Why Flu Is Hitting So Hard This Winter (And How to Actually Avoid It)

In this episode, Dr Amir Khan and Cherry Healey cut through the myths around immunity and flu, including why you can’t boost your immune system, the role of gut health, vitamin D, stress and ventilation. Dr Amir and Cherry explain what’s really making people ill, and the simple habits that can reduce your risk this winter. We've partnered with ⁠Randox Health⁠. Take their Everyman and Everywoman health check at ⁠randoxhealth.com⁠ - just use the code NAN15 to save 15%. Results will arrive in just 2 hours from your sample arriving at the lab. If you’ve got a ballot place for the TCS London Marathon, there’s a brilliant way to make your run really count. Join Team Marie Curie and help bring vital end of life care to more people, whatever the illness. There’s no fundraising target and amazing support! Just search “Marie Curie London Marathon” to get started. Have a question, feedback, or want to suggest a topic? Email: [email protected] Watch & listen on YouTube, Apple and Spotify. If this helped, please like, subscribe, and share. The content of No Appointment Necessary is for general information, it's not a substitute for a personalised medical assessment. Always consider your own medical history and personal circumstances before acting on any health information. A Viral Tribe Production Developed and produced by James Carpenter & Jo Scarratt-Jones Chapters 00:00 – Why Flu Is Everywhere Right Now 01:10 – Why “immune boosting” is a myth 03:20 – Can You Improve Your Immune System? 05:00 – Ginger Shots vs Real Food 06:30 – How your diet trains (or sabotages) your immune response 09:40 – Stress, Sleep & Why Being ‘Run Down’ Makes You Ill 11:20 – Phytoncides, forests and why walking outside genuinely helps 13:05 – Alcohol - the immune damage no one wants to talk about 15:20 – Why movement strengthens your body’s defences 16:40 – The Only Supplements Worth Taking 18:30 – Why Winter Makes Viruses Spread Faster 20:00 – Cold vs Flu: How to Tell the Difference 22:30 – Why Flu Is Worse This Year 24:10 – The Most Important Flu Prevention Tip 26:40 – Masks, Hygiene & Public Transport Reality 28:10 – Should You Stay Home When You’re Ill? 30:40 – Listener Question: Stubborn Fungal Nail Infections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices