Fighting Cold & Flu Season – Naturally!
As fall and winter weather start settling in, along comes cold and flu season! If you’re like me, the idea of being proactive and taking mindful steps to stay healthy makes a lot of sense. As they say, the best defense is an strong offense! Here are a few ways to fight off the bugs, giving you a better chance of getting through the approaching seasons healthier than ever!
Optimal nutrition is key. Think fresh and lots of color! Eating a variety of fruits and veggies on a daily basis is vital! Think twice about milk – it’s mucous-forming, hard on our digestive systems, etc. Sugar and artificial sweeteners also weaken your immune system, so minimize intake!
Antioxidants boost your immune system. Again, consume a variety of fruits and veggies daily! And while it’s optimal for us to receive most of our nutrition from food, at times it is beneficial to supplement with a quality multi-vitamin and/or antioxidant.
Exercise is essential. Exercise will strengthen your immune system, circulatory system, respiratory system, and MORE! Our bodies are designed to be active – if it weren’t so, we’d be hearing about the “many benefits of being sedentary” – but we don’t! Carve out 30 minutes at least 3 times per week – your body will thank you!
Drink plenty of pure, fresh water and also green/white/black tea! Every cell in our body thrives on water to stay healthy – be sure you take in plenty daily. Squeeze a fresh lemon or lime in your water for taste and other health benefits! Tea is the second best choice for fluid intake – it’s loaded with wonderful high-potency antioxidants to keep our immune systems strong!
Wash your hands regularly. This sounds like a “given” but it’s surprising how few people actually practice this simple step as much as they should! Be mindful of anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers. Surprisingly, the active ingredient found in most anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers can actually strip away our skin protection, known as the “acid mantle,” which acts to maintain a certain pH to help resist the entry of bacteria. Bottom line – don’t forgo hand-washing – just be sure to use natural soaps and cleansers on a consistent basis!
Get your zzzzz’s. Your body heals and restores while you sleep. Make getting 7-8 hours a priority!
Image courtesy of Google Images.