Yes, it's that time of year again, and we need to to everything we can to keep ahead of the cold and flu that someone else brought home and shared with or gave to you.
There are a few great strategies for mitigating the spread of contagious diseases that seem to spread more prevalently when we are cooped up inside with others.
Wash your hands when ever you have a chance.
If you do get sick, quarantine yourself as much as possible. In other words, stay home, rest, and hydrate. Your work gives you sick days for a reason, use them.
When you cough or sneeze do so into your elbow so you aren't covering your hands with contagions to "share with" or "give to" others.
An additional strategy that I have used for the last few years is a system of supplements shown to improve your immune system's function, so I am being protected from all the illnesses that pass through our clinic. This system has worked so well that I have not been sick once in the last 30 months and only missed work 2 times in the last 3.5 years due to illness.
The system of supplements I use are:
Immucore: (2 per day) Provides 3-pronged approach to immune support with bioavailable vitamin C, zinc, and a concentrated blend of mushroom extracts, shown to improve immune cell communication and system function. It also uses a buffering delivery system to prevent potential stomach upset associated with vitamin C. It includes Vitamin D for long-term immune health support, as well ass Oleanolic acid and selenium help protect cells against harmful free radicals.
Immune Booster: (1 per Day) Provides a blend of highly viable, pure strains of L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2. A unique probiotic blend demonstrated in research to support nasal, sinus, and respiratory health when taken daily for 12 weeks.
In case you do get sick, there is a really effective protocol I have come across. It involves taking high dose Vitamin A for a few days and has been super effective in our clinic for everything from colds to pneumonia. You start the protocol at the first sign of a symptom that you might be getting sick (slight fever, body aches, the start of a sniffle, etc).
Progressive Labs Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential, along with Thyroid hormone, for the production of DNA for the purpose of making antibodies and more immune cells to fight disease.
Take 12 capsules per day for 3 days. Take them all at once if possible, divided dosing is OK if it upsets your stomach.
If symptoms persist, take 6 capsules per day. Again all at once if possible, but divided dosing is ok.
If symptoms persist, take 3 capsules per day. Again all at once if possible, but divided dosing is ok.
For the vitamin A protocol it is important to use Progressive Labs Vitamin A because not all vitamin A is processed the same way, in-fact, I was getting sick and because I was sold out of the Progressive Labs Vitamin A I went to a local grocery store for some vitamin A, despite taking the recommended dose the protocol did not work. On a subsequent onset of illness for me I took the Progressive Labs Vitamin A and I was better in one day.