Managing the flu season…

The flu season is especially bad this year…. And you should be prepared…

Keep in mind, we are exposed to pathogens daily – in our food, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the people or things we touch and so on. Our immune systems is always on – watching out for the “unfriendlies” and hopefully taking care of them before they can do us harm… If our immune system is strong, the flu should not be an issue. Unfortunately, our modern American lifestyle really taxes our immunity. So as soon as you start feeling under the weather, dial in all the bad stuff and lean into the good. What do I mean?

1. Clean up your diet – your system needs extra nutrition to fight off the invader. Cut back on sugar and “edible food-like products” – all the processed and refined stuff – and have more fruits and vegetables instead. Make sure you have enough clean protein – the body’s building block for tissue repair. Make an extra greens powder drink to increase nutrient intake. Cut dairy out completely – it can be mucus forming and you all know how I feel about gluten – better to skip! Make some chicken soup – we all know it’s been shown in studies to work as well as other agents on shortening the duration of a cold. Eat well cooked, easy-to-digest foods. Avoid alcohol – your liver has enough to do!

2. Get extra sleep – this is the time when the body reboots itself by cleaning out the garbage and resetting. Because our bodies rest at night, the immune system can be less vigilant – saving strength for the next day, when it will be bombarded by pathogens once again.

3. Cut back on stress – I know it’s not easy. But dial back on all non-essential tasks – you can do them later, once you feel well again. Breathe, do a meditation – especially one with positive affirmations around health. Have your groceries delivered instead of going to the store. Do healthy takeout – you can cook later. Let the laundry pile up or even better, take it to the dry cleaner for laundering. Just this once. Shop on amazon, even if it costs more. This has the extra benefit of avoiding stores – hotbeds of viruses and bacteria!  Skip the exercise class – do restorative yoga instead.  Yes, exercise is a form of stress in itself – so better to skip until you feel better.

4. Wash your hands – no brainer, I know. Carry a healthy hand sanitizer with you – avoid any made with Triclosan, a reported endocrine disruptor. If you see a sick person – run! And don’t sleep in the same bed with them, I beg you.

5. Support your body with immune-boosting nutrients. I am a proponent of preventative Vitamin C during the flu season – 500-1000mg daily. But if you are already getting sick, it’s time to get the big guns out. Here is what I suggest as a short-term, 3-5 day regimen:

• Vitamin C: 3-5g daily (cut back if your bowels get loose) in divided doses
• Vitamin D3: 10,000IU daily
• Vitamin A: 10,000 IU daily
• Monolaurin: a great anti-viral made from coconuts. 3/day
• Probiotic: a good multi-strain formula, 2/day
• Zinc: 30-50mg daily
• If you have a sore throat: spray colloidal silver spray directly in throat 3/day; take a throat probiotic in sublingual form 2/day; gargle with Manuka honey in warm water as often as you can.
• If your nose is running: use colloidal silver nasal spray – 1 spray in each nostril 3/day.

Let me reiterate, that these recommendations are only to be used short-term. And of course, always check with your doctor before starting any supplement regimen and follow whatever advice they give you! If you do decide to take supplements, please choose wisely as most of them are of poor quality and can even be harmful!  You can use this link to set up an account on Fullscript – a reputable on-line dispensary of high quality supplements.

I hope all of us can make it through this winter without getting sick. Here is to your health!