It’s never too early to safeguard your body against getting sick. A constant runny nose and a nagging cough are no fun. There are certain measures you can take to sharpen your immune system.

A simple but important note to remember; cold weather does not cause you to get sick, germs do. The cold weather just reduces your body’s ability to fight the microbes that cause colds and flus.

1- Washing your hands drastically cuts down on the nasty germs that cause you to take ill. Don’t concern yourself with all those anti-bacterial products. Plain soap will do the trick.

2- Drink alcohol in moderation. Excessive drinking lowers the immune response.

3- Get a flu shot. The start of the flu seasons runs from September to mid November.

4- Reduce stress levels. Studies imply that uncontrolled stress increases certain hormones that suppress the immune system. One sure fire way to manage stress is to exercise. Aerobic exercise (jogging, biking and stair-climbing) 30 continuous minutes a day, three times a week, will produce desired results. Consult a trained exercise professional for proper intensity levels.

5- Consider certain herbal supplements. I have found success with Echinacea. Echinacea has been known to reduce cold symptoms and shorten a cold’s duration. The trick is to take Echinacea several times a day at the first indication of a cold symptom. Echinacea is not attended for long-term use. When your cold symptoms dissipate, discontinue using Echinacea.

6- Nutrition is a key element in keeping a strong immune system. Supplying your body with junk food denies your body of precious nutrients. This could result in a drop in your immune system. Eating a balance diet of mostly fruits and veggies will supply your body with a much-needed boost of vitamins and minerals.

7- If you’re thinking of supplementing your diet try the mineral zinc. 25mg to 50 mg of zinc a day will suffice. Zinc increases the amount of T cells in your body. T cells play a vital factor in your body’s immune system. Good food sources of zinc include shellfish, poultry and whole grains.

8- The finally piece of the puzzle is catching enough Z’s. When the body is denied sleep the body’s production of a type of white blood cells that fight off microbes, slows down. No matter how well you cover the other areas of your health, sleep deprivation will cause an eventual breakdown in your immune system.

Shoot for a strong eight hours of sleep a night.

Until next time stay healthy and fit!!

Jerry Del Priore

JDelPri311@aol.com