Staying Healthy During Cold And Flu Season

By Carolyn Schropp BS, NC, Functional Nutritional Consultant and Educator at HealthWalk™

Do you get sick during the fall and winter months? Washing your hands more often does help keep illness at bay. And there are many other factors which come into play toward keeping healthy. If you tend to catch colds or the flu, here are some tips that really work for keeping away bacteria, illnesses, and viruses.

1. Eat plenty of organic, pesticide-free fresh fruits and vegetables especially those in season in your local area. Choose local produce if organic produce is unavailable or is from a distant foreign location. Travel, time and processing depletes the nutrients of all foods. Vegetables and fruits are high in nutrients and antioxidants and phytonutrients which help thwart the development of disease and illness.
2. Avoid eating processed foods and refined sugars, including high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. Fall and winter months are a time when people tend to eat more sugary processed foods due to holiday activities and gatherings. One of sugar's and simple carbohydrates’ major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system.
   
   An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates you're making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease.
   
   This includes foods such as crackers, chips, breakfast cereals, most breads aside from sprouted whole grain breads, bagels, cookies, desserts candy, fruit juice, soda pop, mayonnaise, ketchup, peanut butter and other related food items. A good rule of thumb to follow- if it is not a whole food, avoid eating it. Load up on real, raw, whole foods for snacks and meals alike.
3. Drink plenty of filtered water. HealthWalk’s HydroMag™ is a portable and inexpensive water application product you can use to have water that actually creates a higher alkaline state in the body instead of having to consume high alkaline water, along with providing you with better hydration. Keep a container with you throughout the day and sip frequently rather than trying to gulp down many ounces at once. Minimize the use of plastic containers, tap water, and bottled water. Tap water contains dissolved toxins and plastic contains phthalates both of which suppress the immune system and health. At HealthWalk we can analyze your immune system with the Comprehensive Wellness Panel (blood chemistry analysis). Once your blood chemistry profile is determined we recommend supplementation and a nutritional protocol to put the body back in balance and to stay in balance.
4. Take quality nutritional supplements to fill in the areas where your diet leaves off. Whole food based, natural and organically produced vitamins and supplements are a very good choice. HealthWalk takes the guess work out of what supplements to take. We offer personalized nutritional consulting tailored to each individual.
5. Moderate the intake of alcoholic beverages if you drink - one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for a man. Drinking excess alcohol can have adverse affects on appetite, blood sugar, blood pressure, cardiovascular function, metabolic processes and weight.
6. Get plenty of rest and do not overextend yourself. In today’s demanding world, there are always more requests for your time and energy. If possible, say no to extra tasks or at least prioritize the important over the urgent so that what is most valuable gets done first. Stay home on a night where you might normally go out and rest, relax, catch up, and go to bed early. Go to bed by 10:00 p.m. retiring at this hour allows your body to heal and rejuvenate.
7. Set aside time for regular exercise, preferably outdoors. Exercise builds up the body’s immune system and strengthens the whole body against potential pathogens. In the colder months people tend to go to health clubs more. Many more germs and toxins are trapped in the humid warm environments indoors during colder months, so take precautions e.g. wipe down the handles of the gym equipment with a disinfectant wipe and wear slippers instead of being barefoot in the gym shower. Bundle up and go for a walk, hike, or bike ride or get out in the snow and go skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. Exercise improves your mood, help prevent or manage high blood pressure, boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol while decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol. Regular exercise can help you prevent type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.
8. Set aside time for contemplation, stress reduction, and relaxation. When the body is under stress without release it is more vulnerable to the attack of microorganisms and disease. Plan regular activities that support your return to equilibrium, a hot bath, a massage, tai chi, yoga, stretching, walking, journaling, meditation or some other method you prefer. Make sure you give yourself time to recharge.
9. If you get sick, drink plenty of fluids such as filtered HydroMag™ treated water, homemade soups and vegetable juices and eat more fruits and fresh vegetables. Increase your intake of antioxidants and phytonutrients via your diet as above and add supplementation of olive leaf extract, packed with phytonutrients and natural anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. HealthWalk’s Rupronol™ has 18% oleuropein and has over 90 constituents from specially grown olive trees making it among the most potent olive leaf extracts available. Take time to rest, and put off things that aren’t necessary so you can get back to a state of health quicker and easier.

When you maintain a good schedule of eating healthy, avoiding processed foods and beverages, take proper supplementation, practice moderate activity, exercise, rest and relaxation, you will notice an enormous improvement in your health. You will have more energy feel more productive, and avoid catching flu’s and colds.

Contact us at HealthWalk; we have tools, support and information to empower you on your path to regaining and maintaining Vibrant health.