How Can I Beat the Cold and Flu Season?
Feel great fast with these easy healthy-living tips from our experts.
STICK TO THE BASICS
You’ve heard it before: Wash your
hands and get a good night’s sleep.
There’s plenty of research to support
the effectiveness of handwashing
in reducing how often people get
sick. “We pick up germs from other
people and objects we touch,”
explains Dr. Susan Blum. So, when
is it most important to wash your
hands? “Right before eating meals
and snacks,” says Dr. Blum. As far as
sleep goes, she advises a minimum
of 7 hours per night to help keep
Cortisol, the potent immune-suppressing stress hormone,
in balance.
of hearty lentils and colorful
veggies,” advices Alice Bast.
“I refrigerate any leftovers in
individual serving sizes, that way
I have a healthy lunch or dinner
at the ready all week!”
EAT YOUR GREENS
“I never get sick. I believe this has
to do with nutrition and exercise,”
explains nutritionist Danna Korn.
So what should you eat? Green,
leafy veggies are some of the best
foods to maintain a healthy balance.
If you can’t get enough in your diet,
Korn recommends “taking greens,”
preferably in a liquid or powder
form. As for exercise, regular
exercise is important for boosting
your immune system, but listen to
your body. “Overdoing it can have
the opposite effect,” adds Korn.
“Stressing your body will weaken
your immune system.”
LIVE WITH THE SEASONS
Acupuncturist Sarah Rivkin
suggests adjusting your habits
to live in harmony with seasonal
changes. “During late fall and
winter, I moderate my level of
physical activity — less hot sweaty
exercise, more time for meditation
and breath practices.” The same
is true for food: Choose warmer
foods, like soup, over cold or
raw ones.
Alice Domar, who likes to walk her
younger daughter to school every
morning and take longer walks
with her husband several times
a week. What’s important is that
you move your body as frequently
as possible. “We walk unless it’s
pouring or below 15° outside,”
adds Domar. “I don’t want to jinx
myself, but I haven’t gotten the flu
since 1983 or a cold for the past
two years.”
SOUP UP
Staying healthy during the winter
season starts with a nutritious
diet. “Make a big pot of soup full
WALK OFF STRESS
People who are stressed are five
times more likely to catch a cold or
the flu than people who are feeling
more relaxed and less anxious.
One of the best ways to decrease
stress is exercise. If you look at
the data, exercise is a wonder-entity. “The type of exercise you
do doesn’t matter,” explains Dr.
CLEAN UP YOUR DIET
Keep your immune system
running efficiently by reducing
your intake of foods that suppress
healthy function. “Start by
identifying and avoiding food
allergens, especially IgG-type
food intolerances,” says Dr.
Donielle Wilson. Then, reduce
sugar to a minimum and don’t
drink more than one or two
alcoholic beverages a week. For
an extra boost, take Triple Flu
Defense, a homeopathic remedy
for kids and adults that helps
the immune system fight off
viruses.
