It’s almost impossible to avoid cold and flu germs at work and home during the winter months. To help give you the best chance of staying well this winter, we talked to Janeen Howard, natural health practitioner for GO Healthy NZ. She shares her top tips below.
How can we reduce exposure to cold and flu germs at work and home?
Wash your hands often. Also, ensure you follow a nutritious diet to further bolster immune system and help strengthen your defences. Supplement your daily diet with a quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement. Protect yourself by taking immune supporting supplements.
How long does it take to get over a cold or the flu?
Symptoms can last from one to two weeks. However, these days we lead such a busy lifestyle that we often soldier on and work through them. This can often lengthen the duration of the symptoms since we are not resting.
If already sick, what can we do to reduce symptoms and help the body heal faster?
When you do succumb to an immune challenge, the best thing to do is rest, stay hydrated and allow your body’s immune defences to go into battle. There are a number of key ingredients and supplements that will help reduce the duration and severity of a cold or flu.
Drink lots of fluid, such as this water, hot lemon and honey drink.
What food and beverages can help hurry along the healing process?
Drink lots of fluid, such as water, hot lemon and honey drinks, soups and herbal teas. Stay away from sugar and sugary drinks. If you need sugar, swap it for manuka honey instead.
Eat small nutritious meals, avoiding large meals; big meals can take a lot of energy to digest. Use plenty of garlic in cooking; garlic is fantastic for the immune system, but also works as a natural decongestant. Fruits and vegetables are not only good for general health and wellbeing, energy levels and digestive system, but are also generally high in Vitamin C.
GO Healthy GO Vir-Defence ($29.90) and GO Immune Protect ($29.90).
What natural cold and flu remedies do you recommend?
Prevention is always the best option. Be prepared and take immune supporting supplements throughout the winter season to really strengthen your defences. However, if a cold or flu hit, herbs and nutrients like Echinacea, Garlic, Olive Leaf, Vitamin C and Zinc are key for building immunity.
I recommend GO Healthy’s GO Vir-Defence ($29.90) and GO Immune Protect ($29.90). The GO Vir-Defence has been specifically designed to help the body recover from colds and flus, and contains all the key immune boosting ingredients; Echinacea, Olive Leaf, Vitamin C, Garlic, Zinc, and Elderberry. GO Immune Protect is a daily probiotic supplement that has been scientifically researched and proven to reduce symptoms and duration of cold and flu.
Take a look at five superfoods you should be eating here.
Image:bauersyndication.com.au.
