Q: I am a 21 years old boy and my body weight is 65 kg and height is 174 cm. For the past few years I was taking creatine for building my muscles and at that time I felt good body power and charm on my face. But after 6 months when I stopped taking creatine, I felt weakness and my immune system also got highly disturbed. How can I overcome this problem?

A:You are very young to be on the supplement. I do hope you have a guided plan on its intake. A strong, well-functioning immune system is the cornerstone of good health, fighting off disease and infections and allowing you to recover more quickly if you do get sick. There is no specific food or nutrient that has been clinically proven to “boost” the immune system all on its own. Rather, you need a variety of foods that provide a natural abundance of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients (compounds found in plants that have disease-fighting properties); all those nutrients work together to keep your immune functions running smoothly. Regular exercise, even something as simple as a daily 30-minute walk, can improve immune functioning. You seem to be exercising well so that does not seem to be a problem. Please take a second opinion on creatine, as I do not recommend it. Maintaining good sleep habits can help too. The best nutritional strategy for keeping your immune system strong, then, is to have a well-nourished, well-rested body and exercise regularly.