February Health Blog –
Tips to Fight Off Colds and Flu this Winter Season
It seems like every year around this time there is a new health scare or pandemic alert which makes many people frightened to leave their houses. This year-the Coronavirus outbreak in China has done much to create this fear and panic. And while to date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has assured us that person-to-person transmission of this virus outside of China has been limited- people are still on edge. On my recent return from Florida visiting my daughter Carolynn-I was amazed to see so many people wearing surgical masks and gloves at the airport.
While it is important to be cautious and to stay current with the latest health information, there are still plenty of things we can do on a daily basis to minimize our risk factors and keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy. So I feel it is appropriate to mention some simple and practical tips we can use on a daily basis to stay healthy this season.
Eat a Healthy and Well Balanced Diet
We all remember when our parents scolded us to “Eat all our Fruits and Veggies!” Well this time of year that old adage is even more important. Winter tends to be a time of eating fattier and richer foods which are hard to digest and make it more difficult for our immune systems to work at peak efficiency. So try eating a cleaner diet with plenty of color-rich fruits and steamed vegetables and make sure to be drinking lots of fluids. Adding Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, grapefruit and spinach can also go a long way towards staying healthy during the colder months. And if you’re a big coffee drinker, try switching to green tea for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Get Enough Sleep
Ever notice how much you want to sleep when you’re coming down with a cold? Well that’s your body’s way of letting you know that the best way to repair from the inside is to give it enough rest to do so. Set aside at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep is important for your entire body, and even more so at this time of year.
Stay Active
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can sit on the couch all bundled up watching Netflix and Disney Plus all day! Exercise is a great way to boost your energy and your immune system- yet most of us tend to do less activities this time of year than in the spring and summer. We recommend 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week consisting of some cardio activities as well as some light strength training. And if it is too cold out, join a local gym or you can do at home workouts!
Take Supplemental Vitamins
During these colder months, we are outside less and daylight hours are diminished which means we are not getting the natural vitamins from the sun, such as Vitamin D that we normally do. In this same sense, we may be lacking other vitamins that are essential to help fight illness. So if we are not getting the proper nutrients from food, sun or other areas, then supplementing with vitamins becomes more important. We are proud to have an array of excellent nutritional supplements from Designs for Health in our office, like the Immune Tone Plus which we highlighted in last month’s newsletter. These can boost our immune systems and reduce our chances of getting colds and flu’s. Speak with Dr. Gil for more information on these vitamins.
Wash Your Hands
“Don’t forget to wash your hands!” Another phrase you’ve probably heard before, or maybe you’ve been telling your children. Either way, it is one of the simplest and most important rules to follow this time of year. Viruses are persistent and can live on most surfaces for up to 48 hours. By washing our hands regularly we can effectively avoid getting infected.
Visit the Chiropractor
The medical community is in unanimous agreement that the secret to fighting the flu is a healthy immune system. Unfortunately you can’t buy a healthy immune system and you can’t pop a pill and get one. A healthy immune system comes about as a result of having a fully functioning nervous system. And Chiropractic has been shown in hundreds of research articles to improve the function of the body’s immune system. A study done in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research in 1997 showed chiropractic care to be effective in treating the flu. Over 2,800 individuals received regular chiropractic care and the result was an average decrease in the incidence of colds and the flu. So our Chiropractic adjustments can not only help you feel great but can help your immune system function at it’s highest level!
As always- we are here to help you stay healthy during this cold and flu season. Call us for more information or to schedule a visit. Stay healthy and enjoy the Winter!
More information here:
Healthy New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep
Some Words of Advice Before You Shovel
Ask us About ChiroHealth – A Discount Medical Plan