As we are now getting back to our lives, and more and more people are returning to work and school, our immune system health is going to be challenged with opportunistic viruses and bacteria. It is more important now than ever to focus on steps to keeping our body healthy, and that starts with looking after your immune system – your first line of defence against foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria.
Lockdowns can be a very stressful time, especially as they continue for a prolonged period. With heightened stress levels and an impact to your mental health, it can also affect your gut. Increasing evidence has shown that the communication between your gut microbiota and the central nervous system known as the gut/brain axis is a two way relationship which needs to be nurtured on both ends. Dysbiosis of the gut has been linked to anxiety and depression.
This is the summary of my story… In the winter of 2009 in Melbourne, I caught a horrible virus at work at the time Swine Flu was going around. I was working at a Community Legal Centre in Administration and Community Development. The office became flooded by recent storms, with mould growing on the ceiling and a heater blasting all day didn’t make things any better.
That’s when I developed persistent nausea and breathing difficulties. My immune system started to became susceptible. I ended up being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Post Viral Syndrome. For the next 8 years I saw several Doctors, Specialists and Naturopaths to find out why I wasn’t getting better.