Cold and Flu Season

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard a lot about ebola lately.  Many hospitals and agencies are preparing in case of a mass outbreak in America.  And while I am very pleased about this and glad our country is preparing to protect us………ebola isn’t the only thing we need to be on the lookout for this fall and winter.  That’s right ladies and gentlemen………welcome to cold and flu season!

I’m sure you agree with me in that you have NO desire to be sick.  As soon as the weather starts cooling off it seems like people immediately start with the sniffles.  Something’s always going around and cold and flu season is the one time where we do NOT want to share! 

So how do we stay healthy?  How can we keep from getting sick?  Well there are lots of ways!  But to start with, having a healthy immune system is your best bet!  Did you know that 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract?  Did you read that correctly?!  70% of the system that keeps you from getting sick is located in the same place where you eat and digest your food!  That is crazy to me!  The immune system consists of good bacteria that helps fight off the bad bacteria and viruses.  Unfortunately, many people have damaged the flora (good bacteria) in their intestines with a poor diet and too many stressors.  This can lead to a damaged intestinal wall.  If the intestinal wall is damaged, many foods will not completely digest and the undigested particles will make their way into the bloodstream wreaking havoc on the brain, immune system, metabolism, and more.  So you can see that eating well is crucial for a healthy, robust immune system!  Making sure to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies can help your body stay nice and healthy this season! 

• Wash your hands, but too much.  You want to wash off all the germs.  That’s a no-brainer.  But your immune system also needs a little exposure to dirt and bacteria in order to continue to make the right defenses!
• Get enough sleep.  Lack of sleep causes inflammation in the body which can suppress the immune system.
• Exercise.  Exercise gets antibodies and white blood cells moving through the body faster.  This can help detect pathogens faster!
• Avoid isolation.  Study shows people that have connections with small or large groups of people have stronger immune systems.
• Don't smoke.  The tar found in cigarette smoke damages the immune cells that exist in in the lungs and prevents them from functioning properly.
• Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation.  Excessive alcohol consumption inhibits the function of your white blood cells which can lower your resistance to infection.
• Decrease stress.  Chronic stress exposes your body to a steady stream of stress hormones that suppress the immune system.
• Think positively.  Studies show that working with things like affirmations, visualizations and meditation can help our immune function.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL and HEALTHY weekend!