Friday, December 7, 2012

Winter malodies, building your immune system, staying well

  It's unbelievable how many people are ill most of the winter. Our schools here in the area are already closed because of so many absences due to flu. There are a few things you can do to increase the effectivness of your immune system, and if you think about it, why would you want to spend weeks feeling crummy?
  To start with, ditch fruit juice. By the time you get that, it's been processeed down to water and sugar.  Many docs are telling us now to eat the real fruit instead. So add blueberries, or strawberries to your oatmeal, even dates or raisins work. And mid morning, have a piece of fruit for a snack. Banana, apple, whatever is in season and you like.
 Eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as you can, that 11 per day may be a bit difficult, but try working them in. Home made vegetable soup will give you a great boost, use fresh carrots, celery, onions(lots) garlic, whatever you can. If need be, resort to a bag of frozen mixed vegetables.
  If you do get sick, it's recommended now that you alternate aspirin and tylenol every 4 to 6 hours, don't just take one or the other.
  If you feel like a cold is trying to get you, try  mixing 1 teaspoon of honey(raw if you can get it) and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of boiling water, cool a bit and drink several times a day so you are having 3 cups at least. Should kick that sucker in a couple of days. You can add a one inch slice of lemon to the cup if you have it, for an even bigger boost.
 There is also a bath which helps draw out toxins of colds,  run your tub full of hot water and add 3 pints of hydrogen peroxide(3%)plus 2 ounces of ground ginger.This will increase your circulation and help draw out the toxins casing the cold. Be sure to drink extra fluids as this is drawing fluid out of your body.
  When I was 20 I started taking turmeric and ginger to prevent arthritis as I aged. It has worked perfectly and now I find out that being antioxidants, they also boost your immune system, so I have been getting multiple benefits. There are also a couple of other things I do, astragalus is a great immune booster and also helps you sleep better so I take one of those every night.I always take 1000 mg of vitamin C, and 1000 mg of D3. During the winter, if you are prone to colds, you may need to take more vitamin D3, several thousand units a day will help. There is a product call NAC or n-acetyl-cysteine which is also a great immune booster, these are available at Swanson vitamins, as are the other things I have mentioned.
  At the very first sign of a cold coming on, grab your saline nasal spray, it cleans out your nasal pasages and kills bacteria. Its like a magic bullet to help you stay well.
  Basically, you are in charge. Cut back on sugar as it breeds a lot of toxins in your body, kick up your fruits and veggies, drink lot of fluids, sleep well and be as cheerful as possible.  If you don't take care of your body, it won't take care of you.
 Countdown to Christmas is on, only 2 and 1/2 more weeks. Time flies. Hope you have found something helpful here, stay as well as you can. Make yourself a priority, after all, you are in charge of yourself.
   If  you are getting ready for the holidays,  find time to spend with family and friends.  Call someone who lives alone and wish them a Merry Christmas, donate what you can to the homeless, poor, and sick. It will make you feel extra good. Til next time , boost your immune system and stay well.
 

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