While Mother Nature may have settled for four seasons, our modern lives introduce a fifth – the cold and flu season, a period we must navigate with resilience. Fortunately, a proactive approach can help you stay one step ahead of the impending health challenges.
Embrace Adequate Sleep
As daylight hours dwindle, the allure of sleep becomes more enticing. This is a biological advantage, as research suggests that during sleep, the immune system releases protective proteins known as cytokines, essential in combating infections. Ensuring you get 7-8 hours of nightly sleep is crucial for adults, while school-aged children, in their growth and defense against pathogens, require ten or more hours.
Combat Stress
Juggling back-to-school activities, Halloween festivities, and the approaching holiday season can leave you burning the candle at both ends. Stress has been linked to immune system dysregulation, making it imperative to find ways to manage it. Carpooling, pot-luck gatherings, and selective holiday engagements can help lighten the load. Employ stress-relief strategies like gentle exercise and quiet time to support your body through unavoidable stressful moments.
Ditch the Sugar
As Halloween approaches, the consumption of fun-sized candy bars can set off a chain reaction leading to sugar-laden holiday buffets. Prioritize a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals by aiming for 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily before indulging in sugary snacks.
Preventative Measures for Cold and Flu
Identifying the warning signs of an impending cold or flu allows for targeted intervention. Incorporating essential nutrients can help strengthen your defense:
- Echinacea purpura: Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine, it aids in relieving symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, sore throats, and supports immune function.
- Ginger: A traditional remedy in Herbal Medicine, it helps relieve coughs, bronchitis, and colds.
- Vitamin C: This antioxidant stimulates immune cells but is quickly depleted during stress and infection, emphasizing the need for daily consumption.
- Zinc: Research indicates that zinc deficiency impairs innate immunity by reducing the activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils.
Supplemental Support with Cold Fighter
When you feel under the weather, turn to Jamieson’s Cold Fighter for reliable support. This one-a-day blend of echinacea, ginger, vitamin C, and zinc is available in soothing, chewable tablets or easy-to-swallow softgels, providing a convenient way to fortify your defenses.