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| Image courtesy of digitalart at freedigitphotos.net |
This time of year brings hot apple cider, the turning of the leaves, pumpkins and . . . the common cold. There are many things that you can do on a daily basis to support your health and prevent the incidence and severity of when the cold strikes.
Here's a list of my top 5 simple things you can do to prevent the common cold:
1) Drink lots of fluid. We all know it, and rarely do enough. 1/3 of your body weight in ounces is ideal for most people (ex: 150 lb person should drink 50 oz per day). Proper hydration ensures optimal cellular function, decrease toxic load, and by supporting your overall health, reduces your susceptibility to the cold.
2) I like to add a packet of Emergen-C or similar products to my daily water to get 2 birds with 1 stone- Vitamin C and water! Vitamin C has been shown in studies to reduce the frequency of acute infections.
3) Sleep: Americans rarely get sufficient sleep. Adults need 8-9 hours of sleep to fully restore and recharge their bodies for the days ahead. Running on too little sleep increases the stress response which decrease immunity. If you have sleep issues, Naturopathy has many options to help you improve your slumber.
4) Hydrotherapy: whether its at the sauna or in the bath, raising your body temperature creates an environment the is unfavorable to pathogens. My favorite method to do this is the Scandinavian tradition of hitting the sauna and finishing up with a brisk cool shower to increase circulation and stimulate the nervous system, but simply taking a bath hot enough to get you sweating will do the trick as well.
5) Stress reduction: Stress increases cortisol, a natural steroid your body makes to help you compensate in times of need. One of the side effects of chronic stress due to the increase of thissteroid is decreased immune function. Meditation, biofeedback, herbs, and supplements are all options to help with stress response management.
For those prone the cold and flu, there are specific herbal and lifestyle recommendations that can be customized for you to get your immune system tuned and ready for the season ahead. Meet with your ND to create a plan that works for you.
Stay tuned for my top 5 home treatments for the common cold!
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| Image courtesy of Ambro |
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