Thursday, March 14, 2013

So This Just Happened - Sick with a Cold?

I'm sick with a cold again. For the second time in the past three weeks. Ridiculous right? Well, I suppose it is that time of year. But that's no excuse!
Why do we get sick? So I'm not a doctor, and I can't really answer this in too much medical detail. But what I can tell you are some of the basic health steps we can take to prevent colds, flu's, returning colds and flu's. And even those colds that never seem to really go away.

First things first. Let's talk about our diet. What are we putting into our bodies? If you are eating fast food, sugary drinks, and consuming too much alcohol. Changes are your body is not getting the nutrients it needs to keep a strong immune system, and stave off the bugs.
I really recommend taking a Vitamin C (1,000 mg per day) and Vitamin D (500 mg per day) supplement during the winter months. Plus, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Further to that, get lots of Kale & Spinach into your body. They are arguably the best greens you can eat. And are LOADED with vitamins and minerals. Also, cutting back on your alcohol consumption is a key factor in maintaining a healthy immune system, and overall feeling of wellness. I don't think I really need to say but; how do you feel after a night of boozing-it? Pretty darn crappy right? Drinking a lot of alcohol also drastically lowers your CD-4 count; which is what doctors use to test your white blood cell levels.

Next. Washing your hands...I know, I know...You've heard this one million times before, ever since you were a kid! But it's so true. Try and wash your hands often. AND keep your fingers away from your mouth and your face. We touch our face something like 8-10 times in a minute! So this is a very quick and easy way to spread germs into our bodies. It's one of the harder things to think of, but equally important. One thing I've learned in hand washing is that the type of soap you use is really not that important. Regular soap vs. anti-bacterial soap. Which do you think kills more germs? Apparently they kill about the same. So just as long as you're washing your hands regularly, you should be OK. (There has also been some studies linking the super-bug to anti-bacterial soap. These little guys are getting tough, and resistant. But that is more info for another post.)

And lastly (but not least-ly) supplementing. There are dozens of "miracle" cold 'n' flu cures out there. So I would be skeptical when selecting your fire power. This doesn't necessarily mean they don't work; some of them do. A lot of the supplements out there work by boosting your immune system (see COLD FX). But if you're already taking vitamin C & D, eating healthy, and consuming less alcohol, you should be OK. When you do get a cold or flu (because you will), I would reach for a natural remedy. Something like fresh Lemon & Ginger in green tea with honey. Or 5 drops of Oil of Oregano in some OJ 3x times per day. These are great natural remedies that will kill bacteria, germs, and viruses, and get you on your way to a speedy recovery. All without a lot of harsh western medicine or chemicals.

In summary. "Why is he sick again?" You are probably asking, right? I haven't been following my own advise. Shame on me, I know. And now I'm paying the price. Smarten up Mr. BroncoFit! *Shakes fist at myself*



Via: TakePart.com