Tips on How to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Oct. 7, 2015 - PRLog -- Cold and flu season is quickly approaching but you don’t have to suffer through it.  Here are some simple tips on how to keep your immune system strong and you healthy during cold and flu season.

v  Eliminate packaged and processed foods that contain added sugars, bad fats and refined salt and focus on natural whole foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, good quality meats & fish, nuts & seeds, pastured eggs and some whole grains and legumes.  Fresh vegetables and fruit contain all the necessary vitamins such as vitamin A, C & E and minerals such as zinc which help keep our immune system healthy and strong.  Good quality meats, fish, eggs and legumes contain the essential proteins that are required to build antibodies which help fight infection.

v  Keep your total sugar intake from all sources down to 25 grams/day.  Excess sugar leads to inflammation which leads to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Excess sugar also helps feed the “bad” bacteria in our gut which will ultimately compromise our immune system.

v  Drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day to help eliminate toxins which maybe compromising your immune system.  Also remember to drink before meals and not during meals so that your digestion is not compromised. Strong HCL(hydrochloric acid) is required to break down important proteins that your body uses to make antibodies to fight infections and hormones such as melatonin that help regulate sleep.

v  SLEEP! Sleep is so important for us. Our body is very busy building, repairing and removing toxins while we are sleeping. To ensure proper sleep make sure you get to bed before 11pm.  The hormone melatonin, responsible for restful sleep, is produced in largest quantities between 10:30pm and 11:00pm.  Also removing all electronic gadgets from your bedroom and making sure your bedroom is completely dark will also help promote good quality sleep.

v  Learn to manage ongoing negative stress.  Elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, will weaken the immune system plus negative stress will also disrupt our healthy gut bacteria which are responsible for the integrity of our immune system.  Try to incorporate moderate physical activity into your daily routine such as a brisk walk and light stretches.  Practising intentions of gratitude can also help lift your spirits and help you unwind.  Just take 5 minutes to think about all the positive things in your life that you are thankful for.   Writing them down also helps.

v  For some extra help during cold & flu season you can supplement with a good quality multivitamin & mineral, a probiotic to keep those “bad” bacteria under control, a good quality fish oil and vitamin D3.  If you find you’re under a lot of stress adding a B vitamin complex can help.  Some herbs that are helpful when you feel a cold coming on are Echinacea and oil of oregano. If you’re having difficulty sleeping supplementing with magnesium can help as well as herbs such as valerian root, passion flower, skullcap and chamomile.  You can find all these supplements and herbs at your local health food store.

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