Tips to Help Boost Your Immune System for the Flu Season
Drs Collin and Alorna Dolan of Dolan Family Chiropractic in Aurora, IL are experts when it comes to natural remedies to beat the common cold and flu. Flu season is in full swing now and just about everyone has been affected in some way personally or through family, friends, and wo-workers. Here are some ways to boost your family’s immune system and avoid missing those important days of school or work.
1.) A good diet is the basis of all health. Replace those fatty, sugary snacks with fruits, vegetables, and high protein foods. Foods high in sugar are shown to reduce the number of immune cells in circulation. Fruits and vegetables supply us with important anti-oxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients essential to the immune response. Many immune cells, including white blood cells, cannot function without Zinc. Zinc is found in high protein meats. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, flaxseed, and walnuts increase white blood cell activity and reduce inflammation associated with illness. Nuts and seeds are high in Vit E, a powerful antioxidant found to fight respiratory infections and colds.
2.) Get some rest! The average person should get between 7-9 hours of sleep.
3.) Drink plenty of fluids. To determine how much, just divide your weight by 2. That’s how many ounces of water you need each day. Drinking citrus juices is a great way to load up on Vitamin C. Juices such as Blueberry, Raspberry, and Pomegranate are great sources of Vit C and antioxidants. Caffeine-laced drinks like coffee and soda cause you to lose water and have little to no nutritious value.
4.) Exercise on a regular basis. Getting 20-30 min of exercise each day will boost your metabolism and immune response.
5.) Herbal Supplements such as Garlic, Echinacea, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, Licorice, and Cayenne have all been found to support a healthy immune system.
6.) Most importantly, everyone should be taking a good daily multivitamin, especially children. Diet alone cannot typically supply our bodies with the vitamins that we need. Make sure you are taking a good quality multivitamin. Many of the chewable flavored brands from the store contain sugar and low quality sources of vitamins. Recent studies have also shown that many of the popular supermarket brands have coatings that are difficult to digest, and thus very unlikely to get absorbed into our bodies. Vitamin D3 is also a very important supplement to beat flu season. Doctors around the country are recommending Vitamin D3 to their patients for treatment and prevention of the common cold this year.
Drs Collin and Alorna Dolan offer nutritional counseling in their Aurora, IL office. To speak to one of the doctors for any questions or concerns call the office at 630-236-3090 or visit the official website at www.Dolanchiro.com.
