10 Ways to Stay Flu-Free This Winter
- Limit your sugar intake. Sugar depresses our immune systems and makes us more susceptible to catching viruses. Although refined sugar is the biggest culprit, also be mindful of how much fruit and fruit juice you are consuming.
- Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep nightly. Our bodies regenerate and repair while we are sleeping. For those of you who have difficulty falling or staying asleep, meditating or breathing exercises are a better alternative than reading, watching TV, or lying in bed persistently thinking about the stressors of the next day.
- Eat generous amounts of garlic. Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. To gain its health benefits, garlic must be fresh and crushed (powder and capsules don’t work as well.) Although you can cook with it, raw garlic is best. Mix it with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a simple and tasty salad dressing. For those of you who are worried about the smell, finish your meals with a sprig or parsley.
- Practice stress reduction techniques. It is a well-known fact that stress weakens our immune systems, and makes us more susceptible to catching viruses and less efficient at fighting them. Stress reduction includes, but is not limited to meditation, yoga, walks outdoors, or just doing something you love.
- Exercise. Moderate, consistent exercise boosts immunity by increasing macrophage production, which attack and kill bacteria. Don’t overdo it, however because increased amounts of high intensity activity actually can depress the immune system.
- Wash your hands. Frequent hand washing decreases the likelihood of spreading viruses to your eyes, mouth and nose, where they gain entry into your body. Our hands are constantly exposed to germs, and we get sick when they gain entrance into our body via our mucus membranes.
- Keep hydrated. Virsuses thrive in dry environments and gain entry into our systems when our mucus membranes are dry. Drink lots of tea (Astragalus Root has immunostimulating and adaptogenic properties) and use a humidifier with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Keeping our mucus membranes moist traps invading viruses and sends them to the stomach where they are destroyed by acid.
- Supplement with probiotics. Since 70% of our immune systems is located in our gut, healthy bacteria ensures a healthy immune system that is less susceptible to infections. Probiotics enhance cellular immunity and may prevent the flu and serious complications from the flu.
- Supplement with Vitamin D3. In our northern climate, we are not exposed to enough sunlight in the winter to activate the vitamin D in our skin. Vitamin D stimulates our immune systems by promoting phagocytosis (engulfing and digestion of foreign bodies.)
- Keep some homeopathic oscillococcinum in your medicine cabinet. If you catch your flu-like symptoms within 24 hours, you will significantly reduce the severity and duration of the illness.
