Boost your immune system with extra sleep

It’s cold and flu season, and getting some extra sleep might help your immune system fight illness.

Sleep helps our immune systems remember previous encounters with bacteria or viruses, according to a research paper from Germany's University of Tübingen, published in Trends in Neuroscience.

When we encounter a bug, our immune system collects fragments of the bug that are turned into “memory T cells” that help us recognise previous infections. Our bodies respond faster, giving us a head start when confronted with an illness.

Likewise, the scientists found that a lack of sleep puts our immune system at a disadvantage. So get enough rest for a healthier winter.