How to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season with a Strong Immune
System
Copyright 2005 - Patty Gale
Ah-choo! Oh, that awful achy feeling when every muscle and bone
in your body just hurts. You can't sleep, you have no appetite
and you certainly can't afford to be under the weather for even
just a few days. Cold and flu season will be upon us again and
there is no better time to protect yourself than right now with
a strong immune system.
What is the immune system? Very simply, our immune system is
like a shield that protects our body from the germs, bacteria
and viruses that can cause illness. The weaker the immune
system, the more vulnerable we are to getting sick. The stronger
the immune system, the more we protect ourselves from getting
sick. This isn't to say that we won't ever catch a cold, but
with a strong immune system, we will also be better able to
fight off any illness faster.
So, how do you build a strong immune system? There are several
things we can do to make sure our immune system stays healthy
and becomes strong.
The first is nutrition. You know the saying, "garbage in,
garbage out?" It's the same thing with our bodies. Bad eating
habits result in poor nutrition, which cannot give our bodies
the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs in order to
stay strong. There's nothing wrong with a cheeseburger or ice
cream on occasion, but moderation is the key.
Unfortunately, even the best nutritional habits are challenged
to provide the body with all it needs to build a really strong
immune system. Nutritional supplementation, such as vitamins,
minerals and immune boosters are important to help fill in the
blanks that even the best nutrition can't.
Exercise is another great way to help build a strong immune
system. You don't have to join a gym or hire a personal trainer
to exercise. Ever notice how much better you feel after a nice
long walk? Regular bike rides; walks, gardening, and yes-even
housework are all great forms of exercise that will help
contribute.
There are also certain things to avoid. Excessive stress and
smoking are just two things that can really compromise and
weaken the immune system. I know from experience when I was in a
high-stress work environment, I felt terrible and became sick
more frequently.
Building and maintaining a strong immune system is not something
that happens overnight and that we can forget about in just a
few short months. It is something that we must continue to
strive for our entire lives. We will be less apt to get sick. We
will be able to fight off illness better and we will be able to
lead a much higher quality of life for the long term.
Get started today and create real smart health for today and
tomorrow.