Staying Healthy and Beating the Flu

With so many people ill this month, I thought I’d share my tips for beating the flu. Staying healthy through the winter requires making sure to boost the immune system on many levels. Taking 1 approach can result in limited benefits. Here’s the list:

Vitamin D. Studies have shown that Vitamin D3 usage is extremely beneficial in preventing the flu as well as a host of other health problems. Vitamin D is free from the sun but difficult to get during the winter due to limited bodily areas getting exposed. Check out this article for info on getting the correct amounts for you and your child. While supplementing with pills are inexpensive and easy to get down, Cod Liver Oil is the best way to get Vitamin D as it has the perfect balance of Vitamin D and A. For my vegetarian friends, make sure to eat orange foods rich in Vitamin A with your Vitamin D!

Probiotics. The reason why probiotics are so important to take to improve our immune system is that the gut contains the “good” bacteria to fight infection. If you’ve taken antibiotics or steroids, which wipe out the good bacteria, getting your gut replenished with good bacteria is extremely important. Yeast overgrowth is becoming common in the gut and can be remedied with a yeast-fighting diet of no sugar, no yeast and probiotics. The best sources of probiotics are through foods like fermented vegetables and drinks. You can also purchase children’s probiotics that are appropriate for their stage of development.

Stress is now considered the major cause of most diseases. It changes the way your body “works”. When a person is experiencing stress regularly, the body goes into a “flight or fight” position, which means the sympathetics are working hard. Over time, the body forgets how to turn on the parasympathetics, which is what returns the body to a normal state. People under chronic stress frequently have bowel and digestive problems. Digestive problems can result in someone not absorbing their food properly (thereby not getting the appropriate nutrients from their food). Bowel problems like constipation results in toxic buildup from improper elimination. It is not unusual for people who are constipated to frequently have sinus problems.  

There are many things you can do to decrease how your body deals with stress. Yoga and meditation are an excellent start and you can do this in your own home. Chiropractic and other forms of bodywork release built up stress in the body. Connecting with nature without electronic devices has a calming effect. You can also ask Calgon to “take you away”. I also like ZenFrames which increase your Theta brainwaves which are the brainwaves that are supposed to be active prior to going into a deep sleep.

Sleep. Speaking of sleep, getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is what researchers are finding is essential for adults. 11 to 12 hours for children is what is required to stay healthy.

Eating whole foods. Packaged foods have chemicals and do not have the nutritional value of whole foods. To maintain great health, eat lots of green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach. Orange foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and butternut squash are important for the mucous membranes. Avoid most grains (with the exception of quinoa and other ancient grains) as they are high in Omega 6’s and are inflammatory in nature. This includes wheat, barley, oats, corn and rice. Have a diet filled with Omega 3 foods like olives and olive oil, avocado, walnuts and cold water fish like wild salmon.

Receive bodywork. Chiropractic works on the body by allowing the nervous system to work efficiently. The nervous system is what controls and coordinates all the functions of the body. Additionally, Chiropractic adjustments release white blood cells which help eat the buggers like viruses and bad bacteria that make us sick.

Local honey is also a great way to keep your immune system healthy. Take a spoonful several times per day (not good for babies though). Homeopathic remedies like oscillococcinum are considered to be extremely effective for the flu. Olive leaf extract is a natural anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal so is wonderful to take on a regular basis to keep your body healthy. The Master Tonic is something I discovered this winter when I was starting to feel ill. It has garlic, apple cider vinegar, horseradish and cayenne pepper. Yes, it is nasty, but it’s better to take that than to get sick!

Exercising regularly is an important piece of the puzzle to help you stay healthy. If you have found you have been bitten by the flu bug however, just standing and moving in place for a few minutes might help give your immune system that extra kick in the pants it might need. Don’t overdo it…just push it a little bit.

Don’t forget that fever, coughs and sneezing are your friend. It is your body’s way of eliminating the bad guys. The intelligence of your body knows that a low grade fever will fight most viral infections and a higher fever is best at combatting viruses. Taking a fever reducer might prolong the illness.

If you find yourself sick, bone broth is an excellent immune system supporter. For my vegan/vegetarian friends, juice your vegetables! It's easier on the digestive system. Ginger, garlic, turmeric and other Indian spices are spices that are anti-inflammatory. 

My routine for staying healthy which seems to be working for me and my family and a lot of my patients as well, is starting the day with a Greens shake (with Olive Leaf extract, 7 Stars yogurt, Hemp Oil and Greens First), a weekly Chiropractic adjustment to keep my immune system strong), getting plenty of rest, a spoonful of honey several times per week, minimum of 2000 IU’s (for adults) of Vitamin D3, plus extra probiotics. And, if I still feel like something is coming on, I take lots of garlic, drink ginger tea (anti-inflammatory) and hold my nose and take the Master Tonic.

Hope you find this helpful and wishing you a much healthier rest of the winter!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is not intended to replace information given to you by your medical provider.