#12: Eat for Immunity with Dr Jenna Macciochi

11 Jan 2019

In the first episode of the new series, I’m delighted to be joined by Immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi, who specialises in understanding how nutrition and lifestyle interact with the immune system in health and disease.

As we had so much great content for you guys, we’ve split the talk into two sections and we talk in detail about the following:

  • What is immunity?
  • Where does immunity work?
  • How it’s not as simple as eating to BOOST Immunity
  • What defines a robust immune system
  • Foods to support immunity
  • Lifestyle practices to support Immune health
  • Vitamin D and it’s impact on Immune health
  • Autoimmune disease and support
  • Clock genes and Sleep Hygiene
  • Is suppressing fever beneficial?
  • Mitochondrial function and support

REFERENCES

Of course, it goes without saying that if you have any concerns whatsoever about your immune system then please contact your GP in the first instance. Work with your doctor and/or a nutritionist who will be best placed to give you specific advice.
In summary – some areas worth considering to support your immune system are diet and lifestyle ie focusing on nutrient dense ingredients, eating more fruits and vegetables and lowering consumption of processed foods and high sugar foods and also looking at some simple and easy lifestyle changes that can be implemented.
Listen to the episode for more in depth information on eating for Immunity, and try out some of the recipes in my book, on the website and and across social media

GUEST: Dr Jenna Macciochi

Jenna is an immunologist with a passion for understanding the impact of nutrition and lifestyle on our immune system.   She holds a PhD from the Faculty of Inflammation, Repair & Development at Imperial College London specialising chronic inflammation.   Jenna has since held positions at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine & worked in Biotech specialising allergy and oral immunotherapy.   In 2009 Jenna was awarded a Fellowship to combine her personal interests in nutrition with study of the immune system in Switzerland, working on metabolic endotoxemia, post-prandial gut permeability, diet regimens & use of pre/probiotics.   Life in Switzerland combined with her research shaped how she lives her life to give her the most energy to live life to the full Currently a lecturer at the University of Sussex, Jenna teaches undergraduate & postgraduate immunology to medical, pharmacy & biomedical sciences students.   Her research focus remains on understanding the role of nutrition & lifestyle on immunity. A Brighton-based & mother of twins, Jenna is a perpetual culinary experimenter who loves to cook from scratch using sustainable, local & seasonal ingredients. Growing up farm-to-table in rural Scotland, cooking has always been a big part of her life & nurtured her appreciation of food as the foundation of health.  With a passion for movement, she is also a trained fitness instructor focusing on pre & post-natal womens fitness. Dr Jenna is currently working on a huge passion project and is writing a book all about the immune system: sorting fact from fiction, dispelling myths and with recipes and rituals to improve your immunity and help you adapt & self-manage, cultivating long term health & wellbeing.

with Dr Jenna Macciochi
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