Have You Winterized Your Family?! 7 Tips for a Healthy Winter Season

It’s that time of year, the leaves are changing color, the kids are back to school, and there is a chill in the air. The gardening tools have been put away, the snow tires have been put onto the car, and wooly sweaters are replacing the drawer space where shorts used to be. But, have you winterized your family yet?  That’s right: I’m referring to the dreaded incoming “cold and flu season.”

Which begs the question: why does there seem to be a season for the cold and flu?! Does it mean that more germs and bacteria are floating around in the air during the winter months? In reality, this is very unlikely to be the case. Yet it seems as though more people come down with a cold or flu during this time of year. Let’s explore a few other probable explanations for why this happens:

• November through January are holiday months and people are constantly on-the-go this time of year. In addition to the normal routine, there is shopping, house calls, and attending parties to be done.
• People eat a lot more junk foods and sweets (sugar) and drink more alcohol during the holiday season. Both sugar and alcohol are known to suppress the immune system, lowering your body’s natural ability to fight off an outside bacteria or virus, which are what cause a cold or flu.
• Furthermore, the holidays are a time of emotional and/or financial stress for many people. Stress hormones have also been proven to lower a person’s immune strength. An impaired immune system leaves your body more susceptible to succumb to a bacteria or virus.
• The cold weather runs down our defenses more than warm weather. And let’s face it, we don’t always bundle-up the way we should to protect ourselves.

Identifying these lifestyle influences is the first step in recognizing when and how we are putting our bodies through additional stress. The second step is in knowing how to work with your body to care for your body in spite of the holiday season’s extra demands.

Here are seven tips for naturally supporting your body and immune system:

1. Eat your VEGGIES = Eat your VITAMINS! Many vitamins and minerals have been shown to keep your immune system working at its best! Broccoli and citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C. Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in carotenoids. Turkey, beans, and crab are excellent sources of zinc.
2. Some garlic a day keeps the vampires away! But did you know that garlic has been used for thousands of years across Europe and Asia to treat for a variety of ailments? Studies have shown garlic to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. The Cherokee tribe has long used garlic as an expectorant for cough and croup. In 2007, the BBC reported that garlic may have the ability to prevent and fight the common cold. While further study is needed to be conclusive, several small studies and ancient herbal traditions all support the immune boosting properties of garlic. But, for everyone else’s sake, please brush your teeth after consuming garlic!
3. Manage your stress! Some simple ways to reduce stress are to plan ahead for the weekly duties and stay proactive. Remember: procrastination breeds frustration. Also, do one thing each day that helps you to relax. Maybe its meditation, a bubble bath, reading a good book, yoga, etc. Allow your mind to be free, to be at ease, and remember to activate the connections among the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of you.
4. Get plenty of sleep! Sleep is one of the foundations of health. It is more than rest; it is time for recovery and healing. Turn off the tv and turn in for the night.
5. Drink lots of water! The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends that relatively inactive men consume 3.7L daily and that relatively inactive women consume 2.7L daily. Those who are active will need to consume more water than this. Which leads me to my next tip…
6. Be active! Get off the couch and hit the road! Whether you prefer running, yoga, CrossFit, or walking, make sure you are doing it for 30min to an hour, 5-6 days each week. Walking is especially important for the elderly, so make sure your loved ones are moving around.
7. And last but not least: See a chiropractor for regular chiropractic adjustments!  A study published in 1989 concluded that patients under regular chiropractic care had 200% stronger immune systems than those not under care (Chiropractic Journal, August 1989). And this still rings true today! Your brain and nervous system control and coordinate ALL aspects of your health, including the function of the immune system.  Any interference to the nervous system then creates interference to the function of the body and the immune system! Chiropractors check for such interferences and adjust the spine to remove them; restoring you to health. More and more people are learning about how chiropractic supports a healthy, preventative lifestyle, and today chiropractic is the #1 family wellness method of health care in the US!

Starr Chiropractic wishes you and your family a healthy and happy holiday season!

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.” – Herophilus

Yours in health,

Dr. Michelle Starr