How many of us dread back-to-school because it means that it’s the start of a chain reaction of colds for the next half year? Do you feel like wearing a hazmat suit during the winter so you are protected from germs? Do you notice that by the time a particular virus has cycled through your household, the next one is already gaining a foothold?
The good news is that there are tons of things that you can do to boost your immune system, both to prevent getting sick and to recover more quickly when it does happen. A little reminder, germs aren’t always bad, even when they make us feel bad. Exposure to viruses and bacteria actually help train our immune systems so that we don’t get sick as often as we age and have actually been shown to be linked to fewer issues with allergies
If you want to shift from these Winter Woes into Winter Wellness, first examine what your back-to-school routine looks like. For example:
Are you running yourselves ragged going from one extracurricular activity to another? Try saying “no” to things when it’s too much, arrange a carpool rotation, or try to plan them in a way that the activities are at the same location (same dance studio, ball field, etc).
Are you eating quick & easy foods with low nutritional value to get you through the week because you don’t have time for meals? Try to make a week’s worth of meals during the weekend & freeze them for use during the week, think of subscribing to a healthy meal delivery service, or try getting a group of friends together to do a meal rotation.
Finally, here are a few recommendations for when you do get sick:
1. Remember to wash your hands often and cover your cough.
2. Please take a day or two off; cancel activities & reschedule commitments. Everyone involved will thank you for not sharing your germs
3. Utilize immune boosting supplements like vitamin D to keep your immune system healthy and ready to fight off viruses. People with sufficient vitamin D levels are shown to have better immune function and can fight off illness more easily than those without adequate levels. At Back to Balance, we offer an excellent liquid vitamin D supplement which means it is easy for kids and adults to take.
4. Get established with a naturopathic doctor in your area. Having a medical professional that is familiar with your and your family’s health histories and body constitutions to best support you during an illness is irreplaceable. A naturopathic doctor can supply you with acute and long term supplementation that allows your body to fight off and heal from illness throughout every season.
For even more immune boosting information send us an email and ask to receive Dr. Back’s Immune System Boosting Guide. If you would like to set up a Discovery Call with us, please click here.