Winter Sickness Helps

Let’s Keep That Immune System Healthy! 

Whether young or old, our immune system starts in our gut.  As we are approaching the coldest winter months, it is very common for many of us to get some type of sickness, whether a head cold, stomach bug or flu symptoms. You may relate this to frigid winter temperatures, or perhaps a lack of vitamin D, or blame those around you that are coughing in the office, but I believe that something else that is a critical factor in your overall post-holiday health. 

Many spend most of December enjoying Christmas cookies, feasting at family get-togethers and holiday luncheons. Then there is the grazing on a variety of sugary treats! I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that often times, many spend the next few weeks in bed with body aches, congestion, fever and more unpleasant symptoms. 

Since your immune system starts in your gut, and your gastro-intestinal tract has been plagued by all the non-nutrient foods that the holidays bring, we shouldn’t be surprised at the outcome. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan to resist all those temptations for next year!

In the meantime, a helpful way to clean out this holiday sugar build-up is taking a quality probiotic. A probiotic along with healthy food (including lots of veggies while limiting processed foods) helps your body rebuild the gut, which is the biggest factor in keeping your immune system healthy.  Your GI tract has been working hard to digest those tasty non-nutrients, but it’s time to give it a break, and feed your body the nutrients it has been craving all along.  

We have a variety of probiotics in our office, since not just any probiotic will do for just anyone. Feel free to give our office a call and ask which probiotic is best for you!