8WaysToBeatAColdOrFluAsFastAsPossibleMost

PeopleOnlyDoTwoOfThese

ThisarticleissharedwithpermissionfromourfriendsatDr.Jockers.
Millionsofcasesofthecommoncoldarereportedeachyear.Adultsonaveragearestrickenbyacold2to3
timesannuallywithsymptomspersistingforupto10dayswhilekidsmaybesickfromacoldupto10times
eachyear(2,13).

Theseverityofseasonalinfluenzaisunpredictableyeartoyear.OfficialsfromtheCDCsuggeststhatone
fifthofUnitedStatespopulationcanbeprotectedfromthefluifstudentsandschoolstaffworkdiligentlyto
protectthemselvesfrombecomingsick(1).

Asyoucontemplatethereasonfortheseasontheseupcomingmonths,haveyoueverwonderedwhythe
coldandflustrikessoharshlyduringthefallandwintermonths?Whyaretherepostingsforsignsaround
everycornerremindingyoutogetyourflushotnow?Coldweatherandlongwintersbringonmoreattempts
ofpathogenstoweakenyourimmunedefenses.

Fortunately,therearenaturalwaysyoucanovercomeyoursymptomsofcoldandfluandevenprevent
becomingill.Followthe8wayslistedbelowtohelpbuildatitaniumimmunesystemandprotectyourbody
fromthepathogensthatarecirculatingonandaroundyou.

WhatisColdandFluSeason?

Understandingthedifferencebetweenthecommoncoldandtheflucanmayhelpeaseyourmindwhenyou
ponderhowlongyourkidswillbeoutofschoolandthushowlongyouwillbeoutofwork.Thesefactsthat
followcanhelpyouunderstandthesymptomsandcausesofeach.

Primarilyassociatedwithrhinoviruses,thecommoncoldisamongstthemostcommonillnessesintheworld.
Themajorityoftreatmentsinvolveatriptothepharmacyandathomeremedieswhileasmallerpercentage
ofonly28%showedindividualsactuallyvisitapractitionerforadvice.(11)

DifferencesBetweenTheColdandTheFlu
Althoughthedifferencesinthesetwoillnessesaredistinct,theymaybemistakenforoneanotherifyouare
uncertainoftheirsymptoms.Typicallyacoldcausessymptomsofacough,sorethroat,andnasal
congestion.200knownvirusesareknowntocauseacold(11).

Coldvirusesinfectthenoseandthroat.Kidspassalonggermseasilywhileplayingandthentouchtheir
nose,eyesandevenputthingsintheirmouthsmakingthemmoresusceptibletoinfection.

Poorhygienepracticessuchasthelackofwashingtheirhands,sneezingandcoughingintotheairand
mindlesslytouchinganyoneoranythingarealleasytransitroutesforvirusestospread.(13)

SymptomsoftheFlu

Fever(higherthan100.4F),sometimesrashwithfever.

Bodyachesincludingmuscleandjointpain,andmoreseverechestpressureinadults.

Fatigue

Chills

Headache

ACough,especiallyworsening

Respiratoryproblemsincludingrunnyorstuffynosecomplications

Diarrhea

Vomiting
 Suddendizziness

Unlikeacold,infectionfromthefluaffectsthenose,throat,aswellasthelungswhichmakeitamoresevere
illness.Mostcommonly,dropsofbodilyfluidfromsneezing,coughingandeventalkingspreadthevirusto
others.(32)

Thesesymptomsarenotpresentineveryindividualwiththeflubutareagoodguidelineforyouto
determineifyoursicknessisjustacoldorifitiscausedbyamoreseriousfluillness.(1,11)

8WaysToBeatACold/FluFast

1.EatLight

Astheoldsayingbegsthequestion,shouldyoueatacoldorstarveacold?Breakingthecycleof
consumingyourstandardmealsisnecessarywhenyourbodyshouldbefocusingallofitsenergytohealing.

Everytimeyouingestfoodyouaretakingresourcesawayfromyourimmunesystemfrombattlingyour
illness.Instead,itisworkingtoprotectyoufromthebacteria,virusesandotherharmfulagentsthatare
presentinyourfood.
Theintroductionofmorebacteriatoyourgastrointestinaltractposesathreattoyourgutmicrofloraandalso
yourimmunesystem.Microbesinthegutinteractorcommunicatewiththeimmunesystemsignaling
severalimmuneresponsestooccurandthereforepromoteinflammationandalongerrecoverytime.(14)

Ifyouarehungrywhilebattlingsickness,feedyourselffoodsthatwillboostimmunedefenses.Prebioticand
probioticrichfoodslikeJerusalemartichokes,leeks,citrusfruits,aswellasfermenteddairyandvegetables
willfeedyourgutbeneficialbacteriaandencourageastrongimmunesystem.

