May Your Winter Be Healthy and Bright
Immune Strength to Prevent Colds and Flu
The winter has come already. It brought here the cold and freezing winds. The sun stays above the horizon for the shortest time of the year, thus days are dark, cold and short. No wonder many of us have been feeling under the weather. Furthermore, the holiday season is here as well. Most of us are stressfully rushing to do holiday shopping after work. In addition, we are exposed to low temperature, chilly winds, dusty and dry rooms. All of this can weaken our immune system quite easily. How can we go through this intense period of the year and remain healthy and in a good spirit? There are many ways for our body and mind to stay in a good shape. Let me share with you the most important ones I believe we would like to keep in mind.
First of all, please do sing a very well known song: “Always Look at the Bright Side of Your Life.” Do you know it? I bet you do. Do you remember Jack Nicholson singing it in the movie “As good as it gets”? If not, just go on YouTube and listen to the song. When singing, please make sure you have a good level of vitamin D. How can you tackle the lowering level of this vital substance? Very easy indeed. Go to a tanning place and ask for the least strong tanning bed, lie down and enjoy weekly dose of 7-10 minute-sunbath for about 4 sessions every other winter month. This extra light energy, as a result, may help you not only to increase your vitamin D level but also to improve or even eliminate the feeling of SAD-ness (Seasonal Affection Disorder).
“What if I am sun sensitive? What if I do not like tanning places?” – you may ask. Then take about 5,000 IU of liquid vitamin D every day. If you go to see your doctor for annual well person check-up, most likely you know your blood level of this vitamin (25-OH-D3). If you take multivitamin daily, chances are that you already have a certain amount of vitamin D in it. Add pure D to make it sum-up to about 5,000 IU and enjoy its positive effects. If you are a woman at menopause, get liquid vitamin D3 with K2 as this may help your bones. Please do not forget to supplement your body with additional calcium and magnesium, especially if you do not eat too much dairy products. The research on vitamin D have shown much lower risk of catching cold or flu or cancer, but also it may improve your mood, your bones. All in all, it may lower chance for development of many chronic illnesses. It is a great investment that will pay back with better health for many years to go.
Next, make sure you do at least 10 minutes of daily stretches. Open a window and let fresh air to come into a room where you exercise for about 5 – 10 minutes before beginning your daily routine. Do not hesitate, do not procrastinate, just do it. If you add a 5-minute dance to the favorite song, you can certainly improve the way you feel within quarter of an hour. Just 15 minutes everyday and you already are on the path to the higher level of health. This simple morning routine can help your body to relax, your digestion to improve, and your body discomforts to go away. Most noteworthy, your mood may eventually improve. There is a great body of research on this positive effect of exercises on your mental-emotional and physical wellness.
Finally, make yourself drinking at least 64 ounces of pure water daily. The best could be the spring water from the local sources. Just read labels on a bottle and choose a spring that is the closest to your home. The heating systems can make your mouth dry, your skin dehydrated and itchy. A paraben- and alcohol-free skin moisturizer may be a very good way to avoid these irritations. You may try to use oils like coconut or avocado as great natural moisturizers. Many cremes and lotions contain paraben and alcohol which frequently make your skin dry sooner or later after the application.
Thank you for taking time reading these short health tips from a doc who cares about your health.
Wishing to You All Wonderful and Happy Holidays!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Dr. D 😇