Posted November 2, 2015

Cold & flu season is here! But there are simple things you can do to keep yourself healthy

The commonly used explanation, “I caught a cold because Suzy kept coughing on me,” is not entirely true. If it were, every person near Suzy would become ill, but this doesn’t happen. If you “catch” a cold, versus if you do not, lies in the strength of your immune system.

A poor diet, chronic stress, alcohol, and a lack of sleep and exercise are the biggest culprits in weakening your immune system. Flu shots are touted as being a key step to take this time of year to keep you healthy. But reports of their effectiveness are actually quite mixed.

To keep your immune system robust this season, I suggest these tried and true simple tips, which will benefit you by not only boosting your immune function, but are great for your overall health and wellbeing as well:

Eat a whole foods diet

including an abundance of colorful vegetables and fruit. If food is in the shape from which it grew in nature, it’s considered a whole food, thus is packed with immune boosting nutrients. If man made it, don’t eat it often.

Oatmeal with fruit, mixed vegetable salad with chicken, veggies and fish. Other whole foods include beans, lentils, fish, chicken, brown rice, fruit, nuts… And stay hydrated with plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces, so a 150lb person should drink a minimum of 75oz/day. Sorry, sugary drinks or coffee don’t count…

Sugar and processed foods not only weaken the immune system, but are devoid of key nutrients that your immune system depends on for fuel. Aim for eating whole foods 80% of the time, and include vegetables DAILY to ensure you are ingesting a high concentration of immune-boosting nutrients.

Adequate rest

Sleep is the most rejuvenating time for your body. Every night, your body regenerates cells allowing your immune system to be on top if its game the next day. Just like the fatigue you feel when you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system will be suffering this same fatigue.

Exercise

Exercise has been proven to be one of the most powerful ‘medicines’ around, not only for keeping your immune system strong, but also reducing your risk of many diseases and is your most effective antidepressant.

Key supplements

Adults who took a multivitamin had a 50% decrease in the number of days of illness due to the common cold than those who didn’t.

Vitamin C is a proven immune booster. 1000mg 1-2x’s/day to prevent sickness; 3000++mg/day if already sick.

Get your vitamin D and zinc checked and take a supplement if you are low.

High-quality probiotics, which contain healthy gut flora, are great immune boosters (ask for one at a health food store…they also can relieve constipation, and not having a bowel movement DAILY weakens the immune system).

There are great immune boosting herbs too. To be effective, they must be high quality and taken in adequate amounts.

I have a terrific herbal supplement that helps my patients and their families immune from getting sick during cold & flu season. Please contact me using the ‘contact’ tab above if you would like to receive it. Comes in adult & child formulas. I highly recommend it!

If you feel you are getting sick, try some of these simple tips:

Eat an orange/day or other citrus fruits for their vitamin C

Eat garlic and onions for their antiviral & antibacterial properties

Gargle with warm salt water if you get a sore throat

Do a saline nasal rinse to clear clogged sinuses

Use Elderberry syrup to reduce flu symptoms

Cut back on intense workouts and/or do light exercise

Watch a funny movie because laughter is one of the best medicines!

The common cold and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria so avoid antibiotics because they are NOT effective treatment.

If you would like to schedule an individualized session over the phone to empower yourself with the key knowledge you need to keep you and your family healthy this season, you can sign up for a free intro consult over the phone with me here: http://consultwithdrjody.com

I hope you found this article helpful. Feel free to email me with questions.

Here’s to staying healthy all winter long!

Dr. Jody Stanislaw is a 2007 Bastyr University graduate. She works entirely via phone with patients all around the country.

Being a type 1 diabetic since the age of 7, she specializes in Diabetes care and is an expert at helping patients achieve optimal glucose control. She also works with the general population, advising patients on the naturopathic approach of treating today’s most common ailments.

Her focus on mind/body is present in every appointment. In her very popular intensive program, patients receive weekly calls with her over a 3 month period, allowing them to make dramatic transformations in their overall health & wellbeing. This structure allows the many levels of a patient’s needs to be addressed…physical, emotional, nutritional, and more…leaving them happier and healthier than ever before. Sign up for a free introductory phone consultation with Dr. Stanislaw here: www.consultwithdrjody.com