Top 10 Immune-Boosting Tips for Cold & Flu Season

Here, we offer our Top 10 Immune-Boosting Tips For Cold & Flu Season. Discover the best ways to boost your immunity and stay well this cold & flu season.Cold & flu season is here, but have no fear. There are lots of tools in our natural wellness arsenal to keep us healthy and strong even when the weather outside is frightful. Here are some of our favorite ways to optimize your immune system naturally: 1. Live in accordance with the seasons. Enjoy the shorter days! Allow your body to sleep as needed. Enjoy some quiet time. Bring closure to an unfinished project. Sit, read a book – be still. Here’s how to live in harmony with fall.  2. Avoid Foods That Suppress Immune Function.  At the first sign of illness, completely remove all white foods from the diet. This includes grains, sugars, milk, cheese, dairy, sweeteners, soda, etc. These foods suppress immune function and slow the body’s healing ability. When you are ill, you don’t actually need to eat a lot of food, as the body needs to focus more on healing than digestion. Eat fresh chicken soup and drink hot liquids to keep strength up. 3. Consume These 5 Foods Beneficial For Colds & Flu in Chinese Medicine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… Giving the body a constant supply of nutrients will help ensure that the body can resist the pathogens it encounters. Read more. 4. Let Acupuncture Be Your Flu Shot Alternative. Because Chinese medicine works on the whole body, it strengthens the entire system, not just the issues we’re targeting at the time. This is a powerful argument for the benefits of receiving regular acupuncture, even if that is just a seasonal tune-up. We call it the “acupuncture flu-shot”. 5. Arm yourself with an arsenal of tools to keep colds at bay.  Check out our latest blog: Janine’s supplement recommendations for your healthiest cold & flu season yet. LINK TBD. 6. Be sure to get plenty of sleep. Sleep matters. Use these tips to make sure you’re getting adequate Zzzzs so you can use that restorative time to stave off illness.  7. Get Your Lymph Moving. In addition to light exercise, try dry skin brushing to move the lymph and support your immune system. Using a natural, stiff-bristle brush, brush your skin from your toes up towards your heart before you shower. This not only helps renew your skin, it also stimulates your lymphatic system. Moving lymph is one of the best ways to support your immune system. 8. Flush it Out. 1) Consume plenty of liquids, preferably hot liquids. Load up on hot herbal teas and hot lemon water at first sign of illness. The heat helps boost immune system and a variety of herbs can help with infection. 2) Neti Pot: Using a saline and baking soda rinse for your nasal passages, neti pots are great for clearing out any residual airborne allergens, bacteria, dirt, or anything else that might create an immune response. Clear those passages and open up those sinuses! 9. Tap into the immune-boosting power of Chinese medicine. If you feel like you are getting a cold, DO NOT HESITATE — BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!  Chinese herbs are your ticket to freedom. At Nature’s Balance, we are happy to do an herbal consult for your specific needs. Every person is different and many colds and flus can be different. There are many great options to support your immunity. See us for the best recommendations. 10. Be Grateful.  Gratitude is good medicine. Here’s why gratitude is great for your health.