Statistically speaking, most of us will get at least one cold this year, but who wants to be a statistic?
Each new year, we pledge to transform our bodies, improve our careers, dump toxic friends, organise our homes and develop new hobbies. We dedicate ourselves to doing more – more exercise, more work, more activities and social engagements. On its face, striving for more sounds pretty good. But it also has a dark side that we need to resist. When we start doing too much, it can have a negative impact on our overall health and we can be struck down by a cold or another unpleasant virus. This new year, how about starting with this simple health pledge?
Repeat after me: This winter I’m not getting a cold.
It sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? It’s perfectly attainable too. With just a few changes to your health, home, and hygiene habits, you can stay strong and win the battle to keep colds and other nasties at bay this winter.
Can you prevent a cold when you feel it coming?
If you have a cold, you can start spreading it from as early as a few days before your symptoms start right up until your symptoms finish.
To reduce the risk of catching a cold, the advice given by the NHS is:
- Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap (It doesn’t have to be a fancy anti-bac soap; regular soap is just as good, effective at removing and killing bacteria, providing you scrub and rinse well.)
- Use a tissue or handkerchief to trap germs when you cough or sneeze – always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Honestly, the number of people I’ve observed in supermarkets, especially coughing and sneezing without using a tissue or sleeve is astonishing. You’d think with all the information we had on how to stop the spread of germs during the pandemic that some of it would have stuck!
- Make sure you dispose of used tissues as quickly as possible.
In addition to these steps, some of the best ways to avoid catching a cold are as follows:
- Avoid sharing towels or household items, like glasses or cups with other people in your house.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Try to avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose as this is the most common way the virus can infect your body.
- Stay fit and healthy by eating well and keeping active.
- Get a good night’s sleep to further support your immune system.
- Stay hydrated – drink plenty of plain, ideally room temperature water.
- Stay warm – dress appropriately for the weather to avoid exposure to cold.
- Get plenty of fresh air, especially on brighter, sunnier days.
- Incorporate stress-reducing activities like meditation and deep breathing into your daily routine.
- Keep surfaces clean with natural disinfectants like white vinegar, known for its acidic properties, hydrogen peroxide, citrus extracts, tea-tree oil, lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint, all of which have anti-bacterial properties.
- Take your supplements, especially probiotics (Live Bacteria and/or For Women), Omega 3 fish oil capsules, Garlic tablets, a good Vitamin D supplement (one that includes Vitamin K for better absorption) and a good all-round multivitamin/mineral supplement. In winter, I adapt my supplement armoury to ensure my immune system is well supported and I stay fit and healthy. I explain about the supplements I take in this video.
- Eat honey – If you can stretch your pennies a bit further, buy bio-active honey. I’ve been taking this natural, unfiltered honey for many years now. This honey has been tested at the University of Sheffield for its anti-microbial benefits. Don’t pay silly prices for ‘Manuka’ honey. Honey has anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects that may help combat infections, and it can be very effective in improving the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. For decades, my mum has been having a teaspoon of honey every morning. Honey also creates a thin film over the mucous membranes, which may help relieve throat pain and inflammation. To help ease a sore throat or cough, try stirring a tablespoon of honey into a cup of hot water or tea, or even better a cup of our Tummy Tea. However, honey is not suitable for children under 12 months due to the risk of contracting a rare but serious infection called infant botulism.
- If you feel run down and are prone to infections, take some echinacea and consider getting some complementary therapies like acupuncture, reflexology, and aromatherapy to strengthen your defences.
And remember, don’t do anything that you don’t want to do, or you think might just be too much of a stretch. Staying busy is often seen as a badge of honour and a marker of self-worth, with a lack of leisure time viewed as a direct indication of status. However, over-scheduling ourselves to the point where we are always busy can negatively affect our physical and emotional wellness, also impacting our ability to maintain healthy relationships. If we are so busy that we’re unable to practise self-care, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy our free time, it can have a harmful effect on our overall wellbeing, and we can end up catching a cold or coming down with a debilitating virus. Disconnecting from work or unnecessary obligations and deliberately resting and taking time for ourselves can significantly boost our quality of life.
Get off your devices too! Too many people are becoming addicted to their smart phones and tablets, so much so that they are missing the beauty of what’s around them. I will hold my hand up and admit that when my granddaughter, Jessie, comes to stay, I can be on my smart phone, checking emails when I should be concentrating on her, so if I have a new year’s resolution, that is it – cut down on device time!
Let’s make 2024 a year of balance! There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to a balanced lifestyle, despite what you may read. Everyone’s bodies and minds respond in different ways; the most important thing is that you are getting the balance that works for you, and it’s crucial that you find the balance that you enjoy. Don’t be hard on yourself – everyone has their own journey to take. Being healthy and staying well doesn’t always happen overnight, but each little change we make is a step in the right direction. If we get lost and come down with a cold, it isn’t a disaster, we just need to read the signals, and then carry on, making the necessary tweaks to our balance.
Keep it simple this year and be kind to yourself.
If you would like to know more about a supplement protocol to help you stay well over the winter months and beyond, please get in touch.
