• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

HEALTH OVER ALL

  • Home
  • About Dr. Jordin
  • Work with us
    • Feminine Burnout
    • Our Unique Approach
    • The Pink Canary
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Book Now

6 Ways To Gear Up For Cold & Flu Season by Dr. Jessica Geil, ND

September 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and the

annual pumpkin spice craze is in full effect. With cold and flu season just around the corner

there’s no better time to get your immune system in check. Stay healthy this year by

following these simple tips:

  1. Clean up your diet. It’s true that a healthy diet sets the stage for proper immune

    function. When it comes to food, the more variety (and colour!) the better. Opt for whole

    foods that are packed full of nutrients instead of processed or prepared items. Make an

    effort to limit your intake of refined sugars as much as possible, as they prevent your white

    blood cells from adequately targeting and fighting off any invaders that enter your system.

    Aim for about 2L of water per day to stay hydrated and deter the bugs from adhering to the

    lining of your respiratory tract. For extra defense, stock up on foods that have immune

    enhancing or antimicrobial properties, including garlic, ginger, bone broth, citrus, onions,

    mushrooms, and oregano.

  2. Replenish those nutrients! Sometimes dietary measures aren’t enough and additional

    supplementation is needed. In this case, up your game with nutrients that are vital for

    proper immune function, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium, and zinc. If you

    haven’t already, ask your doctor about measuring your vitamin D level (the “sunshine

    vitamin”). Studies consistently show that individuals with low or insufficient levels of vitamin

    D are more prone to a number of illnesses. Given the widespread deficiency of vitamin D in

    Canada, this nutrient should not be overlooked. Visit your doctor to determine what types of

    nutrients are most appropriate for you.

  3. Keep your gut happy. Since 70% of your immune system resides within your gut, it is

    imperative that your digestion is optimal. Your gut lining serves as a barrier between your

    bloodstream and the outside world. Ideally the cells that make up this lining should adhere

    closely to one another and allow only select molecules to pass freely into circulation. With

    regular exposure to irritating foods, stress, toxins, and pathogens the cells can become

    ‘leaky’ and permit the passage of larger substances into the bloodstream, including the

    bugs that make you sick. Support the functioning of these cells and keep your immune

    system strong by removing the foods that you are sensitive to, drinking homemade bone

    broth (a great source of glutamine), and supplementing with a quality probiotic.

  4. Battle with botanicals. A number of immune boosting herbs exist in nature, each with

    their own set of medicinal actions that can be used to prevent and treat those nasty cold

    and flu viruses. Botanicals such as elderberry, echinacea, astragalus, licorice,

    andrographis, goldenseal, garlic, ginger, and ginseng can be combined to strengthen your

    immune system and fight off infection. Be sure to speak to your doctor about what ones

    may be most appropriate for you. Feeling adventurous? Make up a warm pot of Change of

    Season Soup. Change of Season Soup is used traditionally in Chinese medicine and is

    made from a blend of herbs that serve to tonify your immune system as you go through the

    change of seasons. Kits can be found in most Asian supermarkets.

  5. Catch some Zzzzzz’s. There’s no question that sleep deprivation compromises immune

    function. Countless studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more

    likely to get sick when exposed to a virus. Their ability to clear the infection is also

    weakened, resulting in a longer time to recovery from the illness. So what does this mean?

    Listen to your body when you are feeling run down and be sure to take some time to rest. It

    will only help you in the end!

  6. Manage stress. Doesn’t it seem like colds and flus always seem to strike whenever you

    are feeling stressed and overworked? That isn’t a coincidence! Under heightened periods of

    stress the body releases large amounts of cortisol, which is meant to help you “fight” or

    “flee” from the threatening situation. During this time several of your body’s day-to-day

    functions become halted, including your immune function. If the stressor is ongoing the

    immune system will not work as it should, making you more vulnerable to infections. While

    it’s not possible to eliminate all stressors that come your way, there are definitely ways to

    help you control your response to it and the overall effect it has on your body.

 

Do you need some help preparing for the upcoming cold and flu season? To schedule an

appointment with Dr. Geil, please call the office at 905-892-1318 or click the following link:

https://healthoverall.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/3

germ

Dr. Jessica Geil, HBSc, ND

Naturopathic Doctor

Health Over All

Women's Health

Health Over All Team

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Iron Deficiency, Anemia, and Depression
  • Are you Prepared for Menopause? 
  • Why Bone Health Is Important for Women & What You Can Do to Support It
  • The Power of Consistency in Achieving Your Health Goals
  • Thyroid Dysfunction in Perimenopause

Archives

Categories

  • Burnout
  • Chronic Disease
  • Digestion
  • Fertility
  • Hormones
  • Libido
  • Lyme Disease
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Osteopath
  • Pelvic Health
  • Sexual Health
  • Thyroid
  • Uncategorized
  • Women's Health

Tags

accountability anxiety bewell burnout dairyfree fertility fertilitysupport foodsensitivities glutenfree happyhormones healthyhormones healthyrecipes healyourgut HOAlifestyle hormone balance hormonebalance hormonehealth hormones lowlibido menopause menopausesupport mental health mentalhealth painfulperiod PCOS pcosawareness pcoslife pcospregnancy pelvicfloor pelvic pain perimenopause perimenopauselikeaboss periodproblems pregnancy selfcare skipthesugar testsdontguess thyroid thyroidawareness thyroid disorder thyroidhealth wellwoman women's health womenshealth womenswellness

healthoverallinc

Follow on Instagram

Footer

Contact

info@healthoverall.ca

Copyright © 2023 · Gallery Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in