What do you do to stay healthy during the cold and flu season? Here is what I do, and it works well, I rarely if ever get a cold, and I don’t think I have ever had the flu.
Start preparing in October, by boosting your immune system, and carry the protocol through until March or April, when it looks like the flu season has passed.
I start by continuing the common-sense things my mom taught me:
- Wash my hands frequently using soap and water. One of my favorite nurse friends taught me to wash long enough to sing the entire Happy Birthday song
- Get plenty of rest. I make a point to get 7.5-8.5 hours of sleep nightly
- Eat well, at least 90% of the time.
And then I invest some hard cash and add some immune building supplements, this is where the 94 cents per day comes in:
- A daily zinc supplement, I use Zinc Liver Chelate from Standard Process because it is made from a food source
- I take immune boosting herbs daily, alternating the following:
- Ganoderma and Shiitake Mushroom – a combination of two different mushrooms known to promote healthy immune function
- Echinacea Premium – it is very important to find a high quality echinacea, the one I use is from MediHerb, a company that has done a lot of research on echinacea. It is important that the product you take is made with the correct species, and the correct part of the plant. Mediherb echinacea is made from two different species of the plant, and from the root only, which is were the active components can be found.
Other things you can do to boost your immune system:
- Know your vitamin D level. Vitamin D plays a key role in the immune system. If your vitamin D is not between 40 and 60ng/ml, take a vitamin D3 supplement, making sure you take it with food. To calculate the appropriate dose, see the Vitamin D calculator: https://grassrootshealth.net/?post_projects=dcalculator
- Increase your vitamin C. Some people like to take a vitamin C supplement; consider liposomal vitamin C. The best source of vitamin C is food such as the awesome citrus we have in Arizona.
- Take a probiotic. A major portion of the immune system is generated from the gut, that is why probiotics are helpful.
How about the flu shot?
The flu shot may be fine, but it is not that protective. Last year, according to the CDC, the flu shot was only 36% effective. This year’s shot is only effective against 3-4 strains of the flu virus. It will not prevent infection with any other flu strain, a cold, an intestinal bug or anything else.
By taking the measures suggested above, you will boost your immune system against all infection and hopefully have a cold and flu free winter.
May you stay healthy this winter season
Ann
