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Self Defence

byDaniel M Davis

A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health

Format:

Hardback

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Is it true that orange juice can help ward off colds? How does age affect our immune system? Is mental health really connected to inflammation?

We are surrounded by bold claims and quick fixes for ‘boosting’ our immune health. But one thing the science is clear on is that everyone’s immune system is completely unique – what is good for one person may not work well for another. So how do we separate the bogus claims from the useful advice? And given its sheer complexity, is there anything we can do to improve our immune system?

In this expert guide, world-leading immunologist Daniel M. Davis examines the effects of stress, diet, age, exercise, the microbiome and more on the immune system, punctures the key myths, sorts the fact from the fiction and equips us to make informed choices for ourselves.

As renowned immunologist Davis argues, the immune system is extremely complicated and widely misunderstood … Offers an illuminating picture of a fascinating area of science

Daily Mail, Best Health Books of 2025

About Daniel M Davis

Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018 and described by Henry Marsh as ‘one of the best accounts I have yet come across of the nature of biological science and discovery’; The Secret Body: How the New Science of the Human Body Is Changing the Way We Live; The Compatibility Gene, which was longlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and shortlisted for the Society of Biology book prize; and Self Defence: A Myth-Busting Guide to Immune Health, which was a Book of the Year in the Daily Mail. Davis has published over 150 research papers and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
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Details
  • Imprint: Bodley Head
  • ISBN: 9781847927569
  • Length: 304 pages
  • Dimensions: 241mm x 28mm x 162mm
  • Weight: 504g
  • Price: £22.00

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