Find Fast Relief from Winter Flu

With flu season in flu swing, it doesn’t hurt to have a few tricks up your sleeve in case you get sick. The flu is caused by a virus so antibiotics won’t help. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies you can use to recover from the flu faster.

One of the most promising is the homeopathic remedy, Oscillococcinum. Clinical evidence is not yet conclusive when it comes to the use of Oscillococcinum, but early studies suggest that it can shorten the duration of the flu. People taking Oscillococcinum felt that it made a positive difference in their recovery.

If you find yourself hit with the flu, it’s a good idea to take immune boosting supplements. Vitamin C and zinc lozenges are both good bets when it comes to helping yourself recover from the flu. Some people also have good results with Echinacea and golden seal.

Fluids are very important when you’re sick… especially if you’re throwing up or have diarrhea. Keep a glass of water near by and sip on it all day long. You can also drink weak tea or juice if your stomach handles it.

Finally, the most important thing when it comes to getting over the flu faster is to get enough sleep. During sleep, your body is in its finest fighting form when it comes to illnesses. Getting more sleep helps your body to fight off the virus that’s make you sick.

When you are sick with the flu, give yourself a break. Stay home, sleep, and take care of yourself. Doing these things will help you recover faster and will keep you from making other people sick, too.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell

Super-Charge Your Immune System and Stay Healthy the Whole Winter Through

Have you ever known someone who never seems to get sick? The cold and flu season comes and everyone around them is sniffling and sneezing and miserable and they just breeze on through without even the smallest of coughs.

It's maddening, isn't it? Unless you're that person. The truth is, it's possible for you to be that person… if you just take good care of your immune system.

The secrets behind a super-charged immune system aren't groundbreaking. In fact, they're so simple it might surprise you. Here's what you need to do to make sure your immune system is at its best.

First, whatever workout routine you're doing, you need to add two things. At least once a week, do a shorter workout that's really vigorous. The high intensity exercise triggers white blood cell production and those white blood cells will help protect you from illness. Second, make one workout a week a de-stressing workout. Whether it's yoga, tai chi, or a fun dance workout, find something that calms you.

Second, make sure you get enough sleep every night. When you're sleeping, your body takes the opportunity to make repairs that will keep you healthy. If you skimp on the sleep, your immune system suffers.

Third, be more social. People involved in a range of social activities seem to have tougher immune systems. Scientists aren't sure why, but if you get out and socialize, you're less likely to develop a cold even when exposed to the virus.

Finally, wash your hands often. The most common way viruses get passed from one person to another is through the hands, whether directly or indirectly. Someone sneezes into their hand and then touches a doorknob and then you touch that doorknob and now you've got a cold virus riding around on your hand. Frequent hand washing helps prevent this kind of virus transfer.

Being sick is now fun, but with a few simple steps you can charge up your immune system and cut down on your exposure to the viruses that make so many people miserable during the winter months.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn

Unusual Foods to Boost Your Health

If you're looking for an antioxidant boost going into the winter, then you might try some of these less mainstream foods. They are available in most grocery stores, but they are foods that you might overlook or that you might avoid because you're not sure how to prepare them.

Let me assure you that each of these foods are tasty, easy to prepare, and loaded with immune-enhancing antioxidants. Going into cold and flu season we can all use a little extra support for our immune defenses.

Tart Cherries: Tart cherries are those bright red, small cherries with a lot of pucker power. They are rich in antioxidants and good for your heart. In animal studies tart cherries helped to lower cholesterol and inflammation. They also promoted healthy weight loss. Look for dried tart cherries or juice made from them.

Purple Potatoes: These little relatives of the red and gold potatoes have purple skins and purple flesh. They are a good source of the vitamins and minerals found in regular potatoes, but they're much higher in antioxidants.

Pine Nuts: These are actually the seeds found in pinecones. They are rich in monounsaturated fats and in the antioxidant vitamins A and C. They're also rich in vitamin D, which plays an important role in your overall health. Try pine nuts blended with basil for your own tasty pesto.

Star Fruit: When you slice these unusual fruits width-wise, the pieces are shaped like a star, which makes them festive and fun to eat. Plus, they are rich in vitamin C and a good source in vitamin A, both of which boost your immune system.

