Red flag signs that your immune system is run down, and what to do about it

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Prioritising your immune system is always a good idea, especially when the weather starts to get cold and wet.Your immune system is basically your body’s defence against infections.

When you’re unwell, it produces antibodies designed to attack any viruses, bacteria or toxins making you sick.It’s a complex system involving many different functions within the body – and lots of things can affect how it’s working and, in turn, how you feel.These are some of the signs your immune system is run down, and what you can do about it. "When your immune system is busy fighting a low-grade infection, this often drains your energy reserves," said Susie Perry, food scientist and nutritionist from sisterlylab.com. "So if you are feeling more fatigued than normal or feeling constantly under the weather, this is a sign that your immune system is busier than it would like to be."She added that if you suffer from recurrent cold sores, cystitis, an autoimmune condition, food allergies or intolerances, then your immune system could be working its socks off and may be running low on zinc and vitamins A, C and D3, leaving you vulnerable to common winter infections.Problems with digestion could also be a sign of a run down immune system.

According to Dr Peter Abel, senior lecturer in biomedical sciences at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), "70 per cent of immune cells are in the gastrointestinal tract in the lining of the gut, and they normally fight toxins that may have been ingested. "They also regulate nutrients going in, so a weakened immune system can lead to stomach cramps and diarrhoea."Often find you keep getting sick with cold and flu type symptoms?Abel said: "A person with a run-down immune system may experience frequent