How to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
Nov 01, 2013
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.
