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Hello, this is 6 Minute English
from BBC Learning English.
I'm Georgie and I'm Neil.
In this programme we're talking
about the immune system,
which is the body's natural defence
against getting ill.
Now, Georgie, is there anything
you do to boost your immune system?
Yes. I try to eat lots of oranges,
which apparently have lots of vitamin C,
and there are lots of things people do
to try to improve their immune system
and stay healthier, like eating
certain foods, taking vitamins,
or even activities
like swimming in cold water.
We'll find out how useful some of these
techniques are in today's programme.
But first, Georgie, a question.
We all know the common cold,
now that's the illness
that makes you cough and sneeze,
have a sore throat and headache.
But how many colds does the average
adult get in the UK each year?
Is it a) 2-3,
b) 4-5
or c) 7-8?
Eight would be a lot.
I'm going to go
with a) 2-3 colds a year.
Well, we'll find out
at the end of the programme
if you're right.
Now, many people
can become ill over the winter
with diseases like colds,
flu and Covid-19.
Host of BBC Radio 4 programme
'Inside Health'
James Gallagher gathered some experts
to talk about immune systems,
and he started off by asking whether
they'd had more illnesses than usual
this winter. Hello?
Hi. Right.
How has everyone been this winter?
Because I've had a rotten one
and I have felt constantly ill
since about November. John?
I have not had anything yet -
touch wood!
OK, let's see what I can infect you
with by the end of the show. Margaret?
I was pretty unwell
in September.
I had what I presume to be Covid,
but I've been alright since,
mild snuffles aside.
Eleanor, I really need someone
to back me up.
Uh, no, sorry, I've been
absolutely 100% tickety-boo.
Unlike James, Professor John Tregoning
hasn't been ill.
John uses the expression 'touch wood',
which is an informal phrase
said in order to avoid bad luck.
Doctor Margaret McCartney was unwell
in September but
has only had a few snuffles since.
Snuffles is an informal word used
to describe minor illnesses
that affect your nose.
We can also say sniffles.
Host James is surprised
that nobody has been ill
and says to Professor Eleanor Riley,
"back me up".
If you ask someone to back you up,
you're asking for them to say something
which supports your opinion.
But Eleanor has had
a healthy winter, too.
She's been tickety-boo,
which is an informal phrase meaning
everything's fine or in good order.
Throughout the winter, many
people try different techniques,
like taking supplements
or eating certain foods to boost
their immune system to improve their
body's natural defences against disease.
Host of BBC Radio Four's
Inside Health, James Gallagher,
asks doctor Margaret McCartney whether
some of these products are successful.
Okay, quick-fire round, Margaret.
Echinacea?
No.
Turmeric? No.
Ginger shots?
No.
This is a very, very good quiz.
What about
the stuff you squirt up your nose
when you're at the beginning
of an infection?
Interesting, but not any better than
normal saline spray - just salt water.
In fact, according to Margaret,
there isn't enough evidence that many
popular health products can actually
change the way your immune system works.
Another popular health trend
in the UK is cold water swimming.
People who swim in cold water say
it's good for their mental health,
and they also believe it makes
them less likely to get ill
during the winter months.
But scientists aren't sure about
the benefits of cold water swimming
for the immune system yet.
As Professor John Tregoning explained
to BBC Radio Four's Inside Health.
The social element
actually is really important.
It probably is beneficial
to do. You reduce stress and cortisol
dampens the immune system.
So actually, if you're stressed, then
maybe you are more prone to infection.
And that may be why that benefit
of being with people,
nice people that you like
in nice places is helping.
But I don't think
it's unique to cold water swimming.
I think you can probably get it from
dancing or singing or going for a run.
John says that cortisol,
a chemical associated with stress,
dampens the immune system.
Here, dampens means makes weaker.
We also have a common expression
dampen someone's spirits,
which means to make them
less enthusiastic about something.
John says that there is evidence
that people who are stressed
are more prone to infection.
If you're more prone to something,
it's more likely to happen to you.
It could be that
cold water swimming reduces stress
and so it helps
people's immune systems work well.
But there are lots of other activities
that could have the same effect
and help people have fewer colds
over winter.
Which reminds me
of my question, Georgie.
I asked how many colds
the average UK adult has a year.
And I said two to three.
And that is the correct answer.
So well done.
Thank you.
OK, let's recap the vocabulary
we've learnt, starting with touch wood,
which is an expression used often
in speech to avoid bad luck.
Snuffles or sniffles are minor
illnesses that affect your nose.
If you ask someone to back you up,
you want them to say something
to support your opinion.
The expression tickety-boo means fine
and in good order.
If you dampen something, you make
it weaker, and the expression dampen
someone's spirits means you make them
less enthusiastic about something.
And if you're more prone to something,
it's more likely to happen to you.
Once again, our six minutes are up,
but you can test what you've learned
with the free interactive quiz
on our website.
Bye for now. Goodbye!
Thanks for listening to this podcast
from BBC Learning English.
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Visit bbclearningenglish.com.
Vocabulary
Word 1 of 15immune system
collocation
0:13
"the body's natural defence against illness."
More Listening Practice
About this lesson
Find out what science says about boosting your immune system and whether popular remedies actually work in this 6 Minute English episode.