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BITESIZE | How to Improve Your Gut Health, Your Immunity and How You Age | Dr Jenna Macciochi #249

Mar 25, 2022 15m 1s 8 insights
Our immune system is not just lying dormant ready to fight off infection. It’s constantly working, and it affects our health in so many ways. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart.  Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 125 of the podcast with immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi. In this clip, Jenna explains how our immune system plays a central role in our health, our wellbeing and our longevity, and she describes some simple things we can do to help keep it healthy.   Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/125 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Cultivate Joyful Eating Experiences

Actively enjoy your meals, whether with family, friends, or alone, as the endorphins released from positive emotions can alter the function of immune cells and nurture regulatory T-cells, thereby supporting immune health.

2. Practice Saying No and Setting Boundaries

Learn to say no and establish clear boundaries, especially when commitments compromise personal time, family time, or activities that nurture you, as this helps manage stress and prevents burnout.

3. Eat 30 Diverse Plant Foods Weekly

Aim to incorporate 30 different plant-based foods into your diet each week, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, pulses, and whole grains, to promote diversity in your gut microbiome, which educates the immune system.

4. Increase Dietary Fiber Intake

Prioritize consuming fiber, found in fresh produce, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, pulses, and whole grains, as it is massive for the resilience of your immune system by feeding diverse gut bacteria that produce beneficial postbiotics.

5. Optimize Diet for Gut & Immune Health

Make conscious dietary choices to improve the health of your gut bacteria, as this directly leads to an improved immune system, given that gut bugs are key educators of the immune system.

6. Avoid Chronic Stress

Be mindful of chronic stress, as it can interrupt the balance of your immune system by influencing immune cell production and wearing out the stress response circuit, making it harder for your body to produce fresh, new immune cells.

7. Process Stress Through Narrative

Engage in cathartic activities like writing or creating a narrative around what’s causing stress to facilitate emotional release and help your body move on from the stressor once a decision is made.

8. Consider Daily AG1 Supplementation

Consider taking AG1 daily to support digestion, enrich your gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, and provide food sources for these bacteria, which are key educators of the immune system.