In past weeks we have seen, both in-store and in our Naturopathy Clinics, an onslaught of acute viral attacks. These viruses are coming on fast. Symptoms are acute and recovery is slow. The symptoms being reported are headache, sore throat, muscle ache, chest pain & coughing, congestion and runny nose, nausea, dizzy spells, general malaise, loss of voice and a persistent post-viral dry cough.

Colds and Flu’s are caused by Viruses

Viruses are essentially strands of genetic material enclosed in a protein coat that penetrate, and literally hijack susceptible living cells within 10-15 minutes of exposure. By exploiting cellular machinery, viruses such as rhinovirus, and influenza rapidly replicate and multiply, and then depart the cell to infect surrounding cells. Symptoms do not occur until the infection reaches a critical threshold; however, it is the inflammatory immune response to viral invasion, as well as the virus itself, that causes the familiar symptoms of sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, cough and fatigue of colds and flu.

Even the healthiest among us may experience occasional viral infections, as viral strains are constantly mutating and easily evade immune memory and recognition.

To lead a balanced, enriching life we all know that we must eat well and exercise… because without optimal health and energy it becomes a daily struggle to reach our potential. But it is equally important for optimal health and happiness that we create balance in our lives… time to stop, relax and reflect. And I must admit, for me personally, this is my greatest challenge!

 It has been all too easy to push through my days without stopping to take a breath - because there is so much to do and never enough time to do it. The demands of running a business are endless… and even though I love and have great passion for what I do I’m guilty of not giving myself permission to stop, relax and reflect. And therein lies a symptom of an unbalanced, unhealthy life.

Taking Time Out

Over the next 7 weeks I’m finally giving myself permission to take some time out.  My husband, David and I, are embarking on an adventure – an
ultimate stressbuster!

Rather than the regular sightseeing holiday or escaping to an island to de-stress, we decided we needed a different kind of ‘circuit-breaker’. Not just a change from our current routine but a challenge of Body, Mind and Spirit. These opportunities are rare and one must truly want and seek out such an experience.

Last week we talked about the amazing immune tonic herbs we have available to support and nourish our immune system and “prime” it for winter. This week I’m sharing the other three steps which guarantee optimal health for winter.

Our 4 easy steps to prevent “illness-sabotage” this winter

1. Eat Well
2. Exercise regularly
3. Relax & have Fun
4. Supplement with immune tonics

Step 1: Eat Well

Did you know that the Food you eat has the power to keep you well or contribute to you getting sick?
 For example the vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients in our food are integral to the functioning of your immune system. If they are readily available in the body the immune system can draw upon them in times of need (i.e. when we are exposed to a virus). A healthy immune system attacks the virus and renders it harmless – most of the time we would never know that we have been exposed to a bug.
If however we have a diet high in sugar, processed foods, preservatives and unhealthy fats, our immune system is compromised because these foods actually deplete our immune system. They “disarm” it.  So when the time comes to fight a virus, our immune system is not only weakened by the sugars, fats, and refined foods, it also doesn’t have the available nutrients to draw upon to “fight the battle”. The result being, the virus infiltrates your line of defence and takes up residence in your body. And you soon know about it!

There’s been a lot of noise in the media in recent weeks about the “deadly flu” hitting Australia... and it’s about this time every year that we see similar headlines.

The thing to remember though is that the flu is a virus that has been around for thousands of years and every year, at about this time, we are at a higher risk of infection from viruses because of increased exposure to them. We have no control over this exposure but we do have control over our immune system and we can support and optimise it so that it can “fight off” any nasties floating around.

We use supplements to help our body to not only cope with the side effects of modern day living but to help us live optimally.
And when our immune systems are at risk and need support it’s a great idea to supplement with immune tonics.

Some people love the cooler months and embrace winter as it is their favorite time of year. Others, on the other hand, struggle with the idea of shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures, wet and windy days and bleak skies. I am one of those people.

I like to write about our ‘attitude’ to winter because it forces me to change my mindset and think of the good things about winter rather than focus on the negative things…because let’s face it, Winter is with us for the next 3 months so we might as well make the most of it and get busy living!

It’s hard not to notice that the temperature has plummeted and it is easy for many to become negative with their thinking about winter (i.e. it’s too cold and dark to exercise; it’s too cold to go out; I think I’ll just ‘veg’ on the couch & watch telly; or, I think I’ll just hibernate and eat comfort food until the warmer weather returns)