Strategies to Help Support Your Family's Immune System This Year

​Immune health has been a big topic over the past two years. The average adult contracts a common
cold virus approximately 2-4 times per year, a school aged child approximately 6 times, and an infant
as many as 8 times per year. In regular times, it is estimated that 40% of time lost from work and 30%
of school absences are due to the common cold.

 Nutrients such as zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D and probiotics have been shown by numerous studies to
reduce the likelihood, length and severity of flu and cold symptoms. These nutrients do this with
minimal or no side effects at all – they are typically safe supplements; however, there are certain
factors that determine which dose is going to be the most therapeutic for each person. This may
include obtaining blood work to identify true deficiencies such as for Vitamin D levels. In Canada, a
large percentage of the population has been found to be deficient in Vitamin D. This is largely due to
our latitude and distance from the sun. Some studies have found age and gender to also contribute.
Populations that are at most risk include over 50 and breastfed infants. While Canadians are typically
exposed to more of the correct type of sunlight in the summer months, some may still require
supplementation.

There are also lifestyle and dietary factors that reduce the likelihood of lingering cold and flu
symptoms. And for added and protection, when you are feeling vulnerable or just noticing a lot of
illness around you, we offer an injectable version of these nutrients that bypass ‘s the digestive system
to increase absorption.

Other ways to protect yourself and your family include:
1. Wash your hands frequently especially before meals - cold viruses can live for several hours on
hard surfaces such has door handles and telephones.
2. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your elbow to protect those around you and to prevent
spread.
3. Increase your consumption of nutrient dense vegetables – at least one from each category each
day: leafy green, brassica (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts), and something
colourful (peppers, beets, carrots).
4. Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates – sugar decreases our immune system for
approximately five hours after consumption, if more than one serving is consumed per day,
think about how much of a role that is playing in your immune health.

5. Get a good night’s sleep – each hour you’re asleep before midnight counts as an extra hour!
Who couldn’t use an extra hour of sleep each night?!

While exposure to bacteria and viruses are a normal part of daily living, there are ways to help build
strong immune systems. If you do start to feel rundown, taking certain precautions can help reduce
the number of days you experience symptoms. Specific strategies are available to keep your family
healthy throughout the year.