Staying well over winter can be a challenge – develop protection from the inside out

+Practice

In print

NUTRITON

Staying well over winter can be a challenge – develop protection from the inside out

9 June 2021

Leigh O’Brien

Wednesday 9 June 2021, 12:15 AM

Soup sprinkled with nuts or seeds can do more than just warm you up in winter

Many factors contribute to overall wellness – exercise, not smoking, managing stress and getting adequate sleep. We instinctively know that nutrition does too. Dietitian Leigh O’Brien explores the emerging evidence that our gut microbiome may also play a role

Key Points, The gut microbiome may be linked to the microbiome of the lungs (known as the gut–lung axis), so foods high in fermentable fibres may help to reduce t, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Diet and Nutrition

References

1. Dang AT, Marsland BJ. Microbes, metabolites, and the gut-lung axis. Mucosal Immunol 2019;12(4):843–50.
2. Bird L. High-fibre diet beats flu. Nat Rev Immunol 2018;18(7):420–21.
3. Hughes C, Davoodi-Semiromi Y, Colee JC, et al. Galactooligosaccharide supplementation reduces stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction and days of cold or flu: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in healthy university students. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;93(6):1305–11.
4. Wypych TP, Marsland BJ, Ubags NDJ. The impact of diet on immunity and respiratory diseases. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2017;14(Suppl 5):S339–47.
5. Van Puyenbroeck K, Hens N, Coenen S, et al. Efficacy of daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on respiratory symptoms and influenza vaccination immune response: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy elderly nursing home residents. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95(5):1165–71.
6. Jespersen L, Tarnow I, Eskesen D, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, L. casei 431 on immune response to influenza vaccination and upper respiratory tract infections in healthy adult volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Am J Clin Nutr 2015;101(6):1188–96.
7. Baldeon A, Lovett J, Holscher H. Diet quality and the fecal microbiota in healthy adults in the American Gut Project. Curr Dev Nutr 2020;4(Suppl 2):1546.

How to Treat

+How to treat

COPD: Prevent, treat and comfort

Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 12:50 AM