At long last, we’re getting a bit of sunshine. Off come the windbreakers and out come the moth-balled vests and sundresses. And it’s about now that some of us are ready to catch our annual spring cold. Yep, while hay fever sufferers have been struggling for the past couple of weeks, the rest of us are now coming into our watery eyes and itchy throat period.

We can’t promise to cure your cold (your best bet is to hydrate and chill out), but it’s a fact that good gut nutrition plays a massive role in immune health. Up to 80% of our immune system is located in the gut, so the better you look after your microbiome, the better your body can deal with bugs.

With that in mind, we bring you a soup brimming with antioxidants and fibre. This bowl of nourishing greens contains a load of fresh herbs (all rich in vitamin C), broccoli (high in vitamin C and fibre, as well as anti-inflammatories), and courgettes (hydrating, with yet more vitamin C). It gets its green hue largely from spinach – an immunity hero rich in iron, vitamins K, C and E, potassium and magnesium.

Top with a dollop of yoghurt and serve with some gut-loving sourdough.

Support your immune system through hay fever peaks and spring colds with a bowl of nourishing greens soup