We are not out of cold and flu season just yet, so let’s not forget about staying healthy and keeping our number one defence system fit – our immune system! Stress, alcohol, medications, what you eat, and lack of sleep can directly affect how your immune system functions. Adopting some simple prevention strategies can help you avoid a cold or flu and provide you with optimal health and wellbeing.
Here are some tips to help you stay sniffle free this season:
- Eat a balanced wholefood diet – Increase your fresh fruits and vegetables, protein and healthy fats. In particular consume foods rich in vitamin C (such as citrus fruits, berries, broccoli and spinach), incorporate garlic, onion and ginger into cooking and try to consume nourishing foods such as soups, and homemade bone broths.
- Reduce inflammatory foods such as sugar, white breads, dairy, cakes, and soft drinks that can supress immune function. By consuming 25gms of refined sugar you lower your immune system function for up to 5 hours.
- Stress less – the hormones you secrete when you are stressed, adrenaline and cortisol, suppress your immune system. Try practices such as yoga or meditation, which have been shown to reduce these stress hormones, or have a good remedial massage.
- Supplement when necessary – vitamin C is the most familiar natural therapy for colds and flu’s, but it’s not the only one. Vitamin A has a strong anti-viral action and is plays an important role in maintaining mucosal surfaces (think inside of the nose and throat), Zinc is essential for the cells of the immune system, and there are many medicinal herbs such as echinacea, astragalus and olive leaf which are powerful immune boosters.
- Get enough sleep. Deep sleep will allow you to rest and repair, whilst releasing powerful immune enhancing chemicals to boost immune function. It’s essential – so get zzzing!
Still feel like winter is getting you down?
Come in for an acute consultation today.
Also try this Cold and Flu recipe for a naturally warming and immune boosting beverage!