Flu season is upon us. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that flu activity peaks between January and February but can also occur as late as May. Here are a few of our helpful tips to keep you healthy during the winter months.
1. Get enough Vitamin D
Vitamin D influences many different tissues and regulates almost 3,000 genes in your body. Vitamin D helps up regulate your ability to fight infections, including the flu. Studies have shown that higher vitamin D levels can lower your risk of contracting colds, the flu and other respiratory infections.
Vitamin D is especially crucial during the winter months because in our New Jersey climate we have shorter days, much colder weather and are not spending enough time in direct sunlight. You should ask your doctor about Vitamin D supplements including age appropriate supplements and other information about this “sunshine nutrient”.
2. Eat your Veggies
Let’s face it, we live in an over processed world. Consuming foods in its natural state, whole and unprocessed provides your body with great nutrition. We should strive to eat a ton of cooked veggies with a lot of garlic in the winter to keep the immune system going strong.
3. Exercise Regularly
When you exercise you improve your circulation and immune cells in your blood. The better the cells circulate, the more efficiently your immune system can find and fight attacks from viruses and disease.
4. Stress Management
It is shown that emotional stress may contribute to physical problems. Emotional setbacks or worries that we experience in our daily lives can have an impact on both your current and future health. Emotional Stress can increase your risk for infection and make cold symptoms worse.
5. Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Some may question why they should see a chiropractor to stay healthy during winter and flu season. Chiropractic is directly related to the body’s central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord which controls all of the body’s functions.
By visiting our office for regular adjustments you allow our Chiropractors to locate and eradicate intrusions in the nervous system and fix the misalignment of the spine or subluxation. Fixing this misalignment will promote the body’s natural healing ability and raise its functionality to its highest capacity.
Acupuncture can help improve your overall well-being and also mood and stress levels. Acupuncture helps create peace and balance and give you improved energy. Acupuncture can strengthen the immune system and help the body fight off colds and infections.
If you are interested in learning more about how to keep your body well during cold and flu season call our Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation office to make an appointment with our certified Acupuncturist or one of our Chiropractors. Call us today to schedule an appointment at 732-345-1377.
