Top 10 Natural Prevention Tips for COLDS

This month's health habits article is about ways to prevent colds this season.  These tips were created by the doctors and are not only designed to prevent illness, but also to improve your overall health.  "Colds" are mostly caused by VIRAL infections that result in upper respiratory tract inflammation and congestion.  Since antibiotic medications that are prescribed by medical doctors are mostly for bacterial infections, you should always question the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment for viral colds.  Below are some effective natural ways to prevent getting a cold or decreasing the severity of the symptoms.  These are general guidelines and should only be followed under the supervision of your chiropractor or primary care physician.

1. Lower your sugar intake.  There is a well studied connection that shows diets high in sugar lower your immune system and inhibit your body's ability to defend itself.  Also, other infections can more easily invade and infect your body when there is more sugar put into your body.  So next time, take a pass on the soda, pastries, candy, and cereal.

2. Wash hands frequently.  Millions of people carry infection from one place to the next just by touch.  And when you wash your hands, be sure to rub vigorously.  Friction alone has been shown to also decrease germs on your hands.

3. High-quality vitamin supplements.  Sometimes, our American lifestyles have completely depleted our natural ability to fight off infection and we must supplement our diets with whole-food organic vitamins and herbs just to bring us back to neutral.

4. Vitamin D Deficiency, Sunlight, and Oranges. In today's research, we are discovering that we should focus more on absorbing the vitamins and minerals we eat instead of just consuming them.  There has been a growing concern over the vitamin D deficiency in our country, and more than likely, you probably need more in your diet too.  Sunlight creates a chemical reaction in our skin that helps our body absorb the vitamin D that we are consuming.  And lastly, keep eating those oranges.  They are great for increasing vitamin C in your diet.  When you do feel an illness come on, up to 2000 mg per day of synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been shown to avoid the cold or diminish the severity of symptoms.

5. Chiropractic Adjustments.  Chiropractic care keeps joints in your back moving properly, which in turn decreases irritation and inflammation in the nervous system.  Neck adjustments particularly help restore balance to the nerves in your sinuses and throat, which can create a more healthy upper respiratory tract.

6. Exercise.  While heavy physical training can wear our bodies down, light exercise has been shown to decrease stress, lower blood pressure, and boost our immune system.  It also helps us get a better quality of sleep at night.  All of these attributes make ourselves stronger and better equipped to fight off colds.  The key to making exercise a habit is to find an activity that you enjoy.  If you are only running on the treadmill to lose weight and you do not enjoy running, you will probably stop sooner or later.  Try walking with a friend, gardening, or water aerobics.

7. Watch your stress levels.  Everyone has stress, and the key to keeping yourself healthy is to focus on how you COPE with or handle your stress.  Exercise is great at relieving stress, yet again, you have to enjoy the activity.  Make sure you are drinking enough water each day, especially living in a dry climate like Colorado.  Try a Yoga class or read an inspiring book about a subject you personally enjoy.

And do not watch the news at night!!!  We all know that bad events are occurring somewhere in the world everyday, we just don't want to be reminded of them right before we go to bed.  Turn the tube off or watch lighter shows.

8. Regular Bowel Movements.  Yes, bowel movements.  Staying regular is one less stress on your body.  Try eating oatmeal or bran for breakfast.  If you are not having several bowel movements each week, please talk with your chiropractor about it.  We can help with these issues.

9. Liver Detox and Body Cleanse.  Our foods and drinks are filled with hundreds of chemicals and toxins and if we do not release them from our bodies, they can accumulate and cause painless health conditions.  For example, when was the last time you met a truly "healthy" person that drank Diet Soda every day.  Why?  Man-made chemicals should not be eaten or drank.

10. Avoiding dramatic temperature changes.  Why do I always get colds in the winter and not in the summer?  For several reasons mentioned above.  However, one important reason is because people tend to keep their houses VERY warm and the dramatic temperature and moisture changes irritates our nose, throat, and ears (they are all well connected).  Keep the house at a reasonable temperature, use a cold mist humidifier at night, and wear layers to keep warm!

DISCLAIMER:  These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and should only be recommended under the supervision of a qualified health care professional, such as a chiropractor or medical physician.