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Building a strong immune system isn’t rocket science; Missing messages in infection prevention

W. Gifford-Jones MD & Diana Gifford-Jones

October 27, 2023

BY W. GIFFORD- JONES MD & DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

Influenza, or the flu, is on the rise this time of year. That’s because the virus spreads easily when people are indoors in close contact and when the air is less humid and colder. So, it makes sense that International Infection Prevention Week takes place in October, but what doesn’t make sense is the absence of an important message.

Public health officials offer a standard list of best practices to reduce the risk of infections. Hand hygiene is top of the list. It’s a fact that many people don’t wash their hands after using the toilet, but they will clutch their mobile phones, which never get washed, before, during and after trips to the toilet. Hands and phones are both common vehicles for the transmission of microorganisms from one person to another.

Use of cleaners and disinfectants is another recommendation. It’s been said that “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” and that’s true to a point, but don’t forget that valuable life lessons come from embracing the messiness and imperfections of our human experience.

What about vaccinations? It’s on the list as it should be. From: measles, mumps, and rubella, to typhoid and polio, vaccinations have saved millions of lives. If you have doubts, don’t rely on one expert’s opinion. Do your research. Read widely. Vaccines are a vital part of our toolkit for fighting infections.

COVID migrated personal protective equipment from the surgical theatre into public settings, and PPE is now a familiar acronym. We’ve learned new respiratory etiquette, too. Get that elbow in place for a sneeze, then bring out the hand sanitize in a show of extra effort!

Infections can be transmitted in hospitals, assisted living residences, and in kitchens everywhere – on medical instruments, in food, and in the air. Following safety instructions is crucial to minimize risk, especially for vulnerable people, but what’s the missing message?

Never neglect the importance of building and maintaining a robust immune system. Why is the message to strengthen natural defenses so frequently overshadowed?

There is nothing in comparison to the sophistication with which the body naturally sorts bacterial and viral friends from foe. A strong, natural immune response is an excellent defence against the flu and other common infections. Evolved over millennia to keep us safe, the immune system is a remarkable network of cells, tissues, and organs working together to protect the body from harmful invaders.

Building a strong immune system isn’t rocket science. You need a well-balanced diet rich in: fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains that provide the essential nutrients for immune function. Vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc are known to bolster immunity, but you need high doses of C, to keep cells primed for a fight, on the order of 1,000 mg a couple of times a day. Higher doses are needed in the moment of crisis when the fight is on against powerful combatants.

There are other important steps. Exercise promotes circulation of immune cells and enhances the body’s defense mechanisms. Staying hydrated is crucial. Quality sleep is essential for immune system restoration and function. Research suggests that emotional well-being has a beneficial impact on immune function too.

By contrast, chronic stress suppresses the immune system. If you feel under pressure, get into meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. If your gut is out of whack, your immune system probably is too. Consume probiotic-rich foods or take supplements. It goes without saying that smokers must quit, and alcohol use should be moderate or not at all.

It’s ironic that health authorities don’t share this message. We’d have better infection prevention if they did.

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Written By W. Gifford-Jones MD & Diana Gifford-Jones

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, MD is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Harvard Medical School. He trained in general surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University and in Gynecology at Harvard. His storied medical career began as a general practitioner, ship’s surgeon, and hotel doctor. For more than 40 years, he specialized in gynecology, devoting his practice to the formative issues of women’s health. In 1975, he launched his weekly medical column that has been published by national and local Canadian and U.S. newspapers. Today, the readership remains over seven million. His advice contains a solid dose of common sense and he never sits on the fence with controversial issues. He is the author of nine books including, “The Healthy Barmaid”, his autobiography “You’re Going To Do What?”, “What I Learned as a Medical Journalist”, and “90+ How I Got There!” Many years ago, he was successful in a fight to legalize heroin to help ease the pain of terminal cancer patients. His foundation at that time donated $500,000 to establish the Gifford-Jones Professorship in Pain Control and Palliative Care at the University of Toronto Medical School. At 93 years of age he rappelled from the top of Toronto’s City Hall (30 stories) to raise funds for children with a life-threatening disease through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Diana Gifford-Jones, the daughter of W. Gifford-Jones, MD, Diana has extensive global experience in health and healthcare policy. Diana is Special Advisor with The Aga Khan University, which operates 2 quaternary care hospitals and numerous secondary hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies, and laboratories in South Asia and Africa. She worked for ten years in the Human Development sectors at the World Bank, including health policy and economics, nutrition, and population health. For over a decade at The Conference Board of Canada, she managed four health-related executive networks, including the Roundtable on Socio-Economic Determinants of Health, the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, the Canadian Centre for Environmental Health, and the Centre for Health System Design and Management. Her master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government included coursework at Harvard Medical School. She is also a graduate of Wellesley College. She has extensive experience with Canadian universities, including at Carleton University, where she was the Executive Director of the Global Academy. She lived and worked in Japan for four years and speaks Japanese fluently. Diana has the designation as a certified Chartered Director from The Directors College, a joint venture of The Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University. She has recently published a book on the natural health philosophy of W. Gifford-Jones, called No Nonsense Health – Naturally!

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