A lot of our immune cells are located along the digestive tract, so they're sort of carrying

the information from the gut around the body.

And if we have problems with our gut, then the immune system is going to be alerted to

that.

And with that, you know, we start to get the drive in aging.

Post menopause, we see for women, the risk of certain age-related inflammatory disease

will suddenly rise. And these are things like heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia. Long misunderstood

as just the body's first line of defence against disease. Dr. Jenna Machocchi says our immune system plays

a crucial role in how we age and experience menopause. This is the Lizal Well-Being Show, the podcast

helping us all have a better second half. I'm Liz Earle and as I'm sure you know I am on a bit of a

mission and more to find ways for all of us to thrive in our later life by investing in our health and our well-being today.

Now, of course, October is World Menopause Awareness Month.

So over the next few weeks, we will be chatting about the menopause from a number of very interesting angles,

including how it can affect our skin and hair, why it might leave us uniquely vulnerable to the risks

of ultra-processed foods. Yeah. And what other hormones aside from estrogen we need to get to grips

with? Today, though, how to support our immune system as we move through

the menopause and beyond. Now, Dr. Jenna Machocchi is an immunologist. We have chatted many times before,

so I'm super looking forward to this chat. She specialises in understanding how nutrition,

movement and lifestyle interact with the immune system in health and disease.

Her great new book, Immune to Age, covers everything from gut and brain health to inflammation and hormonal shifts

to create the ultimate preventative framework that will enable us to thrive at every stage of life.

This episode of the Lizar Wellbeing Show is sponsored by Boots. So often we put off our health

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