming, cooked meals like broths, soups, and stews to support digestion
Prioritise prebiotic foods: garlic, leeks, onions, oats, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes
Include fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, or miso to support microbial diversity
Drink gut-soothing teas such as chamomile, licorice root, or ginger
Manage stress, as it directly affects your microbiome and gut motility
Consult a naturopath (like me!) for targeted supplements such as glutamine, zinc, and probiotics if needed
If you’re noticing gut symptoms or feel like you’re always run down or contracting infections regularly, your digestion may be a huge missing link. Book a naturopathic consultation to support your gut and immune health from the root.
