Avoiding Colds and Flu

Fall has arrived and with the change in season comes the returning threat of "seasonal" illnesses like colds and flus. Have you ever wondered why there is such a thing as "seasonal" illness? Why would viruses and bacteria only come around during the fall and winter months? They don't - this is a MYTH!

The truth is that we are exposed to viruses and bacteria every day of our lives; the thing determining who gets sick and who stays well is NOT the presence of the viruses or bacteria – it is the state of our IMMUNE FUNCTION. In other words it is not the seed it is the soil. This has been shown to be true many times, perhaps one of the best known studies was by Cohen et al. in 1991 where they exposed ALL subjects to the cold virus but only those who were "stressed" developed a cold! (Cohen, S. et al. Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. N. Engl. J Med 1991 Aug 29; 325 (9); 606-612).

The state, or fitness, of our immune system is influenced by two main variables. The first is the amount of stressors in our lives; and thus the amount of neurobiochemical down-regulation of our immune system via our sympathetic nervous system and stress hormones - i.e. cortisol and catecholamines (adrenaline).

Clearly the amount of stress in our lives is NOT SEASONAL, this is why many people still get colds and flus in the summer months. So why do MORE people get colds and flus in the fall and winter months? What is a seasonal variable that can explain a significant change in our immune function? Vitamin D! (Aloia JF, Li-Ng M. Re: epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2007 Oct;135(7):1095-6; author reply 1097-8.)

Humans require sunlight exposure to produce Vitamin D and during the fall and winter months we simply reduce the amount of sun exposure and thus reduce the amount of Vitamin D. Why is this important? Because a sufficient level of Vitamin D is ESSENTIAL to maintain immune function! This is the second variable that influences the state, or fitness, of our immune system – being sufficient in the raw materials our immune system requires to function properly.

So, during the fall and winter months (and the rest of the year when we are inside or covered with clothing or sunscreen outside) we simply do not get enough sun exposure to produce enough Vitamin D. This vitamin D deficiency leads to reduced immune function and thus makes us more susceptible to colds and flus. REMEMBER, most industrialized humans do not get enough sun exposure even in the summer months. This has led to a pandemic of Vitamin D deficiency and increases in cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders and recurrent colds and flus.

Here are some simple steps to keep you healthier not just during the winter but all year, and all life, long.

1. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure sufficient levels of micronutrients.
2. Avoid refined sugar. Your immune cells require Vitamin C to work properly. Glucose (sugar) and Vitamin C are almost identical; in fact most animals can produce their own Vitamin C from glucose (this is why tigers don't get scurvy!). However, human animals cannot – we need to consume Vitamin C. The problem is that we have no genetic defence against consuming too much sugar. Because glucose and Vitamin C are so similar, glucose can attach to the Vitamin C receptors on the immune cells and block Vitamin C. This causes a deficiency in Vitamin C for the immune cells and they do not work properly. This is why sugar decreases your immune function. The solution is NOT to consume large amounts of synthetic Vitamin C supplements – the solution is to consume LESS refined sugar (glucose).
3. Supplement with vitamin D drops or Cod Liver Oil.
4. Exercise regularly. Research clearly shows that exercise increases your immune function.
5. Reduce your emotional stress – learn a relaxation technique like meditation or mind quieting.
6. Reduce your physical stress. Research shows that physical stressors like poor posture and vertebral subluxation complex also increase stress hormones which can down regulate immune function. Research also shows that getting chiropractic adjustments can lower stress hormone levels and increase immune function! GET ADJUSTED!