how to stay healthy during cold & flu season

With colder weather comes cold & flu season–ICK! Since it’s an inevitable time of year it’s important to be educated on proper ways to prevent & heal it, as well as the effects of the flu shot so that you are informed when going into this pesky season.
Let’s start with your immune system this is the barrier in your body keeping you healthy from bacteria & infection, in this case the cold & flu. A compromised digestive & immune system increases your susceptibility to catching these nasty bugs. Remember we talked about the digestive system holding 70-80% of your immune health here. In addition, things like inflammation & hormone imbalances can cause your immune system to decline, making you more susceptible to illness.
When we inject ourselves with the flu shot, particularly the multi dose strands, we are exposing our immune system to the following ingredients: egg protein, formaldehyde, therimosal (which contains mercury), heavy metals, detergents, other chemicals that are known to be allergens, [1].  & sugar! Yes sugar! Which is the #1 food in nutrition that cases a decline in your health. Not to mention the efficacy rate of flu shots is really low, you can read more about this in the article here.
Supporting yourself during this season is quite simple! Be sure to eat as healthy as possible. Here are the top 5 things you can do!

1. Tons of vegetables!- Vegetables are loaded with vitamins & minerals. Together they work inside your body to feed your cells the nutrients they need, and are both essential for fighting disease.
2. Quality sources of protein- such as grass fed beef, pasture raised, antibiotic free chicken & pork, & wild caught fish. You really want these quality proteins because proteins are the building blocks of your body. They also are one of the main components needed for a strong immune system because they contain antibodies that help fight infection.
3. Hydration!- You can go weeks without food but only days without water. Among other benefits water is going to help flush toxins from your body and transport the nutrients from those delicious vegetables & protein.
4. Healthy fats- These will aid in the absorption of the protein & are required for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, & K.
5. Avoiding things like sweets, breads, hydrogenated oils. These do nothing beneficial for your health & just degrade your cellular communication & deplete nutrients from your body. By stressing your body through this makes it more susceptible to illness & creates a longer recovery time.

You can also explore supplementation! A few supplements that everyone can benefit from both for immune & overall health are homemade bone broth & vitamin D. Bone broth will seal your gut lining as well as provide mineral rich nutrients to your body. Vitamin D supports hormone health & aids in the prevention of inflammatory diseases. Since many of us become deficient in the cooler months it never hurts to add in a bit of this vitamin during cold & flu season.
Still caught yourself a bug & feeling under the weather? That’s okay! It’s your body working to keep you healthy so let’s help support it! Try supplementing with some of the following:

1. Quality bone broth- if you don’t have time to make your own, I recommend Kettle & Fire. It is shelf stable, tastes great & is made from quality grass fed beef. My friend & fellow practitioner also makes homemade broth, if you are interested shot me an email while her site is under construction!
2. Grapeseed extract or oregano oil can also be helpful. These oils help kill bad bacteria in the gut which can decrease your healing time. Don’t over due it though– too much can cause a decline in the healthy bacteria you need in order to heal!
3. Zinc is a mineral that also helps support a strong immune system, supplementing with this may help give your immune system a boost & fight off those unwanted germs.
4. Vitamin C- Make sure you get your Vitamin C from a practitioner though as Emergen-C & similar brands are just loaded with sugar & not a valid form of Vitamin C.
5. Elderberry syrup- Elderberries contain flavonoids which are antioxidant rich making them beneficial for repairing cells that become damaged through the virus or bug you caught. They are also a great source of Vitamin C. This is a good alternative to your standard cough medicines which are loaded with sugar. Although some brands of elderberry syrup still contain some sugar it is derived from a healthier source than common drugstore brands. A couple brands are Gaia Herbs, Nature’s Way, & Honey Gardens.

You now have all the tools you need to feel your best this winter season! Share any other natural remedies you have tried that worked well in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
​