5 steps to fight a cold or the flu

​There is absolutely nothing worse than a cold and they always seem to hit at the most inopportune times. A proud, card carrying member of Germ-A- Phobes-R-Us, I shudder at the thought of all the different viruses and bacteria that resides on door handles, grocery carts, gym equipment and table tops.

The truth is, if we could actually see what lives on these surfaces we would never leave the house again.

Well, I wouldn’t, but since living inside of a bubble isn’t an option, we need a solid plan to boost our immune system to cut down your risk of getting sick. We also need some solid strategies to implement when you do inevitably end up sick. Luckily, the five steps listed below cover all bases.

Stay hydrated:
There are a lot of different thoughts as to how staying hydrated can help prevent a cold or flu but at the most basic level, staying properly hydrated makes all things run effectively in your body. When you are hydrated, your body’s systems all run like they are designed to do including your immune system.

We believe that whether you are healthy as a horse or have a case of the sniffles, make sure you have a bottle of water with you at all times. An easy rule of thumb is to divide your body weight in half and that number should be the amount of water in ounces you should consume daily. If you are sick, hydrate using one of our favorite products, Organic Echinacea Plus Tea by Traditional Medicinals.

Wash your hands: This might be one of the most important strategies you can implement but depending on your personal habits, could be one of the most difficult to employ. Basically, wash your hands before you put anything in your mouth. This goes for food but for those of you who have habits that include chewing on your nails or putting ink pens in your mouth, you are upping the odds of getting sick…even if you wash your hands frequently.

Why? Because even though you may be washing your hands on a regular basis, those around you aren’t. Hence the reason I never open bathroom doors without a paper towel. Out of all the cold and flu prevention strategies we can suggest, washing your hands and staying aware of nervous habits like chewing on your nails or putting objects in your mouth will significantly reduce your risk of catching cold.

Stay away from sick people: This sounds simple but for the worksite warrior who refuses to take a sick day, all it takes is a few coughs in your cubicle and some germs on the office phone to relegate you to the couch. You may not always have complete control of your work environment if other cold/flu carriers share the love by bringing their sickies to the workplace but you do have control over where you go and who you hang out with outside of the office.

There seem to be two types of people in this world: Those who avoid sick people at all cost (me) and those who have the “you’re going to get sick anyway, so you might as well go” to that:

 Sporting event
 Holiday party
 Family gathering

Sure, I have been called a germaphobe by family members who claim the latter (you’re going to get sick no matter what) and avoided family events but a strange thing seems to happen when I opt out of the hot zone of coughs and sneezes. Everyone there gets sick while I do not.

Stay away from people who are actively sick and if you are the carrier, especially if you have a fever, stay home. Everyone loves you but trust me, they don’t want that kind of love.

Supplementation:
There are two supplements we highly recommend to our clients on top of using them ourselves to bolster our immune system. They are Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy Powder and Immunitone Plus.

Most people take probiotics to improve digestion but what many fail to realize is that our gut health has a major impact on our immune health. Problem is, most people’s probiotics are useless. Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy Powder is a high-powered probiotic that mixes easily into a protein shake or any cold beverage. The reason we recommend this product is because we know it is more effective than other products on the market. It is the only probiotic we know that comes shipped to you in cooler bags. This is incredibly important because in order for the healthy bacteria to stay alive, it must stay cool. If your product comes shipped on the back of a tractor trailer that is not climate controlled in the middle of July your product is most likely worthless.

Probiotics are a good option should you choose to include it in your supplementation regimen.

To purchase Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy Powder check it out in our sidebar.

Immunitone Plus is our go-to product when one of three things occurs:

1. We are run down
2. We are exposed to someone with the cold/flu
3. We actually have the cold/flu

So unlike a multi-vitamin, you wouldn’t use Immunitone Plus on a daily basis. 

It is okay to be skeptical. We certainly were…until we used the product and saw for ourselves that this is a supplement you want to invest in. It helps boost your immune system and if you do catch a cold, helps aid your recovery.

To order Immunitone Plus check it out in our sidebar as well.

Exercise:
Last but not least, regular exercise will help bolster your immune system. When you exercise you increase circulation and blood flow. It is thought that these processes help bolster our immune systems. Anecdotally, I see the effects on immune system every day in the gym. While I have never conducted a double blind study, I see less colds/flu in people who exercise regularly than those who do not.

Is this a coincidence? We don’t think so. Lifting weights or taking a Zumba class won’t prevent a cold but for those who exercise regularly and have a high level of fitness, there seems to be a point where the person succumbs to colds less often.

Can exercise prevent a cold 100%? Of course not but there are studies that show exercise can reduce your risk of catching a cold and possibly the flu. Bottom line, exercise is good for you and it will give your immune system a boost.

Just remember that if you are sick, you should never exercise if you have fever or the cold has moved into your chest! At that point you are breaking yourself down; not building your immune system up!

Implement a few of these tips and you will reduce the likelihood of succumbing to the cold or flu. Use all five tips and prepare to kick the sickies to the curb! Will doing these things guarantee you will never get sick? Of course not but what we do know is that when you do the things that create optimal environments in your body for it to run the way it was meant to run, you reduce your risk of getting sick.

And if you do get sick, you should be able to use these tips to reduce the duration of your cold/flu.

So start implementing today….and if you are sick….please stay away from me!

Post Products

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Organic Echinacea Plus Tea
​by Traditional Medicinals

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Probiotic Synergy Powder
By Designs For Health

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Immunitone Plus
​by Designs For Health

Get More Info

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