Leeks: Leeks look like overgrown green onions. They have a mild flavor that can bring a lot to your savory dishes. Like garlic and onions, leeks are rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and help to lower cholesterol.

Trying some new foods will bring variety to your holiday menu and can give your immune system a boost when it needs it most.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell

Careless Dieting Might Make You Sick

People all over the country—both men and women—try to lose weight fast by eating less. It's true that to drop pounds you have to burn more calories than you take in. Eating less and exercising more can help you accomplish this. But, when it comes to eating less, you don't want to overdo it.

Researchers have found that if you cut your daily calorie intake by 30% or more, you may be damaging your immune system. For example if you eat 2500 calories a day and you reduce you calories to 1750 a day, you might be doing some unexpected harm.

Technically 1750 calories a day is safe. It won't drop your energy levels or cause you to starve. But the sudden drop in calories might make you more prone to illness. The cells in your immune system that "remember" how to fight off diseases are called B cells. A 30% reduction in calories causes a dramatic decline in B cell numbers. That mean that bugs you'd normally be able to fight off might gain a hold and you might spend more time being sick.

So, if you want to lose weight, what should you do?

Instead of dramatically reducing your caloric intake all at once, consider scaling back gradually, giving your body time to adjust to fewer calories before making further reductions.

For example, if you eat 2500 calories a day, start with a 10% reduction. Eat like that for a few weeks and then try to reduce a little more. This method has other advantages, too. By taking it in small steps, you'll be more likely to build good habits and stick with your new eating plan. And that means you'll have a better chance of permanently losing weight rather than gaining it back a few months later like most people do.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

Flu Season Gets Off to a Late Start

It's almost March already and the flu season just now seems to be ramping up. Unfortunately, the outbreaks of flu that are occurring are not ones that this year's flu vaccine was designed to prevent.

Fortunately, there are a number of natural ways to protect yourself from the flu without relying on a hit-and-miss vaccine.

First, use your common sense. Wash your hands frequently. In addition to the usual times you wash your hands, also wash them after touching door knobs in public places and wash them when you get home from being out. Keep your hands and fingers away from your face and mouth as much as possible. You usually pick up the flu on your hands, but it has to enter your body through your nose or mouth. If you keep your hands away from your face, you reduce your risk of infection.

The second step is to keep your immune system strong. Get enough sleep each night, drink plenty of water every day, and exercise regularly. This will keep your body strong and ready to fight off the flu.

If you're feeling sick—even with a cold—stay at home if possible. Your immune system will be lower while your fight off whatever you have. That means you'll be more likely to catch the flu if you're exposed to it. It's a good idea to limit your exposure when you're not feeling your best.

I also recommend getting a simple aromatherapy lamp for your home and some eucalyptus essential oil. Eucalyptus helps to kill bacteria and viruses in the air. Using these lamps when someone in your household is sick can help reduce the spread of the sickness among your family.

By following these simple, common-sense steps, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting the flu.

Stay Well,
Meghan Krohn

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

Flu season's upon us again, and so is the age-old question, "Should I get a flu vaccine?"

That's a complicated question, so I don't have a straight answer for you. I do, however, have things you should consider.

First of all, not everyone needs a flu shot.

It's most beneficial to people in high-risk populations. People who are likely to experience complications like pneumonia or even death should get a flu shot. This includes people over the age of 65, people with chronic respiratory problems, people with heart disease, and people with compromised immune systems. People that work with high-risk populations should also get vaccinated—it helps to reduce the overall exposure of those who will be most adversely affected.

Most other people should focus less on getting a flu shot and think more about building their immune systems.

Here are five steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting laid up with the flu:
1. Begin taking 500 to 1000 milligrams of vitamin C every day.
2. Begin exercising for thirty minutes three times a week.
3. Join a class or take up an activity that helps you to relax—stress hurts your immune system.
4. Make is a point to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night.
5. Cut down on your sugar intake—sugar lowers your immune system for up to six hours after you eat it.

By taking a few simple steps you can boost your immune system and have a healthier, more enjoyable winter season. And you'll leave those flu shots available for people who really need them.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn