Staying Healthy During the Toughest Months of the Year

This is the time of year where I’m pretty sure we are meant to hibernate.  We store a few extra layers of fat, we sink into the deep recesses of our couch more in the evenings, and it feels like it’s dark when we wake up and dark when we come home from work.  We maybe consider going to the gym, but find that our new favorite series on Netflix holds greater appeal. Kids are zoning out more on their devices, munching on Doritos and picking fights with each other when the subzero temperatures keep them inside all day long.  And parents cross their fingers when flu season arrives, hoping that the flu shot did what it’s supposed to do and everyone stays healthy until spring. Let’s face it….it can be a long couple of months.

So I decided to write this blog about how we can make these months healthier and happier for everyone in the house.  First of all….whatever you may or may not think about the flu shot….we also have to take accountability for our own health and not rely solely on a vaccine.  The following are some additional ways to keep you and your family healthier AND happier during these next couple of months while we anxiously await the warmer temperatures of spring!

1. Eat healthy.  Sugar is public enemy #1 for the immune system.  Junk food seriously wears away at your immune system’s ability to function optimally.  Unfortunately, this is the time of year where we created some bad holiday eating habits and now they are tough to kick. But seriously…. get rid of the junk.  Eat fruits and vegetables. Eat your rainbow. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. You are providing a two-fold benefit: 1) you are pulling out the refined sugars, corn syrup, food dyes, preservatives and other junk that just wears down at your immune system and 2) you are giving your body immune boosting, life supporting nutrients in the healthy fruits and vegetables that you are consuming instead.  If your kids whine about it, you have to toughen up as a parent. Or take Fortnite away until they eat their fruits and vegetables for the day. 😊  
2. Bundle up and get outside! Even if you can only handle 10 minutes outside in the cold, that fresh air does wonders to open up your sinus cavities and bronchial tubes in your lungs.  Try getting outside for a minimum of 10 minutes a day. When you come back inside, blow your nose until your sinuses can’t give you anymore. It’s a great way to clear out mucous.
3. Exercise! Or if I just call it movement will that hold greater appeal? Anything that gets you up, moving and ideally breaking a sweat is excellent for your immune system as well as your mental health.  By increasing your circulation, you are also improving your lymph function and you will clear out some of the dead and sick cells that are floating around inside you. Sitting on the couch is just not going to provide you with the benefit you need to get things moving!
4. Sleep.  Your kids should be getting 9-10 hours of sleep a night and as adults, we need around 8 hours for the best possible immune function.  Lying in bed scrolling on a device does not count. It’s when we are in our deep sleep that our immune system goes to work…..recognizing sick cells and threats to the immune system….and taking care of them.  You must give your body a chance to rest and recover at night.  If your teenagers have a hard time settling at night, you could try a small dose of liposomal melatonin (2-3 mg) to help reset their sleep cycles.
5. Vitamin D3.  I recommend about 2,000 IUs for kids, and 5,000 IUs for adults.  Vitamin D3 is hugely important for both immune function and mental health – and we can’t absorb it from the sun at our latitude between October and April.  We sell a mycelized (non-toxic) form at our clinic in liquid drops….super easy for kids to take.

Even if you do get sick, if you have been following the above 5 steps, hopefully your immune system will respond quicker and will more efficiently deal with the invading virus or bacteria.  It’s also important to just stay home and rest when you are sick….and believe me, your co-workers want you do to that too. 😊

Other tips for staying healthy this winter include using an infrared sauna (temporarily elevates core body temperature and kicks in the immune system), washing your hands, daily doses of Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, relaxing with a hot bath at night using detoxifying salts, incorporating essential oils such as Thieves in a diffuser to breathe in and cleanse our airways, try some new deep breathing exercises to open up sinuses and lungs, and mindfully reducing the stress in our lives by making decisions that allow for more rest and healthy eating.

So let’s make our New Year’s resolutions more than about just losing weight.  Let’s take the perspective of doing what we can to create better health for ourselves and our entire family….and spring will be here before we know it!