Winter is officially here. One thing more certain than the weather this time of year is "catching bugs," and I don't mean insects. The truth is, there is no "flu season." This might shock some folks, but the reality is that this is the time of year that our immune systems are put to the test.

Our bodies are always balancing homeostasis, and our immune system is a huge part of this. As the cold weather rolls in, our body has to allocate and balance resources to maintain homeostasis. Unfortunately, this can also lead to weaknesses in other areas, such as fighting germs.
Add to the fact that approximately 70% of our body's immune response is determined by natural gut flora. So if you have a history of antibiotic use, or even a diet rich in sugars and processed foods, you should keep in mind that your gut flora is only as useful as what we put into our bodies.

The holidays are an easy time to eat extra sugary treats starting with halloween and going through valentine's day and easter. Mirroring the supposed "flu season"... it's no coincidence.

The best prevention is not a flu shot, believe it or not. In fact the last couple of years the success of the flu shot in preventing flu symptoms is horribly low. What makes this worse is that out of all the patients we see, those who end up getting the flu were typically the ones who got the shot that year.

The best prevention is to make your immune system as healthy, vital, and capable as possible. This is done through maintaining a diet that supports gut flora (think probiotics… and food sources are always more effective than just supplementing. Go for the fermented foods and drinks like kombucha, kefir, mix apple cider vinegar into your water, sour kraut, and even pickles as long as they aren’t made with vinegar). Get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night (shown to boost immune function by up to 40%). Finally, take supplements as needed to fill in the gaps where your diet lacks (specifically vitamin D and vitamin C.)

Take these steps, and you will be enjoying the holidays during this “flu season.”