8 Ways to Beat the Flu “Season” Naturally
There are so many natural ways to boost immune system health and prevent the cold and flu this season! Read my 10 tips below, and utilize them to have a flu free season this year for you and your family!
Get plenty of rest
The average adult needs 7-9 hours of rest per night, and kids, much more! Make sure you're prioritizing rest so your immune system can function at it's highest, preventing infections and disease.
2. Eat a balanced diet
To be brief, our body needs a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals to help fight off pesky bugs. Be especially aware of this in winter and school months, when most are exposed to an excess of viruses and infections. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, good sourced protein, and healthy (omega 3 rich) fats. I'll talk more about supplementation, below!
3. Drink more water
Our bodies are made up of 70-90% of the good stuff, and our cells, tissues, and organ systems HAVE to have plenty of it to be hydrated and function at their best. Water also helps to deliver minerals and nutrients to tissues, as well as flush toxins out of the body. How much water do you need? Take your body weight, divide it in half and thats how many ounces MINIMUM you should be getting daily! Make sure to drink spring or mineralized water, for the best utilization.
4. Limit sugar and alcohol consumption
Sugar + alcohol lower immune function, increase inflammation, and can wreck havoc on the gut (which makes up 80% of our bodies' immune function!) It is especially important during this season (despite the holidays) to go easy on this stuff, especially when feeling under the weather!
5. Exercise
Exercise boosts mood, energy, and even immune function! Make a realistic goal to be active somehow every day. Even a short walk (outside is best!) can boost your flu flighting mojo!
6. Zinc
Zinc deficiency is SO common and this mineral is essential for immune function. It is very important for white blood cell function, which are the cells that fight off infections and viruses! Find a high quality zinc supplement from your local health care practitioner, today!
7. Reduced stress
Whether it be an extra day off, sleeping in, a meditation practice, mind-body therapy, or some cuddle time with your pet...it's crucial to lower stress during flu time! When stress is lowered, so is our chances of acquiring an infection. Look out for more on how to lower stress during the winter season in my future posts in the coming weeks!
8. Make gut health a priority
Since the gut dictates such a large percentage of our overall health, if you're going to support 1 system of your body, this is it! I recommend everyone take a high quality probiotic daily! My favorite brand is MegaSporeBiotic. Read up on this stuff, the research is incredible with huge immune boosting benefits, to boot. Remember to take under the instructions from your health care provider.
