Winter is here in the southern hemisphere and cold and flu season is already making itself known. In this episode, Stephen and I dig into how the immune system actually works, and the first thing I need to clear up is the biggest misconception in the wellness space: you do not want to boost your immune system. A system that is over-activated is called autoimmune disease, and there are close to a hundred of them. What you want is an immune system that is calibrated, not supercharged. We also go deep on vaccination, including why I think flu shots are more important than most people realise, how vaccines act as a training program for your immune system rather than just a one-time fix, and the genuinely alarming research linking regular immunisation across a lifetime to lower rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s. We also talk honestly about why so many parents feel hesitant when it comes to infant vaccination, and why I think the medical system needs to do a better job of having that conversation before the delivery suite rather than during it.
The second half of the episode is the practical stuff: hydration in winter (your brain will lie to you about being thirsty), sleep as a non-negotiable reset for your immune function, and food as medicine. I wrap up with a story from our recent US trip where I picked up a loaf of bread at the supermarket and checked the best before date. It was nearly a month away. At room temperature. What followed was an ingredient list I can only describe as the longest thing I have read all year, and I pride myself on knowing food additive codes. That bread was not bread. We are what we eat, and this episode is a reminder of exactly why that matters.
After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
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