As new cases of coronavirus continue to be diagnosed in Europe, there are steps you can take to help boost your immunity against the virus, says the College of Medicine’s Chair, GP Dr Michael Dixon.

When antibiotics are futile, ensuring you have a healthy immune system is the best way to protect your health against coronavirus, he advises.

In the interview with ITN productions below, Dr Michael Dixon explains how wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus doesn’t work, why diet can play a key role in helping keep yourself healthy and other tips – including avoiding stress and getting outdoors – to boost your immunity armour.

The long-standing GP and social prescribing pioneer told the broadcaster how crucial eating well can be to the immune system, saying: “Diet would come fairly high on the list of how to help yourself.

“Polyphenols are known to improve resistance to infection… found in things like dark greens, coloured root vegetables such as carrot and beetroot – anything ending in the word berry. Even a glass or two of red wine, or a square of dark chocolate.”

He adds: “We know that stress makes you more vulnerable. Try to exercise – use the stairs instead of the lift for example. Get plenty of sunlight too – get outdoors, because vitamin D is also helpful for boosting the immune system”.