Keep Healthy Through the Winter

I was listening to the radio when I heard the new flu shot commercial. Did you know? Not only infants and senior citizens but pretty much everyone else should get a flu shot this winter, and it’s not too late: you can still go to the hospital and get it!

That got me thinking. Why does winter hit us harder every time? And is it true that we need the shot not to get sick?

We can do a lot to prevent the flu before getting a shot that, by the way, might even present more dangers than benefits. For one, the viruses that cause the flu are always mutating and it’s impossible to make a vaccine that contains the exact strain to hit a specific virus. As a result, there are still chances to catch the flu, even if you get your shot. Plus, every year there are numerous reported cases of severe adverse reactions to the vaccine that makes you question if it’s worth getting. Furthermore, people who get the shot are hindering their natural immunity.

What can we do then?

In nature, winter is the time to slow down. Plants stop producing food and animals go to sleep (some don’t even do anything else until the spring). Our body also wants to rest and sleep more through the cold season, but we can easily ignore that natural call because electricity allows us to extend our daytime. In general, we need to sleep one to two more hours in the winter than we do in the summer to keep our immune system strong.

Many of us are in a mad rush against the clock from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve, spending all available time shopping and preparing for the holidays, leaving none to turn inward and take care of ourselves. With all the abuse we put our body through, no wonder we crash in January.

Our diet should also change in the winter. Our bodies crave more warming foods and fats, but we address the cravings by overeating, specially sugar. Instead, try sweet vegetables like onions and other root vegetables, sweet potatoes, and apples. If you usually eat little or no animal protein, and feel tired all the time, you might benefit from getting some (more) during the winter. Focus on warming soups made with real mineral-rich bone broth and try detoxifying your liver by having warm water with lemon first thing in the morning. This has done wonders for several clients of mine.

Most people don’t realize that the body gets actually drier during the winter than it does in the summer. It’s important to increase our water intake to keep the lymphatic system lubricated and eliminate toxins efficiently. All the partying and drinking contributes to the dryness.

Understand that getting a cold or the flu is the body’s emergency response to its need to detoxify. The best way to recover is the old way. Stay in bed, get plenty or sleep, drink lots of water, tea, and good chicken soup. Over-the-counter remedies can help you feel better faster, but they don’t help to get rid of the toxins. People who try to overcome their colds this way get sick more frequently and more severely.

One last thing: make sure you are getting some physical activity. Playing in the snow is my favorite one, but I know not everyone shares my enthusiasm. Even though the weather is not as inviting to move, you can get a walk here and there, or try an indoor activity. It will lift your mood and help keep your immune system well “oiled.”