It's that time of year again...when children return to school and bring home the latest and greatest virus, only to share it with the household! You can chalk it up to increased contact with peers, changing weather conditions, increased stress, and much more. Let's talk about what you can do to prevent falling victim to the latest strain of the flu this fall and winter.
5 Basics Habits for a Healthy Immune System:
Get plenty of sleep (10-12hrs for young children, 8-10hrs for adults and teens).
Wash your hands with soap and water before eating and keep your hands away from your face (especially eyes, nose and mouth).
Limit / avoid sugar in your diet.
Eat lots of vegetables and fruit daily (think 5-8 servings combined).
Move your body daily (at least walking 30min/day).
If you are prone to infections, consider the following:
Stop cigarette smoking.
See your doctor or naturopathic doctor about running routine blood work to check for nutrient deficiencies, signs of infection, and immunodeficiency.
Talk to your naturopathic doctor about potential food intolerances (food intolerances may masquerade as sinus/ ear infections, or chest colds).
Use a nasal rinse system daily to help clear mucus and debris from the sinuses, and to prevent the development of infections.
Replace your furnace filter every 3 months, choosing a high-quality anti-allergen filter.
Talk to your naturopathic doctor about the potential effects of stress on the immune system and what can be done to help.
Beyond the suggestions given above to prevent flu symptoms, your naturopathic doctor can offer natural medicines to help support your innate immune function and prevent succumbing to a virus if you should come into contact with an infected person.
Here are some adjunctive therapies to consider in preventing viral infections:
Vitamin C 1000 mg/ day*
Vitamin D3 2000 IU/ day*
Zinc citrate (balanced with copper) 15-30 mg/ day*
Influenzinum 9CH (annual seasonal strain; usually released toward the end of October) 1x/ week for 5 weeks, with Thymusinum 4CH (thymus gland support) 1x/ week for 5 weeks [ask Dr. Jasper for more details!]
...and so much more!
*Exact doses of nutrients for each person should be discussed with a trained health care professional. Therapeutic doses may be higher or lower, depending on the age, size, existing health and medications that a person is currently taking.
As the saying goes: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Your best bet in avoiding sick days and hours/days lost lying in bed, is to live a healthy lifestyle. If you find yourself falling ill more than you would like to, do consider seeing a health care professional, such as a naturopathic doctor, to further investigate the cause.
Have a healthy winter!
