Summer is meant to be the season of expansion — warm nights, salty hair, sunshine-soaked joy, long days at the beach, and a lightness we don’t often feel in winter.
So why do so many people find themselves dealing with more infections?
More throat irritation?
More niggling sinus issues?
More “I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I feel off”?
It’s not your imagination.
And it’s not bad luck.
It’s simply your body trying to adapt to a season that places a very different kind of strain on your immune system.
Let’s break it down so you can understand what’s really going on inside you — and what your body has been trying to whisper.
1. Rapid Temperature Swings Shock the Mucous Membranes
Your nose, throat, and sinuses are lined with mucous membranes — the beautifully delicate immune tissues that trap pathogens and stop them from entering deeper into the body.
In summer, these membranes become stressed when you move from:
- icy air-conditioning to blistering outdoor heat, or
- outdoor heat to chilled indoor spaces
This sudden jump dries them out, slows the action of the tiny cilia that sweep away microbes, and leaves your immune system exposed.
Think of it as your internal “security gates” jamming — just when you need them most.
2. Fans and Overnight Air-Con Quietly Undermine Immunity
This one surprises people…..
Sleeping with a fan blowing directly across your face or running the air-conditioner all night reduces humidity dramatically — and your mucous membranes absolutely feel it.
If you wake with:
- a dry mouth
- a scratchy or coated throat
- stuffed sinuses
…that’s the sign your mucous immune barriers have dried out overnight.
And dryness = vulnerability.
Your body works hard to protect you, but it can’t do it effectively when its first line of defence has been compromised by airflow and low humidity.
3. Dehydration Happens Long Before You Notice
By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already under mild physiological stress.
Add summer heat, sweating, socialising, and busy days — and dehydration creeps up quickly.
Dehydration thickens mucus, slows lymphatic drainage, and forces the immune system to work harder.
It’s one of the quietest reasons people get sick during summer.
4. Heat Stress Suppresses Your Immune Response
Yes, heatwaves literally change the way your immune cells behave.
High temperatures increase:
- cortisol
- oxidative stress
- inflammatory load
And all of that suppresses immune function.
This is why so many people feel flat, irritated, tired, or “off” during extremely hot weather — your body is using energy to thermoregulate rather than defend.
5. Summer Socialising= More Exposure to Microbes
We love the BBQs, the shared platters, the holidays, the pools, the travel, the gatherings.
But each of these brings more exposure to bacteria, viruses, and microbes — while your immune system is simultaneously busy regulating heat, hydration, and mucosal integrity.
It’s a perfect storm.
The Good News
Once you understand the why, supporting your immune system becomes simple — and incredibly effective.
You don’t need extreme measures.
You don’t need to avoid summer or air-conditioners or joy.
You simply need to know what your immune system needs from you during this season.
And I’ve put together a practical, easy-to-follow guide with all the naturopathic strategies that help restore hydration, protect mucous membranes, strengthen gut-based immunity, and support your body during the hotter months.
Teressa Todd
Naturopath | Biochemist
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
