‘Tis the season… for germs, colds and flu.

Bah humbug to those!

Since Alex got her first cold ever, cold prevention has been on my mind. I don’t want to get sick myself if I can avoid it, because now that I’m a mama I have more demands on me… if I get sick I still have to take care of her, feed her and that is somewhat physically demanding. I can’t be worn down. Here are some ways to at least attempt to stay healthy… because we all know that nothing is 100% foolproof. Some of those nasty little germs are tougher than we are.

Cardio

Exercise increases your heart rate so larger volume of blood circulates, oxygen is delivered to the bloodstream quicker when breathing is quicker and breaking a sweat can help kickstart the body’s germ fighting. Just don’t worry about pushing super hard and setting new PRs during this time.

Wash Up

We tough a lot of stuff. And lots of other people are touching that same stuff. It’s just a lot of chances to pick up germs. And while I’m not advocating you become a weird germophobe that is using anti-bacterial gel all day long, it is smart to make sure you’re washing your hands regularly!

Don’t Touch!

Try to keep your hands off your face. This means scratching, rubbing, picking, etc. I have a hard time with this, because the second that I think about not touching my face I feel like it itches a lot! But cold/flu virus enter the body easily through our eyes, nose and mouth.

Rinse It

The neti pot is becoming more mainstream, but it’s still one of those things that seems kind of odd. But it can really help to flush the germs as well as helping to keep your sinus passages moisturized. Viruses thrive in a dry environment. I also like to put a little Ayr nasal gel around the edges of my nostrils when it feels really dry. (Which is all the time… I live in the desert!)

Other Ideas

You can pop zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D… lots of options exist here. One item that I recently learned about is a product called SmartMune. This is a natural product that you can take on a daily basis to help your immune system in warding off illness. The immune cells in the GI tract use the natural complex in this supplement to help the rest of the body stay healthy. I’m a firm believer in the digestive systems power to affect the entire body, either positively or negatively.

They sent me a bottle to try, but sadly it says to not take it if you are pregnant or lactating. I tried to give it to my husband, but he kept setting the pills aside. He wouldn’t come right out to say he didn’t want to try it, but he doesn’t like trying alternative therapies. That’s too bad, because he’s fighting a Man Cold right now.

There are varieties of SmartMune for kids, extra strength and stress relief in addition to their main formula. I’d be willing to try it myself when I’m not nursing.

References:
8 Natural Tips to Prevent a Cold
6 natural cold-prevention strategies