Now, I get sick about once every two years (if that), and it's always because I didn't get enough sleep for several days leading up to catching something, but let me tell you why I am so resistant to getting sick now.
It's actually quite simple. It might not be easy, but it's really simple.
The main thing comes down to the health and balance of your gut flora, which represents about 80% of your immune system (and your mood, how thin or fat you are, and much, much more, but that’s another post…).
When I refer to gut flora, I’m talking about the trillions of bacteria in your small and large intestines, which communicate with your brain and your heart through using and producing neurotransmitters. Some of these are "good" bacteria and some are "bad" bacteria, kind of like we have "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol. Both are necessary, but a balance is crucial.
The following are the seven most effective ways I have found to avoid catching those all bugs going around, especially during the cold and flu season, which tends to be from September through February.
I’m not saying these are the best ways for you, but it certainly has worked for me and it’s based on years of experience and research. In fact, if you Google any of these tips, you will find more research references that you would ever want to read.
As I already mentioned, gut health is the most important factor, so you will see that several of these steps also nourish the gut flora and optimize their balance.
I wash my hands often. I am somewhat of a microphobe anyway, but shaking hands with someone who is sick (or is coming down with something and doesn’t know it yet) is a great way to acquire their virus or bacteria. It’s not just about having the virus or bacteria on your hand of course. Unless you have a scrape or cut, the presence of the virus or bacteria on your hand won’t make you sick. It’s when you take that hand and wipe your face that allows it to get into your body through your nose, mouth or eyes. And by the way, avoid hand sanitizers if at all possible. Water and soap are much better for many reasons, and be sure to scrub with suds for at least 20 seconds.
I get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night. I’m a workaholic, so it’s hard for me to put work down and go to bed, but I force myself because if I get less than seven hours of sleep I have found that I am much more likely to catch a bug, especially if I sleep crappy for several nights in a row.
I drink 3 to 5 quarts of filtered water per day (my favorite filter is the Zero water brand). Viruses and bacteria thrive in dehydrated tissues, but they “drown” easily and can get washed out easily too. Organic tea also counts as water, so you can use those ounces toward your tally. If you like tea, turmeric can be a potent immune boost too.
I eat lots of organic green vegetables. I get most of my nutrients from greens and these vitamins and minerals strengthen my immune system to help me fight off bugs. Another reason green vegetables are so important is it keeps my digestive system healthy and gut flora happy. Junk food, starches and especially sugars, are the preferred fuel for viruses and bacteria. This is why people who eat crappy food get sick so often, and why people who eat organic, clean food stay well most of the time.
Seaweed is another green vegetable that is very helpful to your immune system because it has lots of blood-cleaning iodine.
Fermented vegetables provide tons of probiotics – even more than the pill supplements, so that’s a great way to nourish your gut microbiome. Sauerkraut is my favorite source and it comes in many flavors nowadays, so even if you don’t “like” sauerkraut, you will likely find a flavor that works for you. It typically comes from cabbage (a green vegetable) but it can be made from other vegetables as well. All you need is a heaping spoonful per day, so even if you can’t find a flavor you like, just one big bite per day is all you need.
I take lots of vitamin D3 and K2. Vitamin D3 is a powerful immune booster and vitamin K2 encourages absorption of vitamin D3. I normally take 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day and 50 mcg of vitamin K2. If I feel a bug coming on, I bump up my vitamin D3 to 50,000 IU and K2 to 200 mcg. I rarely feel bugs coming on and sometimes that’s probably not even what’s happening, but taking this precaution is a great choice because there really is no downside. Another thing I do if I sense a bug might be trying to get a hold of me is to take 30 mg of zinc every day.
I take 1000 mg of liposomal vitamin C (Mercola.com is my favorite) every morning and every evening. Liposomal vitamin C is specially encapsulated so more of it gets through the hostile acidic digestive system and into the cells that need it.
My attitude is as important as any other aspect. Visualizing health and wellness with a positive attitude is a powerful defense. Using positive phrasing is also very important. What I mean by that is, telling yourself, “I feel healthy and well” can actually keep you well. Most people though, make the mistake of saying or thinking, “I don’t want to get sick,” which actually makes that much more likely to happen. We truly become what we think about, so thinking of what you DO want instead of what you DON’T want will help you get what you do want. You can probably tell that this philosophy spills over into many other areas of life, but that topic is for another post – or heck – a whole book…
I also have a certain procedure I follow before and after a flight, seminar, crowded party, or anytime I’m in a contained area with lots of people because some will invariably have a bug they may or may not even know about at the time. In that case, I take the supplements found in the post listed below, as well as extra sauerkraut and organic seaweed. On a flight, if there is someone nearby with a bad cough or cold, I also have a mask I wear, but that might be going a little too far for most people, especially if you care about what others think of you.
If you are already sick and want to get well, fast, see my post on that: "Peege’s 7 Top Tips to Get Well Fast."