As the leaves turn red, yellow and orange, the pumpkins start to come out and the weather gets cooler, there is no doubt Fall is around the corner. Of course that means back to school and back to routines but it also means the dreaded cold and flu season.
This year, the cold season seems to have started already. Several of my patients are battling head colds. My son just got over one and, as kids love to share, he was kind enough to pass it to me. As a result, I started hunting through my cabinets for something that will help me fight it off and to keep me healthy for the rest of the season. These are the top 3 preventative supplements I came up. If you want to stay healthy and support your immune system, you need to integrate these into your daily routine.
- Vitamin D: the sun is shining less brightly and as a result, all Canadians need to be supplementing with this much needed vitamin. Vitamin D helps support the immune system, maintains bone density and helps support a positive mood throughout the coming months. I usually recommend 2000 IU daily.
- Probiotics: These little critters are important for immunity. They are usually associated with gut health but their value reaches far beyond that. They are an integral part of a healthy immune system and support healthy skin, mood and cognitive function as well.
- Oil of Oregano: This is the time of year that I often recommend people take this supplement daily. A couple of drops in water (or straight if you are brave enough) help to provide natural antimicrobial activity and fight off infection. Avoid this if you are pregnant.
For further immune support, consider a daily dose of 1000mg of vitamin C and 15 mg of zinc. There is also a great combination remedy called ACES, which provides vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral selenium. All of which can support the immune system.
I usually also recommend some Intravenous Therapy in cases where patients have a history of battling colds and flu all Winter long. These treatments can be administered weekly for 4 weeks and can boost immunity by providing higher doses of Vitamin C combined with other vitamins and minerals. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about scheduling these into your calendar.
For more information, please visit our website at www.thesageclinic.com
