September 23, 2017 – As cold weather approaches there are things we look forward to, and some we don’t. Getting a cold is on everyone’s “not so fond of” list. The sneezing, sniffling, stuffed up, scratchy throat feeling “ain’t no fun at all”.

More often than not, all those precautions we should have taken come to mind after we get sick.  So we’re offering a few tips we’ve found online, early in the season, hoping they’ll help you avoid catching a cold altogether.

1. You cannot wash your hands too often. Well, maybe there’s a limit, but a few extra hand washes a day can’t hurt. Especially if you’re out in public, and you come in contact with things that other people have touched i.e. gas pump handles, door handles, shopping carts, etc.
2. Don’t forget to eat your phytochemicals. Don’t be alarmed! Phytochemicals are present in dark green, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables. They’re also found in whole grains, nuts, beans, and tea. Phytochemicals are a natural way to help your body fight off disease and illness, including colds and infections.
3. Just relax! Stress is not your friend. It can weaken your body’s ability to fight against germs and disease by suppressing your immune system. We know a wonderful way to relax. Take a relaxing nighttime soak in a Hot Spring Spa!  You’ll feel centered, shrug off the day’s stress, and have a better, more restless night’s sleep. Bonus: a soak in a hot tub helps promote the healthy production of interleukin, the stalwarts of your immune system that help your body keep disease at bay.
4. Smoking is for chimneys. Among the myriad bad effects tied to smoking, puffing away can seriously hamper your immune system. Smoking will dry out your nose, and can paralyze your cilia…some experts say up to 30-40 minutes. And what are cilia, you ask? They’re very fine hairs that line the mucous membranes in your lungs and nose. They help your body defend itself against cold and flu viruses by expelling them through your nasal passages.
5. Sauna is good! Saunas tend to elevate your body’s core temperature. The extra heat from an infrared or traditional steam sauna makes you sweat and that creates a “false fever”. This wakes up your body’s natural defenses and compels them to guard against cold and flu viruses. And it’s wonderful for your immune system.  If you start to feel like you getting a cold or the flu…a sauna session might help you fight against the illness preemptively, or shorten the life cycle of your illness.

Have a healthy fall and winter!