2.HydrateWell

Yourimmunesystemreliesonawellhydratedbodytostimulatedetoxificationpathwaysneededtostimulate
enzymesandotherbiologicalagentswhichhelpflushpathogensfromthebodyandrepairdamagedtissue
(3,4).

Polyphenolsfoundinlemons,applecidervinegar,herbalteasandevenantioxidantrichbrothsrepairthe
immunesystemandeffectivelydestroymicrobesalongthedigestivetract.

Tohelpalleviateasorethroatandcoughsymptoms,tryhydratingwithsomeofthesepolyphenolrich
liquids:

Addasplashofapplecidervinegartoacupofwaterordrinkherbalteas.

Herbalteasprovideantioxidantsupportthathelpsfightagainstinfectionfromviruses,bacteria,andeven
fungus.GingerteaboostsglutathioneactivityandhelpsreduceinflammationandEchinaceaisalong
establishedAyurvedaherbaltreatmentthatisloadedwithsupportivevitaminsandantioxidants.(5,6)
 Sippingonlemonwaterthroughoutthedaycanhealandhelpyoucombatthetirednessyouarefacing.
Outof300participantsinoneresearchgroup,theuseoflemonwasmostpopulartotreatcoldandflu
symptomsaccountingfor73%oftreatmentuses(11).

Bonebrothspreparedfrompasturedchickenorbeefbonesarehighinaminoacidsprolineandglycine
criticaltoinhibitingbacterialandviralinflammation.Theyalsocontainpotassiumandmagnesiumtocalm
muscleandjointpain.

3.UseHealingHerbs

Eventhroughtheconstantadvancementsofmodernmedicalmedicine,theuseofmedicinalplantshas
continuedfortheirpotentantioxidantandantiinflammatoryeffectsonthehumanbody(10).

Herbsareapowerfulweapontoeliminatecontaminantsinthebodyincludingharmfulmicrobes.European
countriesrelyoncommonlyandeffectivelytreatingcoldandfluwiththefollowingplantsandherbs:(11)

PurpleEchinacea

Blackcurrant

Seabuckthornfruits

Raspberry

Yarrow
 Chamomile

Ginger

Thyme

Willowbark

Onion

Garlic

Garlicandonionsaresomeofthebestfoodsyoucaneattocombatsymptomsofcoldandflu.Bothofthese
floweringplantshavelongbeenusedsinceEgyptianpracticesfortheirmedicinaltreatmentofviruses,
bacteria,andfungus(8).GarlicandOnionscontainacompoundcalledallicinthatcontainssulfurand
providescountlesswaysofhealingthebodyfrominflammation(

GarlicandOnionscontainacompoundcalledallicinthatcontainssulfurandprovidescountlesswaysof
healingthebodyfrominflammation(9).

TrythisSuperpoweredHoney&GarlicMixturenexttimeyoufeelacoldcomingon!

4.DiffuseEssentialOils
Anabundanceofclinicaldataandscientificresearchexistssupportingthebenefitsofaromatherapyoilson
theimmunesystemandtheirtopicalusestotreatsymptomsofcoldandflu.Essentialoilscontainantiseptic
compoundsthatcombatbacteria,viruses,fungusandreduceinflammationthatcanhelpyoufeelbetter
soonerandhealfaster.

Studiessupportthatessentialoilslowercausesofinflammationandsicknessbyreducinganxiety,promoting
relaxation,regulatingnaturalkillercellresponseandloweringcortisollevels(23,24).Chemicalmessages
aretransmittedtothebrainthroughinhalationandboostmoodandcancalmemotions(25).

Thefollowingoilshavemedicinalbenefitsandtherapeuticeffectsonhumanhealthandcanbeindirectly
inhaledviaaroomdiffuser,directlyinhaledtoalleviatesinuspressure,massagedontotheskinorappliedto
bathsandlotions:

EucalyptusOil
Ausefulagenttoregulatetheimmuneresponse,eucalyptusoilsupportscellmediatedpathwaysincluding
theirinnateattackonpathogens(22).

Considertakingasteamybathwithafewdropsofaddedeucalyptusoilfornaturaldecongestantreliefto
helpyoubreathebetterandsleepsounder.

