Nutrition is central to a functioning immune system. It impacts our ability to fight precancerous cells, ward off pathogens, heal injuries, and support our bodies through disease. This week I interview Doug Cook, RD on the role that nutrition plays in our immune function. Doug Cook is a registered dietitian with over 21 years of experience. With a Master of Health Science in Nutrition, he specializes in functional and integrative nutrition. Doug dives deep into the research on nutrition and science to provide his patients, and the public expert up-to-date information, questioning the way that we’ve ‘always done it’ through his blog www.dougcookrd.com and on his podcast Pursuit of Health. I always personally learn so much from him - especially in the way of brain health, and micronutrients. I appreciate that perspective because a lot of times when I’m looking at patients I’m strictly focusing on digestive symptoms. So, it’s nice to kind of take a step back and learn from colleges who actually do their research. We talk about: How Cook decide to become a dietitian The importance of critically reviewing the up-to-date research instead of trusting the way that things have always been done How nutrition plays a role in immune function What a functioning immune system means in contrast to the idea of people wanting to ‘boost’ their immune system Some of the key nutrients we should be aware of and why Some of the gaps often seen in people’s diets in regards to nutrition & immune function How the gut plays a role in immune function and where nutrition fits in What gut permeability/leaky gut is, why is it so trendy right now, and what the science actually says Some nutrition basics for improving gut permeability and supporting good immune function Connect with Cook on his website at www.dougcookrd.com on his podcast Pursuit of Health on Instagram @your.nutrition.education on Twitter or on his Facebook here as well!