Staying Healthy in Flu Season with Body Ecology

We are still in the thick of flu season, people! Are you doing what you can to stay well? I think I can speak for us all when I say that no one wants to get hit with the flu or a cold or any other common winter illness. That said, here are some tips to help prevent illness.

1. Stay away from sick people! (Duh!) – Do your best to avoid people who are sick or showing symptoms of the flu. Of course, this isn’t as easy to do if your children, significant other, or other people you live with are sick. If that is the case, keep some disinfectant wipes on hand and encourage everyone in the house to use them. Make sure that anyone who is sick covers their mouth when they cough or sneeze, washes their hands frequently, and does their best to avoid the communal areas of the house when possible. Or just put them in a bubble and quarantine them until they’re well. (Just kidding … kind of.)
   
2. Be cautious in public places. – Notice if someone around you is coughing, sneezing, or sniffling, and move to another area if possible – it could be allergies, but then again, they may be sick. If you’re at the grocery store, use those wipes that many stores offer near the shopping carts before grabbing a cart. Wash your hands when you return home from running errands or being out in public places.
3. Eat well. – Get enough servings of fruits and vegetables, load up on immune-boosting foods, and eat plenty of foods that are high in vitamin C.
4. Get enough sleep. – Your immune system works best when your body is well rested. Make sure you get plenty of sleep throughout flu season to keep your immune system strong.
5. Avoid excess alcohol and cigarettes. – If you drink or smoke, limit your amount during flu season, as both of these can hinder your immune system.
6. Take your vitamins! – We did a survey of our magazine readers last year and 88% said they take supplements at least once per day. That is GREAT! During flu season (and leading up to flu season), you should take vitamins and supplements that are best for your own body’s needs and make sure to add immune supporting supplements, like vitamins A, C, D, and E, and minerals like zinc. There’s also a really great mineral supplement called Ancient Earth Minerals from Body Ecology that offers a blend of humic, fulvic, micro and macro minerals and amino acids to help nourish your thyroid and adrenals, detoxify, and build immunity.

If you’re wondering what humic and fulvic are – they are naturally occurring acids that preserve organic minerals and trace elements, enhancing the availability and uptake of the minerals. Humic acid helps to remove toxins before they enter the gut, while fulvic acid helps to carry nutrients into cells.

Minerals are extremely important, especially in today’s society, because our foods have been shown to have fewer nutrients and minerals than previous generations of crops. This means that even for those who eat healthy foods and a lot of vegetables and fruits, mineral intake may still be low. What this can do to our bodies is cause low energy, weight gain, cravings, low blood sugar, low immunity, poor digestive health, and more. Plus, if you are newly diagnosed with celiac disease and the villi in your small intestine have not yet healed, you may have poor absorption of nutrients already, meaning you may be in even greater need for a mineral supplement. Body Ecology’s Ancient Earth Minerals, available in liquid and capsule forms, may be the solution for you.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with this bit of advice: If you do find yourself with any flu symptoms this season, go to the doctor! Find out for sure if it is the flu, get the proper medication needed to eradicate it, get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids, and do what you need to do to get better. People have died from complications of the flu, so it is worth slowing down and taking care of yourself properly to avoid prolonging your illness or worse. I’m not saying this to scare you – I simply want you to be healthy and happy!

(As always, consult a medical professional before beginning any new protocol.)