Learn how to beat the cold and flu by natural ways...
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Oh, the dreaded cold and flu season! Did you know that the cold and flu viruses are around us all year round?
Not just in cold and flu season? Are you shocked?! So, what changes in the winter? We will go into some causes of this. But first some quick facts about colds and flu:
- There are about 200 different viruses that cause the common cold (Medical News Today).
- There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D.
- Human Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of diseases every winter in the US (CDC).
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Cold vs. Flu
SYMPTOMS | COLD | FLU |
Onset | Gradual | Sudden |
Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes |
Fever | Mild | High |
Sneezing | Usually | Sometimes |
Cough | Common | Common |
Headache | Rare | Usually |
Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes |
Muscle Pain | Uncommon | Usually / Severe |
Chest Discomfort | Uncommon / Mild | Common |
Tired / Weakness | Mild / Brief | May last weeks |
Chills | Uncommon | Common |
Information obtained from CDC.
5 Causes of Depressed Immune System:
- Stress
- Too Much Sugar
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Lack of Sleep
- Damage to Digestive Tract (85% of our immune system is in our gut!)
5 Ways to Beat the Cold and Flu:
De-Stress and Self-Care
We all know that stress affects the immune system. 85% of our immune system is in our gut and stress has a direct correlation to the gut-brain axis (NCBI).
A few tips to help de-stress:
- Take mental health breaks during the day
- Incorporate EFT/Tapping to decrease stress
- Add in essential oils such as Lavender or Vetiver
- Add in Bach Flower Remedies or Anti-Stress Drops which can be found in my favorite section on my FullScript shop supplement page:
Lower Sugar Consumption
What does the American Heart Association recommend for maximum daily sugar consumption?
For women, it is recommended to not eat more than 6 teaspoons or 25 grams of added sugar per day and for men no more than 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of added sugar (Heart).
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So just to give you an idea of what this may look like. One can, 12 oz, of soda contains 39 grams of sugar! Whoa! This already surpasses the recommended daily amount for both women and men.
Here are some suggested alternative sweeteners:
While there is still sugar in the coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup, they are unprocessed and contain some nutrients.
Address nutritional deficiencies such as:
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin D actually acts more like a hormone than a vitamin but is very important. Remember how we talked about how cold and flu viruses are all around us throughout the year?
- One thing that changes in the winter months is our exposure to sunlight! In the winter months, we are not getting enough vitamin D from the sun so we must get it from other sources.
- The best food source is from Cod Liver Oil which can also be found on my recommendation through Fullscript.
- I personally also use a vitamin D lamp in the winter months to help boost my vitamin D levels such as this one.
- Vitamin C
- I always try to get whole food forms of vitamin C in foods such as bell peppers and citrus or another food sourced supplement. It is very essential water-soluble nutrient and the studies show:
- “Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress (NCBI).”
- Zinc
- Not only an important mineral for the immune system but it also is very common to use zinc for when you get the cold or flu. Zinc lozenges may reduce the duration of a cold by up to 50% (WebMD).
- Some common foods with zinc:
- Oysters
- Beef
- Nuts / Seeds
- Egg Yolk
- Another note on vitamin and mineral deficiencies is that if you are getting nutrients in your diet but still have deficiencies, you may need to address gut health to know how well your body is absorbing what you are eating.
Get Sleep
The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Be sure to make sleep a priority! If you are having trouble sleeping here are a few tips:
- Stick to a sleep schedule even on the weekends.
- Relax before bed by taking a warm bath.
- Keep your room cool and dark.
When I am having trouble falling asleep due to a busy mind, one of my favorite support is Bach Rescue Sleep.
Build the Immune System By Building it Up
It is well known that 85% of the immune system is in our gut which makes it very important to support! There is a connection between the gut microbiome and the immune system (NCBI).
Let’s first go into possible things that damage the gut:
- Stress
- Medication including antibiotics
- Underlying infections such as Viruses, Parasites, Fungi, and Bacteria
- Food Sensitivities
- GMO Foods
One of the main tools that I use for assessing some of these stressors is Zyto Bio-communication (click here for more information) One important note that I often see if people are prone to getting sick often is to rule out mold exposure.
Mold/yeast/fungi can wreak havoc on the digestive system and cause great damage (NCBI).
Another tool that I use is the GI Map (click here for more information).
What I love about the GI Map:
The GI Map is one of the most comprehensive DNA stool tests out there. The process is relatively easy. The collection kit comes directly to the client’s home.
From there it is sent off to the lab. This comprehensive test checks overall gut function including the protein Zonlulin which is a marker for leaky gut.
Be sure to keep an eye out for my course on healing the gut!
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*We go into more detail on each of these in my free course on how to build the immune system and natural remedies for cold and flu.
Click below to access the FREE course!
I also include more details on additional support including my absolute favorite homeopathic combinations that I always have on hand.
I also show you the Flu Nosode I use in place of a flu shot. A nosode is essentially a homeopathic remedy of that substance.
Also, for a limited time, I am giving FREE health protocols through anyone who requests it through my FullScript which offers practitioner-grade quality supplements. Simply click on Shop Supplements to access your personal FullScript account:
Send me a message through my contact page and I will send you basic protocols for things such as:
- Colds / Flu
- Natural Sleep Support
- Natural Stress Relief
- Immune Support
- Natural Allergy Support
- Basic Nutritional Support
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