Healthy after the Holidays (How to not get sick)

I'm feeling inspired to write about this after spending a couple days with many people either currently sick, getting sick, or afraid of getting sick! Yes, it's that time of year again. So here is my immune "recipe," to be taken at first signs of illness, or at times of high exposure. I have had great success with this for everyone in my family. If you are already sick, this will help you get over it quicker, but this is most effective when started immediately after that "coming down with something" feeling.

1. Be extra religious about your regular supplements, which should include whole foods multivitamin/minerals, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and probiotics if you want your body and immune system to function top-notch. Cod Liver Oil contatins omega-3s and vitamin D. 91% of Americans tested have been found to be deficient in vit D, very important for immune function. (We don't get enough sun.) A good probiotic supplement will include multiple strains, not just acidophilus.
2. Take extra vitamin C (I like the emergen-C packets, available at Walmart or grocery store). Take extra zinc (like in Cold-ease)
3.Take extra probiotics (work in many ways to boost immune system and also prevent bad bacteria from taking over by blocking absorption sites in the intestines)
4.Take an immune-boosting supplement that includes echinacea and various other herbs that increase the abilities of your immune system.
5. Take colloidal silver (a homeopathic, fights both bacteria and viruses in the body)
6. Stop eating sugar! (ever noticed a pattern of getting sick after festivities?) Sugar helps the bad bacteria to proliferate and is essentially the "opposite" of probiotics, and also works in many other ways to suppress immune function.
7. Extra antioxidants (like high-antioxidant fruit juices). Also, drink lots of herbal tea! There are even some good ones to match with specific symptoms.
8. Once symptoms are present, take homeopathics to speed healing. Especially continue to take colloidal silver, and if you have flu symptoms take oscillococcinum found in the organic section of your grocery store, it is expensive but works amazing! It is the number one remedy prescribed in Europe, where drug companies don't have the same control over the health care system.

There is a common misconception people have that whether they get sick is based on whether they were adequately exposed to something. In actuality we have viruses and bacteria coming into our bodies all day long, and our immune systems are an AMAZING creation of God. They work in marvelous ways to filter out the bad and keep us healthy. Our modern love affair with drugs overlooks this, and drugs actually decrease immune system function. One easy example of that is Tylenol, since it brings down the fever which is the body's way of cleansing itself. The truth is that in almost all cases we don't have to get sick if we keep our immune systems functioning at their best, giving ourselves plenty of the nutrients needed to do the job. But I have my occasional sugar indulgences too, so it's helpful to have my immune tonics on hand.

Now if my entire recipe sounded foreign to you, just take an immune-boosting supplement and extra vitamin C for now. :)