Colds and flu are truly annoying companions of the winter season. In order to improve our immune system, we resort to taking various nutritional supplements. But is this really the best we can do?
Getting a flu shot can help, but since it doesn't guarantee you won't get the flu, dr. Thomas Phillips, the naturopath at Kinetic Patterns in Vancouver recommends a few more steps to keep our immune system as healthy as possible.
How to strengthen it?
The first way to strengthen the immune system is enough sleep. Research has shown that people who sleep less than seven hours a night have three times more likely to catch the flu or cold. Try to get those precious eight hours of sleep every night!
What about nutritional supplements?
Phillips also spoke about nutritional supplements for the Best Health portal. And in his opinion, you should pay attention to the following.
1. Food supplements with vitamin D
In winter, we don't get as much vitamin D, so we can start to lack it. It is recommended to do a test for vitamins in the body. Only then do we decide on nutritional supplements.
2. Food supplements with vitamin C
Not much research has been done on the benefits of vitamin C, with only one study showing the benefits of this vitamin for a very specific demographic: those exposed to short periods of intense exercise and/or cold temperatures.
3. Nutritional supplements with American straw
According to a study on American straw, it cannot prevent us from getting sick. If taken at the onset of a cold or flu, it can help shorten the duration and lessen the severity of the illness.
4. Dietary supplements with zinc
Zinc is thought to have several potential benefits, such as mild preventative effects that can help shorten the duration and lessen the severity of illness when taken at the onset of a cold or flu.
5. Probiotics
There is also some promising research on probiotics. One of these showed that people taking probiotics had a lower risk of contracting the virus, so in principle probiotic supplements and foods like yogurt could improve the immune system.
One last tip
Of course, nutritional supplements cannot prevent the virus. At most, they can help support our immune system when it is dealing with an illness. That's why it's important to maintain proper hygiene, to reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu. Frequent hand washing and staying at home, when we are sick, are key ways to prevent the spread of germs and keep ourselves and the people around us healthy.
