HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK
Tips to stay healthy in cold and flu season
carolSIMONTACCHI csimontacchi@earthlink.net
The Winter Snows are coming. Well, not here, thank goodness. That is why we live here, isn't it? No snow, ice, or sleet. No freezing temperatures. No chipping the ice off your windshield in the mornings. Just bright skies and balmy weather. Aaahhh…

But just because we do not struggle with drastic seasonal weather changes, we still get sick in the fall. With the change of weather, perhaps? When I moved to Florida several years ago, I was amazed that people actually catch a cold in warm Florida. They also catch the flu and other assorted winter ailments.

Well, this column is about prevention, and I would love to help you avoid getting sick this fall. My flu-prevention program is a combination of lifestyle, diet, and supplements. For the most part, it works great.

No. 1:. Get plenty of sleep. At least eight hours of deep sleep in a dark room each night gives the body the opportunity to heal. Sleep reduces a stress response, which also aids the immune system. While we are on the subject of stress, reduce it.

No. 2: Avoid sugar. Ouch! That one hurts, but we know that sugar disables the immune system for several hours. Yanking your sweet tooth may be particularly difficult as we approach the holidays but keep your diet low in sugar, if possible. When you attend an event at which you know you'll be faced with a dessert table, eat well before you go so you are not hungry.

No. 3: Beef up your supplement program to compensate for your less-than-perfect lifestyle. Some of my favorites are elderberry extract, olive leaf extract, mushroom extracts, royal jelly, and combinations of herbals and nutrients specifically designed for the immune system. I take some of these each day to prevent problems but if I feel something "coming on," I get aggressive with my program. Usually, if I take enough of the herbals and start soon enough, I can prevent any illness from "taking hold."

Obviously, you may need to check with your health care practitioner if you have an existing medical condition or have a tendency toward allergies, but generally speaking, herbal immune formulas have a large margin of safety.

For sinus and upper respiratory infections, try the neti pot with a little salt water. It is an amazing device that really does help with sinus congestion.

- Carol Simontacchi is the owner of the

Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel. She can

be reached at 472-4499 or on the Web at

www.islandnutritioncenter.metaehealth.com.