Fighting Cold and Flu Season

Now that we have entered November, there is no denying that we are in the midst of cold and flu season. Going about a regular day of school, work, or errands, there is a guarantee that we are being exposed to numerous germs. Walking through a grocery store alone, it feels impossible to get out without passing at least half a dozen strangers coughing in the air we have to breathe in. Many of us might feel tempted to isolate ourselves in our homes and avoid any unnecessary exposure to people who might be vessels for germs, but staying home isn’t always realistic. Not everything we need can be delivered to our doorsteps, but even if it could, that isn’t the best plan of action for the mental health of most people.

Instead of isolating ourselves, hoping to avoid illness, we should empower our bodies to fend off and fight the bacteria and viruses causing those around us to get sick. 

Avoid Behaviors That Weaken The Immune System

There are many professionals who argue that “Cold and Flu Season” isn’t actually a seasonal issue (1). Instead, they believe that the behaviors that are more common in the winter months weaken the immune system and leave people more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses that can make people sick. These people believe if we avoid certain seasonal actions, we can keep our immune systems in fighting form and prevent winter from turning into a season of sickness.
Stress and Sleep

Whether its end of the year work deadlines, holiday-related family drama, the financial stress of gift-giving, the grief of celebrating the holidays without a loved one, or numerous other pressures, the holiday season is not all peace and love. Stress is a common feeling for many people this time of year, and that stress sends out a hormone called corticosteroid (2). Corticosteroid has been linked to lowering immune response. Stress can also lead to various actions that lower our immune systems, such as skipping meals, smoking, not drinking enough water, and lack of sleep.

A common problem when stressed is not getting enough quality sleep. The lack of sleep from stress and the sleep willing sacrificed for the social gatherings this time of year leave our bodies susceptible to viruses and can contribute to longer recovery times (3). 

When possible, limiting stress is recommended. Set healthy boundaries with friends and family. Set smaller, more attainable goals to help you reach deadlines. Make time for exercise or other stress-relieving activities.

Boosting The Immune System

When we boost our immune systems, we give our bodies the best shot of preventing and fighting off illnesses. There are many different ways we can help our immune systems that we haven’t even touched on yet.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is a growing problem in our society. Even during the summer months, people are spending less time working or playing outside than they use to. Winter causes vitamin D deficiency to dramatically increase as people avoid spending time out in the cold and the sun shines for fewer hours of the day. 

Vitamin D deficiency is believed to play a role in many different illnesses and diseases. It has been linked to an increased risk of colds, flu, heart disease, cancer, and more (4). Studies have shown that vitamin D can help fight and prevent people from getting the common cold, the flu, and various respiratory illnesses (5). 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is probably one of the most well known immune boosters. There have been many studies on the effectiveness of vitamin C on fighting off illness. The overwhelming research agrees that vitamin C can be a powerful tool for preventing and recovering from respiratory illnesses. 

One study from the 1990s tested this by tracking 463 students (6). When members of the control group reported cold or flu symptoms, they were given decongestants and pain relievers. When the test group reported cold or flu symptoms, they were given vitamin C multiple times a day. The control group reported a decrease in their symptoms 85% when compared to the control group. Taking a high-quality vitamin C can be a great option to boost your immune system.  

Zinc Oxide

Since Zinc was discovered in the 1960s, it has been studied intensely. Zinc is now considered “the gatekeeper of the immune system” (7). Zinc is necessary for defending against invading bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is another common deficiency that correcting can lead to boosting your immune system. B12 gets harder to separate out from food as we age, so B12 deficiency is more common with over 50 (8). It is also common with people who have digestive disorders, like celiac disease or Crohn’s. Because B12 is often found in meat products, vegans and vegetarians are more at risk for deficiency in vitamin B12. 

B12 plays an important role in creating healthy blood cells. When deficient in B12, people are at risk for a range of issues, such as chronic weakness and tiredness, nerve damage, depression, confusion, poor memory, and more. Getting enough B12 can help create blood cells that are better equipped to aid the body and improve the quality of daily life. Since feeling weak or tired is a common symptom for most illnesses, B12 can be a powerful vitamin to keep on hand. 

Flu Bomb

Sometimes doing everything in our power to stay healthy isn’t quite enough and we still get sick. At the first sign of any illness (or used daily as a way to try to boost your immune system), we recommend adding our Flu Bomb Cream to your daily routine. After a lot of research, this cream was put together with the highest-quality ingredients and the goal of relieving pesky symptoms and getting you back to feeling your best as soon as possible. 

Many of the immune boosters listed above are ingredients in our Flu Bomb Cream. The cream includes: 

Vitamin D: reduce risk of colds and flu and support in recovery

Zinc Oxide: “gatekeeper of the immune system”

Vitamin B12: helps form blood cells and increases energy

Our Flu Bomb also includes many other ingredients designed to relieve cold and flu symptoms and help support the immune system for recovery. The following essential oils are just some of the other powerful ingredients in our Flu Bomb Cream: 

Clove: In addition to being a potent antibacterial & antiviral, clove essential oil also has a high antioxidant content, can help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and may help lower blood pressure while boosting heart health (9).

Cinnamon: This natural anti-inflammatory may help boost the immune system and fight fungal infections (10).

Eucalyptus: May help boost the immune system's ability to fight infections, act as a natural decongestant, boost energy & mental clarity, and relieve pain & inflammation (11).

Frankincense: May help relieve stress, boost the immune system, supports healthy cellular function, reduce pain & inflammation, and may help balance mood (12).

Oregano: This natural alternative to antibiotics has research that suggests it could help fight bacteria, is a powerful antioxidant, may help reduce inflammation & pain (13).

Purchase our Flu Bomb Cream to have on hand before you get sick. You will thank yourself later!

References