Unfortunately, this is the time of year that kids and adults alike start to feel the effects of cold and flu season. With that, I want to give two quick tips you can implement to be preventative in staying healthy this winter season.
Vitamin D3 & K2: I take an enormous amount of vitamin D throughout the winter months. This is a necessary vitamin for your immune system to work properly. Because we are not out in the sun nearly as much in the winter, it must be supplemented. When taken with food (fat) as well as Vitamin K2, it absorbs into your body much better. I personally take 10,000 IU of vitamin D every day throughout the winter months as a preventative measure to not getting sick. Holding the vitamin D in your mouth for 10-20 seconds before swallowing also makes it absorb more into the mucosa in your mouth. That’s why I recommend a liquid form or dissolvable pills that stay in your mouth instead of the hard gels.
Maintaining a well-balanced Nerve System: What is your nerve system? It’s primarily your brain and brainstem. The brainstem controls an area of your nerve system called the Autonomic Nerve System (ANS). This ANS is what controls your immune system! So, the more stressed your brainstem and ANS are, the more it downregulates your immune system. Thus, making you more susceptible to colds and flus. The easiest and most accurate way to measure the state of your ANS is through technology called Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The more we get stressed through the holiday season, the more strain it puts on our immune system.
If you’re interested in getting a snapshot of where your HRV score is and seeing your “stress test,” I am offering a complimentary HRV screening to anyone who calls and mentions this article. The test itself takes about 5 minutes and the appointment would last about 15 minutes total. This is a fantastic way to see what state your ANS is in for the upcoming cold and flu season and to see if your immune system is up to the task! Our office number is 402.504.4676 and we’re located just North of 204th and Dodge in Elkhorn.
Have a great and healthy holiday season!
