Here are some simple things that you can do to protect
yourself and your family this winter! Be well!
1. Wash
your hands! This is THE single most important thing that you
can do to prevent the spread of the cold or the flu!
2. Avoid
sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and your food allergens. By avoiding
foods and substances that negatively affect your immune
system, and eating lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean
organic proteins, you are giving your immune system the
building blocks and raw materials to thrive! The most common
food allergens are wheat, dairy, peanuts, soy, citrus, eggs, and
chocolate.
3. Vitamin C! Vitamin C supports the health of
your connective tissue and is a powerful antioxidant. High
doses (safe because it is a water soluble vitamin and your
body easily excretes what it doesn't need) to bowel tolerance -
back off the dose when your stool gets loose, can ward off an
infection at the 1st stages.
4. Herbs such as Astragalus
and Reishi have a long term effect on building the immune
system . These can be taken on an ongoing basis throughout
the flu system as a preventive. It may protect you from
getting the flu, or if you do get the flu, your case will probably
be milder than if you had done nothing.
5. Echinacea, or
purple coneflower has a more immediate effect on the immune
system and can be taken during acute cases of a cold or flu.
An over the counter product that is useful during the earliest
stages of a flu or cold coming on is Cold Snap. It only works at
the beginning of the flu and you have to take many frequent
doses of it for it to be effective, but it often really works!
6. Stress - chronic stress increases the levels of cortisol in
the body. This depletes the immune system by lowering the
levels of white blood cells in the body, and lowering your
natural defenses. Find constructive ways to relieve your stress
such as exercise, massage therapy, meditation, yoga, and
breathing exercises.
7. Dress warmly for cold weather.
Wear a hat. While getting cold won't give you the germs,
sudden exposure to coldness and dampness does stress the
body and the immune system, so YES you CAN get a cold from
getting cold. See, grandma was right!
8. Eat warm foods
in the wintertime so as not to deplete your spleen chi which
promotes healthy digestion and supports the immune system.
Also your gut flora is your body's first line of defense against a
pathogen, so TAKE YOUR PROBIOTICS!
Find out more....
