What can you do to prepare yourself for flu season and provide your body with the right immune support when the vaccine offers minimal protection?
Sleep Right
You can get a full night’s sleep. Sleep is crucial for the immune system. Getting to sleep before 10 PM provides the most benefit.
Eat Right
You can also eat foods that boost your immune system. In the winter, you should eat cooked foods like soups, stews, and hot cereals. Use aromatic herbs like cinnamon, ginger, thyme, rosemary, basil, dill, fennel, and caraway when cooking. The oils in these foods have anti-viral properties and they maintain your digestive system where half of your immune system resides in the form of Peyer’s patches. Peyer’s patches control the bacteria in your intestines and prevent toxic bacteria from spreading. Keep your digestive system healthy and your immune system will stay strong.
Care for Your Nose
The main way people catch the flu in the winter is because their nasal membranes dry out due to the heating and ventilation systems in houses, offices, and on planes. The cold air from snowy climates is also very dry. When the nasal membranes dry out, they crack, and the virus can enter through these cracks. To prevent this, coat the inside of your nose with cooking oil or a vapor rub. It sounds weird, but it is true. There is also a scientific study about how chicken soup can help boost your immune system.
Reduce Stress
Reducing stress in one’s life can have a positive effect on your immune system as well. Studies have shown that things like meditation and mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) can improve one’s ability to remain healthy. When the flu vaccine can’t come through, it is back to basics to provide immune support for the winter season.
