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<span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Question</strong> </span>– I was thinking of far more entertaining topics than snotty noses, but when my 7th client today called claiming sickness, I went into research mode.
So firstly, is it possible to avoid common colds &amp; flu’s? Sure – avoid sick people!

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Of course for most of us this is simply not possible. We’re continually exposed to a myriad of bugs; in crowded, poorly ventilated offices, with kids who bring home all the <a href="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/jgjggjjg.png"><img class="alignright wp-image-2070 " src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/jgjggjjg-300x285.png" alt="jgjggjjg" width="197" height="187" /></a>new strains, congested social scenes and aeroplanes – just to name a few; bugs are everywhere. There are over 100 different viruses that can result in the common cold. When someone infected coughs &amp; sneezes air-borne droplets spread the infection. Mostly, our personal defence army is good enough to defeat invading intruders. But on occasion when our defensive team is short (and often due to lifestyle choices), invading bugs get a foot hold and for a short time win the battle. Of course in time we recruit back up support and before long we win the war.

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<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>Here’s my top 10 ways you can maintain your army of defence – your immune strength and wellness.</strong></span></h5>
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong> 1. DE-STRESS</strong></span></h5>
Put simply, if you’re seriously under the pump – emotionally, physically or mentally, research strongly suggests your health and wellness is most vulnerable. At this point of hormonal imbalance, I recommend prioritising sleep, having some ‘timeout’, have a massage, go for some easy continuous exercise, yoga or tai-chi. If you feel snowed under, now isn’t the time for high intense training sessions, alcohol benders, sleep deprivation or over-stimulators (energy drinks, excessive coffees, sugar hits etc).
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>2. SLEEP</strong></span></h5>
Sleep is king – I suspect I have said this before. Sleep in my opinion even trumps eating well &amp; exercise – for maintaining general wellness that is. NOTE – 14 beers resulting in passing out doesn’t constitute quality sleep. There is evidence suggesting, fresh lemon in boiling water, turkey, and camomile tea all encourage a deeper sleep. Herbal extracts like valerian also work well. Finally if you want a solid night sleep – avoid sugar pre-bed.
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>3. WASH YOUR HANDS</strong></span></h5>
Research suggests we touch our face over 30 times a day - meaning we’re frequently close to our nose &amp; mouth. Now consider the number of door knobs, keyboards, lift keys, seats, coins, railings etc we touch daily and bingo - we have germs in transit. Get yourself a tub of anti-bacterial hand sanitiser and clean your mitts regularly – particularly before eating.
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>4. GRAB SOME VITAMIN D</strong></span></h5>
Vitamin D is a star – both for your metabolism (keeping that energy tank humming), and for your wellness (immunology). And I’m not talking about taking VitD from a plastic bottle – get outside and grab yourself some rays. Winter in Australian doesn’t mean cold, wet, and dark – go get out there!
<h5><strong>5. EXERCISE AEROBICALLY</strong></h5>
If you’re feeling a little flat and run-down, I certainly do recommend exercise, but be certain to back off your intensity by 20-30%. It’s said that if you’re unwell from the nose up you can still exercise. Throat down – particularly into your chest – it’s no play today.
Exercising at a conservative intensity (relatively speaking) WILL make you feel better. No oxygen - no flame – so get out there!
<h5><strong><span style="color: #008080;">6. GET ALKALINED</span></strong></h5>
Research confirms that modern lifestyles challenge our food choices. Like – consuming too much sugar, sitting lots, and particularly stress, can lead to increasing our body’s acidity – lowering our pH. This can result in ill-health.
http://greenopedia.com/article/alkaline-diets-benefits
Personally, I swear by the alkalising effect of green drinks. I drink a hot spirulina drink, or Vital greens every night. I have done this for 4 years and I’ve hardly suffered a cold since. It’s no Hawaiian cocktail, but I’m convinced it works.
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>7. KEEP ROOMS VENTILATED</strong></span></h5>
When the sun’s out - open up those doors – let those bugs out. Statistics suggest, we (in Sydney) spend up to 30% more time indoors during winter. More time indoors = more potential bugs. Ventilate rooms as best you can.
<h5><strong>8. USE A NASAL PUMP</strong></h5>
This is another ripper. I use this every other week, particularly if I’m training solidly and I can feel a back log of phlegm at nose &amp; throat junction. It’s nothing more than a plastic bottle you fill with saline luke-warm water. Block one nostril and pump that water in. Breathing feels super easy post clean out.
<h5><strong>9. SPICES ARE GOLD</strong></h5>
Growing up my mother would claim ginger &amp; garlic were bug fighters. It turns she out was right. There’s a stack of evidence supporting the germ fighting qualities of these super foods. Load up – again, keep it natural.
Just on supplements, I’m softening as I’m aging. Until lately I have always felt supplements were a waste of coin. But from personal trial and continued research, I suspect it may very well be in our interest to fill in some gaps with a daily multi-vitamin.
<h5><span style="color: #008080;"><strong>10. BELIEF</strong></span></h5>
Winter doesn’t mean colds &amp; flu’s. The weather doesn’t directly have anything to do with it. Maintain your health by ‘de-stressing’, fuelling smartly, exercising at your appropriate intensity and you should be sweet year round.