Photo by:  divemasterking2000

• The season is upon us with all the hustle and bustle starting to happen.  All the running around making sure you have a present for little Timmy and Aunt Martha can become quite stressful.  Gathering with family and friends also becomes an ideal time for germs to spread causing illness.  Nobody likes being stressed or ill during what is suppose to be a festive time.
• There are some effortless means of protecting yourself that can help make your holiday an enjoyable experience.  All it takes is turning the suggestions into a habit, like brushing your teeth.

Suggested ways to protect yourself from becoming stressed and sick are:

1. Take supplemental vitamin C everyday. This vitamin is an antioxidant and also aids in the production of antistress hormones.  Vitamin C protects against infection, improves the immunity, and helps to prevent cancer.  It is recommended, for maximum effectiveness, to divide the dose taken, twice daily.  I personally take 1,000 mgs. daily.  A highly effective form of the vitamin is esterified vitamin C (Ester-C).  Ester-C can be easier on the stomach.  It is best not to use chewable vitamin C supplements due to the possibility of damaging tooth enamal.
2. Take supplemental vitamin D everyday. It is being discovered there are many people who are quite deficient in vitamin D, especially older adults.  It is a fat soluble vitamin having properties of both a vitamin and a hormone.  Vitamin D enhances immunity, helps in the prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer, and is essential for thyroid function and normal blood clotting.  There are several forms of vitamin D.  The source that is considered the natural form and most active is D3 (cholecalciferal).  A precaution one should consider is to not take vitamin D without calcium.  Another precaution is to not take an excessive amount of vitamin D.  The result can be a possible toxic build-up.
3. Exercise daily. It can be as easy as walking 30 minutes a day or try getting 10,000 steps a day into your daily routine.  Through exercise the circulation of nutrients and cellular immune components are increased.  Increasing the circulation of blood and lymph fluids is healthy for the mind, heart, body, and spirit, and also the immune system.  Exercise will also help with stressful feelings.
4. Get proper sleep. Most people do well with 6-8 hours of sleep.  Anything less that that can be stressful on the body.  A possible break down of the immune system from a lack of sleep can bring on illness.  Proper rest can help one destress.

• There are many other supplements to help build a strong immune system.  I am using the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple style) method to not overwhelm anyone.  Once these suggestions become daily habits you may want to consider adding other supplements that are antioxidant and immune boosters.  Eating a balanced meal of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is also an important component to keeping yourself healthy during a busy stressful time.

Happy Healthy Holidays

References:

Prescription for Nutritional Healing; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

Staying Healthy with Nutrition; Elson M. Haas, M.D.

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