Protect Yourself From the Cold and Flu Naturally!

Functional Medicine for Cold & Flu Symptoms

Like most of us, you try to avoid catching the “bug” every cold and flu season. Somehow, you end up with the couch, headache, and runny nose anyway. Bummer.

Instead of running to the pharmacy, loading up on antihistamines, and hoping for the best, turn to Functional Medicine for remedies that make sense. (And help you to avoid the illness altogether next time.)

Beta - Glucan

Short and sweet, Beta - Glucans help to support and strengthen the immune system. Our immune system becomes weakened with chronic stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, poor gut health and more.  Poor immune function leads to an inability to effectively fight disease and infection. The immune system modulates itself and utilizes biological co-factors, nutrients, and herbs.  Mushrooms are a strong immuno-protective food and contain high amounts of beta-glucans. Along with increasing protective immune particles, beta-glucans are shown to decrease a powerfully inflammatory particle called NFKbeta, lowering inflammation while at the same time enhancing immune protection.

NAC-- N-Acetylcysteine

NAC is a powerful antioxidant which helps the body to get rid of free radicals and toxins in the body. During cold and flu season, NAC is best used to thin mucus and clear sinus passages. NAC is the precursor to glutathione, one of our master antioxidants and will help strengthen your immune system as well.  NAC also helps support detoxification pathways in the liver.

Vitamin D

If you’ve already caught the “bug,” Vitamin D may be your new best friend. A high-quality liquid form of Vitamin D, taken in generous doses, helps to kickstart your immune response and get rid of the infection more quickly.  It has been estimated that about 80% of the population, particularly in the winter months in the northern hemisphere are Vitamin D deficient.  Since we can produce Vitamin D (which is really a hormone and not a vitamin) from daily sun exposure, and we don’t get much sun exposure in the winter, supplementing with Vitamin D3 (along with Vitamin K2) is highly recommended.  Besides immune health, Vitamin D affects inflammation and mood.

Vitamin C

The orange juice trick has some truth after all! Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, helps to fight off the common cold. Rather than reach for a sugar-filled store-bought source of the vitamin, opt for a high quality supplement or fruit instead.  We like the liposomal Vitamin C as it is absorbed well.  Research has shown that within a short time after consuming Vitamin C, the immune system increases its “killer” cells to fight off the bad bugs!

Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry syrup has been getting a lot of attention these days, and it is well-deserved! This cold and flu cure-all helps to boost the immune system, treat upper respiratory infections by decreasing mucus secretions, and fights swelling of the respiratory passages. It is great to use with your kids as well.

Honey-Ginger Tea

Honey and ginger both have great healing properties, especially for cold and flu symptoms. Combined, they are an excellent expectorant, providing relief to those with respiratory or nasal congestion. Honey is known for its soothing qualities, which is especially helpful for a sore throat or dry cough.  We love the Manuka honey from New Zealand for its extra boost of healing properties, and keep crystallized ginger chews on hand for when a cold or flu starts to come on.  Ginger is an amazing nausea remedy as well!

All that being said, drink lots of water and don’t forget the organic homemade chicken soup!  Grandma was right about the healing properties of that as well!  Here’s an easy gluten free recipe for homemade organic chicken noodle soup!  

To Elderberry or Not with COVID-19? My Take

Obviously, everyone is working to gain an understanding of the physiologic changes with Covid-19, but what is becoming evident is that what is dangerous about the virus is not necessarily the virus itself, but the affect it has on the immune system.

Ditch the Sugar - Cut the Cravings

Any time of the year is the perfect time to zap your sugar addiction and cravings. Cutting out refined sugars and focusing on whole foods to help reset your insulin function and reduce your cravings begins by becoming aware of how much added sugar is in your diet.

Sugar: The Silent Killer

The addictive nature of sugar and the effects on our physiology create a perfect storm for creating an obesity epidemic. What’s becoming clear, though, is that it just may not be all your fault!

When Your Gut is a Jungle Instead of a Pasture

Hippocrates once said, “All health comes from the gut” and we understand more today than ever just how true that statement is. There are many things that can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut. One of the most common and powerful disruptors of a healthy microbiome - antibiotics. What many people don't know is that the disruption of the gut microbiome by antibiotics can trigger mood disruption. In a 2015 study looking at multiple types of antibiotics, it was found that even one dose of any of the antibiotic groups was associated with a higher risk of depression, while recurrent antibiotic use increased the participants risk factors even more.

Manage Your Holiday Stress

Most people don't realize that the stress response triggers a cascade of physiological actions in the body that can shut down stomach function and create digestive upset! There are ways to counter the effects of Holiday Stress this season - read on!

Optimizing Body Composition and Weight Loss by Optimizing Gut Health!

In my practice I work with patients to optimize gut health as a means of optimizing their health. Patients come to me with a plethora of symptoms such as brain fog, digestive issues, skin rashes such as eczema, low energy, muscle pain and fatigue, weight gain, cardiovascular issues like increased cholesterol and atherosclerosis, food allergies and sensitivities, immune system issues and autoimmune disease and more. Most everything begins in the gut whether they realize it or not. Gut imbalance creates inflammation and inflammation sets up increase in fat storage; the excess fat then creates more inflammation and a cascade of health issues over time!

The Gut Microbiome and Health

The Human Microbiome Project has shown that the intestinal microbiome has communication networks with other organ systems including the gut-brain, gut-liver, gut-adipose axes, and it plays a critical role in our health, brain function, body weight and fat maintenance. Nature, 2012.

The Mind-Gut Connection

Did you know you have two brains? One in your head, another in your gut, and the health of your gut can result in many "non-gut" symptoms!
Page: 12 - All