Want to Fend Off Those Pesky Cold Bugs this Winter? Here are 5 Things I’m Doing to Boost My Immune System.

The winter season is upon us and along with the cold weather comes the “sick season”. The cold and flu bugs pop up at the most inconvenient times (anyone with young children knows this especially well). But there are several ways to be proactive about your family’s health to help strengthen your immune systems so you’re ready to fight off those nasty bugs when they come. Here are five ways that my family and I support our immune health during the winter season:

1. Get Daily Movement
Movement is key to overall health! Our favorite ways to incorporate movement are to take a walk outside (even in the dead of winter), regular strength and cardio workouts, yoga, and finding ways in everyday activities to get more movement (like parking further away from a store, taking the stairs, etc.)

2. Get Plenty of Quality Sleep
Quality sleep is high on our priority list in the winter. We try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day and avoid screentime (computer, phone, and TV) ~30 minutes before bed to regulate our sleep cycles. This allows our brains to rest, bodies to heal, and our nervous systems to reset.

3. Hydrate Daily
This is something that quickly goes out the window with busier schedules and social gatherings. I love having a daily glass of my favorite electrolyte drink (LMNT) to help hydrate my body. And, our family always increases our fruit intake during the winter with fruits that are naturally packed with H2O (like berries, oranges, and apples).

4. Boost the Vitamins
Vitamin D with K2, vitamin C, and zinc are a regular part of our family’s morning routines to help keep our immune systems in top shape. You can’t supplement yourself out of bad health, but several studies show that these supplements can lower the severity of the cold and flu.

5. Get Adjusted
A weekly adjustment is a must for my family. Getting adjusted positively impacts the function of the nervous system (this includes the spinal cord which is protected by the spine). An adjustment helps reduce the pressure along the spine, allowing the nervous system to detect and respond to external threats more quickly. The quicker our bodies can respond, the better equipped our immune systems are to fight off those cold and flu bugs!
 
Have questions or would like more tips? Reach out to me at [email protected] or follow @chiroclarkdoc on Instagram or Facebook.

By Dr. Kevin Clark