Can we boost the immune system?

6 Minute English

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 March 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

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Summary

Can ginger shots, turmeric and cold water swimming boost your immune system? Georgie and Neil hear from experts and teach you some vocabulary.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	6 Minute English from BBC LearningEnglish.com
0:07.0	Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Georgie.
0:13.0	And I'm Neil. In this programme, we're talking about the immune system, which is the body's natural defence against getting ill.
0:20.0	Now Georgie, is there anything you do to boost your immune system?
0:24.9	Yes, I try to eat lots of oranges, which apparently have lots of vitamin C,
0:30.0	and there are lots of things people do to try to improve their immune system
0:33.7	and stay healthier, like eating certain foods, taking vitamins,
0:37.3	or even activities like
0:39.0	swimming in cold water. We'll find out how useful some of these techniques are in today's
0:44.3	program. But first, Georgie, a question. We all know the common cold. Now that's the illness
0:50.0	that makes you cough and sneeze, have a sore-throzen headache. But how many colds does the average
0:55.7	adult get in the UK each year? Is it A, 2 to 3, B, 4 to 5 or C, 7 to 8?
1:03.7	Hmm. 8 would be a lot. I'm going to go with A, 2 to 3 colds a year. Well, we'll find out at the end of
1:10.5	the programme if you're right.
1:12.6	Now, many people can become ill over the winter with diseases like colds, flu and COVID-19.
1:19.4	Host of BBC Radio 4 program Inside Health, James Gallagher,
1:23.9	gathered some experts to talk about immune systems,
1:27.1	and he started off by asking whether they'd had more illnesses than usual this winter.
1:32.6	Hello? Hi.
1:34.0	Right. How has everyone been this winter?
1:37.2	Because I've had a rotten one, and I have felt constantly ill since about November.
1:42.7	John?
	...

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