3 tips for staying healthy during flu season

We're halfway through the NBA season, which also means we are halfway through cold and flu season. At the height of basketball season, I am performing at up to 3 games a week and I have to do all I can to stay healthy. I rely mostly on a balanced diet and exercise to avoid getting sick but I've also learned some tips (besides getting a flu shot) along the way that tend to work for me. Whether you have a big event coming up or just want to make it through the work week without sniffling, I hope these tips can help you stay healthy too.

Photo courtesy of @ncoskyphoto

wheatgrass

I started taking Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Tablets daily three years ago after a 65-year old florist with radiant, youthful skin told me it was his secret to staying healthy, energized and wrinkle-free. According to the Mayo Clinic, wheatgrass provides a concentrated amount of nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, C and E. Wheatgrass lovers like myself believe its rich nutrient content boosts immunity, kills harmful bacteria in the digestive system, and rids the body of wastes. I've noticed a significant difference in my energy levels and have also noticed a significant decrease in the frequency in which I've gotten sick. I love taking my supplement every morning before eating breakfast as it does a great job of resetting my digestion system for the rest of the day.

As recommended, I take 5 Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass pills every morning with a full glass of water. You can buy these at Whole Foods, online at Thrive Market or any vitamin store. I recommend checking in with your doctor before using wheatgrass or any other new supplement.

zicam nasal swabs

I swear by Zicam Nasal Swabs for zapping colds right as they begin. Zicam Nasal Swabs are clinically proven to shorten the length of a cold when taken at the first sign of a cold. It contains Galphimia glauca 4x, Luffa operculata 4x, Sabadilla 4x which is believed to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold. I begin using them as soon as I notice my throat is scratchy (my bodies way of telling me I'm getting sick) and almost always feel like my illness is cut in half. 

As recommended, I use one tube every three hours from the first sign of a cold through the duration. You can buy these at any grocery or drug store.

cutting out alcohol

At the time I am writing this, I have five days left of Dry January. I started out January feeling lethargic and burnt out with a double ear infection, and I'm ending January with boundless energy and most importantly, illness-free. While I don't completely attribute this to Dry January, I do think cutting out alcohol and the corresponding late nights of partying have helped me stay illness-free for the remainder of January.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol can interfere with your body’s ability to produce cytokines, or chemicals that help fight off infections. This can suppress your immune system causing you to become more susceptible to illness. This makes sense to me because I've always woken up with my worst colds after a night out drinking.

Cutting out alcohol has also been proven to increase your quality of sleep and boost your metabolism, all of which help you avoid illness or get healthy fast. I've noticed a difference in my health since cutting out alcohol and you may too.

What do you do to stay healthy during flu season? Let me know in the comments below!

Note: I am not a doctor and my opinions are not endorsed by a medical professional. Consult your doctor before beginning or altering any part of your wellness routine.