FrankincenseOil
FrankincensecontainsBoswellicacidsthathavethehealingpotentialtostimulatetheimmunesystemand
serveasapotentantiinflammatorycompound(26).Thisoilisusefulforreducinginflammationfromstiff
jointsandsoremusclesaswellasalleviatingsymptomsofasorechestandthroat.

CheckoutthisarticletofindoutalltheusesforFrankincenseOil!

OreganoOil
Plantextractfromoreganohasbeenusedasanalternativehomeremedyforitsantibacterialproperties.
OreganooilinhibitsthegrowthofE.coliandpneumoniacausingbacteriainclinicalresearch(27).

ThymeOil
Whenusedincombinationwithoreganooil,thymeoilexhibitspowerfulantiinflammatoryeffects.When
consumedorally,thebenefitsofthymeoilexhibitedsignificantantiinflammatoryandantibacterial
responsesinthegutincreasingcytokinestohelpfightinfection.

Traditionally,thymeessentialoilisusedforantimicrobial,antiviralandantifungalpropertiesandalsoexhibits
freeradicalscavengingabilities.(28)

CitrusOils
Citrusessentialoilsaregreattohelpyoucombatfatigueandalleviatethosewinterblues.Notlimitedto
lemons,limes,andoranges,citrusessentialoilsalsoincludegrapefruit,bergamot,andneroli.

Theseoilsarebestinhaledfortheirtherapeuticpropertiestosuppressabnormalcellcyclepathwaysthat
causetissuedamageandregulatescytokineactivity(29).

CitrusoilcompoundshavebeenusedinAyurvedicpracticestopreventsymptomsofarthritisand
rheumatismandcanbeequallybeneficialtohelpingyourovercomeacoldorflu.(30)

CloveOil
Cloveoilhastremendousabilitiestodestroybacteriathataccumulateintheoralcavitycreatinginflammation
andfreeradicaldamage.Cloveoilhasbeenshowntoalsoaffectmultiresistantstrainsofbacteriaand
exhibitstrongfreeradicalactivity(31).

Whenbattlinginfectionwithsymptomsofasorethroatoracough,takesimplemeasureslikebrushingyour
teethwithanaddeddropofcloveoiltoreapthebenefitsfromthispowerfulastringent.

5.SunExposure

TheneedforvitaminDtoregulatethetotalhealthandhealingabilitiesofthehumanbodyhaslongbeen
underestimateduntilrecentyears.

VitaminDdeficiencycanbelinkedtoanyabnormalimmunesystemcomplication.VitaminDisrequiredfor
detoxificationpathwaysandhealthyimmunestimulatingresponsessuchasthegenerationofGcMAF,atype
ofproteinresponsibleforactivatingmacrophageactivityandrepairingbodytissue(15).

Withoutadequatesunlightexposure,thebodycannotproducetheactiveformofvitaminD3called
cholecalciferol.Ideally,10,000to20,000IUofvitaminD3shouldbeproducedfrompenetratingUVBrays
beneaththeepidermis.Sunbathingaminimumof3timesaweekisrecommendedbythefollowing
guidelinesbasedonskincolor:

LightSkin=1520minutesperday

MediumSkin=2530minutesperday

DarkSkin=4045minutesperday
Whenunabletoreceivetherecommendedsunexposure,boostyourvitaminDlevelswithasupplement
containingdosesat1,000IUofvitaminD3.Forevery25poundsofbodyweight,supplement1,000IU
vitaminD3dailyandbesttakenwithahealthyfatsuchasoliveoilformaximumabsorption.

6.Grounding

Whilesickyouareprobablyalsofeelingblueandcoulduseamoodbooster.Groundingisabeneficial
exercisethatyoucanpracticetorelievesymptomsofdepression,increaseyourenergy,reducestress,
optimizehealingandcanbedonewhilegettingthatnecessarysunexposure(16).

GroundingconsistsofconnectingyourmindwithyourbodywhiletransferringEarthsnaturalelectrical
energythroughyourbodytoreducestress.Electromagneticfrequencies(EMFs)arepresentintheworldall
aroundusofwhichwecannaturallyabsorbfromthegroundbywalkingbarefootonsand,dirt,andgrass.

Gettinginsyncwiththesenaturalrhythmshasbeenshowntodecreasecortisollevelswhichhelpremove
interferencesfromthebodysimmunesystembetterallowingustoheal(17).

Practicegroundingbyreadingabookbeneathatree,goingforalightwalkaroundyouryardwhilebarefoot,
andperformingmeditativeexercisesoutsidesuchasyogawhilealsobarefoot.Youmayalsoconsidereating
wholegroundingfoodsfarmedfromthegroundlikeradishes,sweetpotatoes,beets,andfruits.

