Stay Well This Winter

Winter is a wonderful time of year when we get to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family. No one wants sickness to get in the way. With the increased amount of time spent indoors, less exposure to the sun and fresh air, and the consumption of holiday sweets, our immune systems can weaken, making us more susceptible to illness. So here are a few of my favorite things that I recommend for staying well throughout the winter season.

Good health begins with a good foundation. That foundation is the food that you eat everyday. When your body is getting the nutrients that it needs, you will be much more resistant to illness. It is not the germs that we are exposed to that determines whether we get sick or not, but rather the condition of your health at the time of the exposure. Keeping your immune system strong and eating well are the keys to staying well. When you eat refined carbohydrates and sweets in excess of what your body needs, then you are setting the stage for illness. Sugar depresses the immune system and decreases the activity of infection-fighting white blood cells for up to 5 hours after you eat it.

Another important factor that influences your susceptibility to illness is the amount of sleep and relaxation you are getting. People tend to be so busy this time of year that they do not ever really rest and relax. Continual stress puts pressure on the body and inhibits the body’s ability to regenerate and repair. Stress and poor sleep habits, like a poor diet, sets the stage for illness to gain a foothold. When the body is under stress, it uses up nutrients more rapidly and can become deficient, leading to illness. Stress weakens the adrenals and the immune system. Sickness can also happen because we have been pushing ourselves too hard and for far too long. In this case, the best thing to do is REST. Do not try to take supplements or herbs so you can push through it. That is not a holistic approach to health. Reducing stress levels and getting plenty of rest should be a high priority for maintaining health.

With a good diet as the foundation, the most important supplement to be sure to take regularly is cod liver oil. Cod liver oil is rich in the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Vitamin A helps to maintain resistance to infections. Vitamin D is normally produced in our body when we are exposed to the sun. But lowered sun exposure during the winter months can drastically reduce our vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is essential for proper calcium absorption and for the health of the immune system. Adults should get at least 2000 I.U. of vitamin D and 20,000-40,000 I.U. of vitamin A per day in the winter months. Higher amounts can be taken for a few days when you first start feeling flu-like symptoms and can be remarkably effective in restoring health. Vitamin D levels should be monitored by a physician if you take more than 2000 IU of vitamin D regularly as it can be toxic in very high doses.

XenoForce, a supplement by Energetix, is very beneficial for cold and flu prevention in combination with Cod Liver Oil. It contains Vitamin C, Zinc, Beta-Carotene, Echinacea, Ginger, Licorice Root, and Wild Cherry Bark. Echinacea is an herb that has well documented immune stimulating characteristics. XenoForce can be taken on a regular basis to help keep the immune system strong as well as at the first sign of a cold.

XenoForce and Cod Liver Oil can be ordered on my website, www.getpurevitality.com. All of the basic supplements I recommend are on the site, along with specials each month.

Natural remedies are best taken at the very first sign of illness and can be most effective at that time. Do not wait until sickness becomes well established before taking herbs or natural supplements. If you wait until sickness has really set in, it can be harder to heal naturally. At the first signs of illness, double your cod liver oil for a few days and take XenoForce (1-2 capsules for children, 4-6 capsules for adults). Eat only nutritious and easy-to-digest foods like homemade soups with chicken broth, green vegetable juices, and raw foods. Starchy foods, like grains and breads, sweeteners of any type, and dairy products are best avoided until you are well.

In conclusion, the best way to stay well this winter is to get the proper nutrition for your immune system to stay strong. Reducing stress and getting plenty of rest should be a high priority for maintaining health. Take care of yourself during this time of year and you will have a healthy holiday season.