Healthy Lifestyle For All

Stay Healthy This Cold and Flu Season
Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.
Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute


Believe it or not, fall is right around the corner. Before we know it, cold and flu season will return – and that means now is the time to begin thinking about cold and flu prevention. There are many factors that determine our chances for getting a cold or the flu, but all of them fall under two main prevention strategies. The first strategy is reducing our exposure to cold and flu viruses, and the second is helping our immune systems operate at maximum efficiency.

There are several ways to reduce your exposure to cold and flu viruses. The first is washing your hands. It seems simple, but many germs spread after we touch something germy with our hand, and then transfer those germs to our mouth or eyes. For example, someone may cough into their hand and touch a doorknob that we then use. Or, we may shake hands with a co-worker who has a cold and then eat a sandwich. There is no substitute for frequent hand washing, especially before preparing or eating food. I recommend washing with non-antibacterial soaps, because antibacterial soaps can cause rashes with frequent washing, breaking down the natural skin barriers.

Another way to reduce your exposure to cold and flu viruses is to avoid people who are coughing or asking them to “cover their cough.” Many people forget to cover their mouth when they cough, especially after they've been sick for a while.

The second strategy for avoiding the cold and flu is to help your immune system operate at maximum efficiency. One way to do this is to eat well and take a good multivitamin. Our immune systems are very complex and use many different enzymes to help battle viruses. Many of these enzymes need vitamins and minerals to help them perform at their best. When our bodies are missing these vitamins and minerals, our immune system is less able to fight off infections.

The second immune-boosting tactic is to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of infection, so try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night.

Reducing stress can also improve your immune system's function. Many scientific studies have shown that when we are under stress, our immune system doesn't work as well.1 Some stress-reduction techniques are exercise, yoga, deep breathing, and journaling. My book, Optimal Health Revolution, has a chapter that will teach you the best ways to reduce your stress.

An echinacea supplement may also help boost your body's immune system. It is recommended that this herb be taken at the first sign of a sneeze or sniffle and for no longer than eight weeks at a time.2

Start getting into these habits now, and you'll be fully prepared to help reduce your risk of coming down with a cold or flu this season, and for many years to come.

Suggestions on Supplements

Multi-Vitamin - http://jwaller.qhealthbeauty.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=A4300
Echinacea Tablets - http://jwaller.qhealthbeauty.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=A5986
Echinacea Liquid - http://jwaller.qhealthbeauty.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=A8998
Echinacea Spray - http://jwaller.qhealthbeauty.com/products/product.aspx?itemno=AA0176

Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute
1Stress and the immune system. Robert A. Anderson. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. August–September 2005 i265-266 p106(1).
2“Echinacea.” Clare Hanrahan and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 4 vols. Updated July 1, 2006.