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Preventing the Flu Naturally
1. Food is Medicine - Chicken soup really is a healing food! Hot tea and gargling with warm salt water is also beneficial in ridding your mouth and respiratory system of unfriendly microbes!
2. Avoid Inflammation Promoters - Avoid foods and substances that suppress the immune system and increase inflammation. These include: alcohol, tobacco and sugar. Chronic, excessive stress is another inflammation promoter, so anything that minimizes stress is beneficial to the immune system.
3. Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels - Vitamin D deficiency is rampant in our culture and many women do not realize they have this. Vitamin D deficiency compromises the immune system. Connections between Vit. D and infectious diseases goes back to the 1800's. Generally, the more optimal your Vit. D level is, the fewer colds and flu you will experience. Consider having your Vit. D levels checked. They should be between 50 - 70 ng/mL. In the meantime, consider a supplement that provides at least 1000 - 2000 IU's per day. Personally, I take 4400 IU's per day - and a little more during cold and flu season.
4. Support Your Intestinal Flora - Much of chronic inflammation starts in the gut. Regular use of a probiotic supplement is proven to lessen the incidence of respiratory illness and flu.
5. Sleep! - Adequate sleep fortified the immune system - sleep deprivation compromises it! Surrrender to the desire to sleep more when you feel something coming on. This is your body telling you something! And go to bed a little earlier during cold and flu season.
6. Exercise Regularly - Regular exercise is a true friend to our immune system - particularly as we age. Exercise offsets the chronic inflammation that plagues women over 40. However, if you feel a virus coming on - minimize exericse and rest!
7. Consider your "Atmospheric" Conditions - The quality of the air we breathe is important to the immune system. Air out your home and workplace regularly. The tendency in winter is to run the heating system continously - but this can compromise the respiratory system. Fresh air - even cool fresh air - is better for you than artificial heat which dries out the respiratory system and sucks out the moisture needed to flush out toxins. If you can - use indoor air purifiers.
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In general - listen to your body! Those little clues are important: the desire to take a nap, a scratchy throat, a sudden tiredness, some aches and pains that weren't there a few hours ago...
Those signs means its time to take a nap, take some supplements, increase your Vit. D, say "no" to a planned activity, gargle with salt water and have some chicken soup! Listening to these little signs can either prevent or lessen viruses that seem to be on the prowl with great fury this season.
I pray God's insight, wisdom and healing for all of you this season.
Be blessed and healthy!
Cheryl
