Alternative Cold & Flu Prevention: Top 5 Tips
1. Exercise 150 minutes per week.
Exercise will naturally boost your immune system, assist toxin elimination, and improve your mood. Morning exercisers are more than twice as likely to stick with a routine as those who exercise later in the day.
2. Eat eggs & bacon instead of that bagel.
What? Saturated fat? YES. First of all, fat doesn’t make you fat- refined flour and sugar do. Bagels convert straight to sugar and cause energy crashing. Eating foods rich in protein and fat will limit blood sugar fluctuations, reduce adrenal fatigue and give you sustained energy through lunch.
3. Sleep 8 hours per night.
For my patients who have trouble sleeping, I will often supplement with select B vitamins, minerals like Magnesium, and herbs like Valerian root or California Poppy.
4. Eat twice as many vegetables as fruits.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts provide fiber and help your liver with detoxification. Eat blueberries instead of fruits higher in sugar like oranges and bananas.
5. Supplement with herbs and vitamins.
Every day I take a whole food multivitamin from Standard Process, along with calcium lactate, trace minerals, and fish oil. I also take immune enhancing and adaptogenic herbs like Astragalus, Echinacea, Ashwaganda, and Grape Seed.