COLD & FLU SEASON
Its that time of year again! Cold and flu season is here! Do you have a plan in place to keep you and your family healthy? Its important to focus on prevention but you should also have some products on hand so you can start treatment at the first sign of a cold!
PREVENTION
Prevention is always the best route! As we enter fall, evaluate your foundations of health and make sure you are:
- Getting enough sleep
- Drinking enough water
- Moving your body
- Setting aside time for selfcare, and
- Eating a healthy, whole foods diet
And of course, frequently wash your hands!
VITAMIN D
The exact number of Canadians with insufficient vitamin D varies by source depending on what they classify as “insufficient”. Some sources are conservative and report 40% of Canadians have insufficient levels of Vitamin D, while others suggest numbers as high as 97%.
The number of those with “insufficient” Vitamin D levels also varies based on the season, dropping around 15% in the winter. This variation is why testing is very important.
Get your Vitamin D levels checked so you know how much supplementation is needed to keep you at a healthy level through the colder and darker months of the year. Testing is done via a simple blood test and costs less than $35. Once you know your Vitamin D level you can begin to supplement (if needed) with the proper form and dose of Vitamin D.
IMMUNE SUPPORT
Nutrients like Zinc, Vitamin C (and Vitamin D), and herbs like Echinacea, Astragalus, and Andrographis can help support your immune system during the cold & flu season. Be sure to have one or two quality products on hand for when you start to feel a cold coming. The sooner you intervene the better!
Keep an eye out for these signs of a cold:
- Increased fatigue
- Body aches
- Tingling/scratchy throat
- Stuffy/runny nose
- Congestion
- Cough
- Generally feeling unwell (malaise)
The dose and form of these nutrients matter. Stop by the clinic or talk to your healthcare provider about selecting the correct form and dose of these supportive immune agents to ensure you are investing in the correct products!
WARMING SOCKS
This is a more traditional approach aimed at reducing the feeling of congestion that often accompanies a cold. If you have a ‘head cold’ or feel one coming on try this simple technique:
Before you get into bed at night:
- Take a pair of small cotton ankle socks and soak them in cold water.
- Wring them out so they are damp but no longer dripping wet.
- Grab a pair of wool socks.
- Get into bed and put on ankle socks with the wool socks overtop.
- Go to sleep!
In the morning you should feel less congestion and pressure, allowing you to have a more productive day!
Questions about your immune system? Send me an email or book a free 15-minute discovery session here.
