Preventing the Powder Cold
Fall brings with its fair share of sniffles. Kids back to school running around and sharing their fair share of germs. This is the time of year that more people call in sick or seek help from their doctor to get on the mend. Natural therapies have their place in truncating the effects of a cold by helping the body to heal itself.
Hunkering down on keeping your diet clean is always the best bet for a good immune system. Keep your plate full of veggies and fruit. A well balanced diet provides the natural vitamins and minerals our engines need to keep going. Excessive sugar can reduce immune function, even if it comes from natural sources like fruit juices and honey.
Keep Stress in Check. We have all seen this. Pushing through to an exam or deadline and after it is all complete, there is a crash. Whether it be a cold sore or a full on cold, it’s all too common to come on when the heat of stress is over. It’s a wonderful mechanism, our body’s ability to push on and get’er done. But we all want to enjoy the down time too. My suggestion is to nip stress in the but. Natural medicine has much to offer in this arena - from B vitamins to adaptogenic herbs. And a prescription of skiing fresh lines will be part of my treatment plans for my stressed patients this winter.
Vitamin D. Research shows that optimal levels of Vitamin D is essential for a healthy immune system. As the sun dips in the north, our skin’s production fades, necessitating us to get our Vitamin D through supplementation. Knowing what dose is best for you is based on your own blood levels. I recommend having your Vitamin D blood level checked annually to keep your immunity, bones and mood in tip top shape. We all know that the best access to the sun’s rays in the winter is up here at Apex.
Vitamin C. It often seems natural to go toward oranges when we are sick. Vitamin C is a power house of a vitamin. Truncating any sickness when its levels are optimized. Dosing is based on your bowel tolerance. Typical levels most people can take are 1000mg three times a day, without issue.
Zinc Lozenges. When it comes to the common cold, Zinc is a sure winner. A recent analysis of 3 studies showed that Zinc lozenges, at a dose of 80mg per day, shortened the length of a common cold up to 3 times. Lozenges are easy to pack and pop into your mouth heading up on the chairlift.
Herbal Remedies. Most colds are caused by viruses, leaving antibiotics to be an ineffective treatment. Yet there are many herbs that have powerful anti-viral and immune boosting properties. Some of my favourites are garlic, oregano oil, echinacea and astragalus.
With all this said, the best immune defence is what our moms’ always taught us. Washing hands frequently, with soap, keeps you from getting what’s going around the office or school. Recent studies state that antimicrobial hand sanitizers are not as effective as good ole bars of soap. Teaching your kids to sing their favourite song while they wash their hands, will help rinse germs away.
Warding off colds this season will keep you skiing and enjoying all that Apex has to offer. And using that powder cough for what it is meant for, a sick day spent up at the hill instead of in bed.