7.ChiropracticCare
Theclichthatchiropracticaddslifetoyearsandyearstolifeisnotjustanoldsayingbutstandsontruth.
Althoughthevalidityoftheclaimthatitcanaddyearstolifeisstilldebated,researchshowsthatreceiving
chiropracticcaredoesboosttheimmunesystemresponseanddoesimprovethequalityoflife.

Chiropracticcarecanhelppreventthefrequencyofsicknessandhelpyourecoverfromanillness.

Spinalmanipulationhasbeenshowntoincreasepolymorphonuclearneutrophils(18).Thesecirculating
bloodcellsareoneofthefirstlinesofdefenseagainstinfectiousinvaders.Theseleukocytesenhancethe
functionofimmunecellresponsesthatprotectthebodyagainstdestructiveagents.

Wheninhibitionispresentalongthespine,thenervoussystemisunabletocommunicatewiththeimmune
systemproperly.Chiropracticcarehelpstoremovethisinterferenceoradjustsubluxationsothatthebody
canrepairitself(19).

8.VitaminCsupplementation

VitaminCisanessentialnutrientkeytopromotinghumanhealthandoptimizingimmunefunctionin
numerousways.VitaminChasbeenfoundtoincreaseNADPHpathwayswhicharerequiredbybiological
agentsthatseektodestroypathogens(20).

ItsupportsreactionswhichleadtobothDNAandRNAsynthesis,stabilizeswhitebloodcellcounttohandle
oxidativestressbetterandalsopreventsthedepletionofglutathionefromrecyclingoldvitaminC(21).

SomeofthehighestsourcesofvitaminCperservingarefoundinspinach,leeks,chives,kaleandsweetbell
peppers(7).OtherfoodsrichinvitaminCarelemons,limesandanabundanceofgreenvegetableswhich
alsocontainlowconcentrationsofsugar.
Addthesevegetablestoyourbonebrothsandsoupsforalightandhealthymealtofightinfectionwhilesick
andjuicelemonsandlimesintoyourwaterfrequentlytomaintainoptimalhydration.

TrytoavoidvitaminCsupplementscontainingaddedsugars,artificialcolors,andpreservativeswhichcan
inhibitimmunedefenses.WerecommendSuperC,whichhasa1:1ratioofvitaminCwithcitrus
bioflavonoidsforaddedimmuneandantioxidantbenefits.

Take2gramsofavitaminCsupplementeveryhourthatyouareawakeuntilyoufeelbetter.Thefollowing
daysupplementwith1gramofvitaminCtorestoreyourvitaminClevels.

BonusZincSupplementation

Whileawake,supplementwith20mgzincevery3hoursuntilyoufeelbetter.Thisessentialmineralisvitalto
supportingtheimmunesystembutislargelydepletedduetoinfluencesfromourlifestyles.

Anunhealthydiethighinsugarsandcarbsinhibitszincabsorptionasdophyticacidsfoundingrainsand
legumes.TheoveruseofmedicationsorNSAIDS(nonsteroidalantiinflammatorydrugs)alsoincreasesthe
deficiencyofzincinthebody.

ZincincreasestheperformanceofpowerhouseantioxidantsystemslikeSod(superoxidedismutase)that
protectscellsfromviralinfectionanddamage.Zincincreasetheimmuneresponsetodefendagainst
pathogenicactivityincludingviralreplicationandinhibitsoxidativedamage.Itisparticularlyusefulat
reducinginflammationinthebodybyregulatingtheimmuneresponsetodestructiveactivity.(12)

Incombinationwiththe8wayslistedabove,considerthebenefitsofsupplementingzincintoyourdiet,and
youwillhavefewersickdaysinayear.Especiallyoverthecoolerholidaymonthswhenyouaremore
confinedindoorswithothers,addthesefoodstoyourmealsfortheirzincprotection:

100%grassfedbeef

Wildcaughtsalmon

Pastureraisedchicken

Almonds

Spinach

Asparagus

Darkchocolate

Grassfeddairy

Forfasterresults,useahighqualityzincsupplementation.Theidealformofzincsupplementationiszinc
glycinatewherezincisconnectedtooneortwomoleculesoftheaminoacidglycine.

Glycinehelpswithliverdetoxificationandsupportstheimmunesystem.IpersonallyuseZincCharge,which
isinthezincglycinateform.
Hereareafewremediesforthenexttimeyouhaveacoldorflu!