Results from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) that were released this week may shed light on the role vitamin D deficiency may play in acute respiratory infections. Findings from the study present "that vitamin D plays a critical role in preventing respiratory infections, reducing antibiotic use, and boosting the immune system response to infections." Because of these findings, researchers highlight the importance of increasing vitamin D intake through supplementation, sunlight exposure, and vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, fatty fish, and liver.

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How can you improve your immune system? On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and boost your immune system? What if you improve your diet? Take certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Make other lifestyle changes in the hope of producing a near-perfect immune response?

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A paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds — foods that in the past could be obtained by hunting and gathering. A paleo diet limits intake of those foods that became common after agriculture emerged about 10,000 years ago. These foods include dairy products, legumes and grains. Other names for a paleo diet include Paleolithic diet or hunter-gatherer diet.

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