Flickr:shutterbugMike

by Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP

1. Add coconut oil to your diet. Experts have found coconut oil to be the most powerful, natural remedy to help wipe out viruses. This is due to monolauric acid, which is the same fatty acid that is also found in breast milk. It helps to attack germs such as staph, strep and even influenza. Just add 3 tablespoons to your daily diet, in a drink or in your favorite baking recipe.

2. Load up on vitamin C. Research has shown that vitamin C can actually stop the acceleration of cold symptoms right in their tracks. People who take 500 mg of vitamin C 4-6 times per day the moment they start feeling sick have a greater chance of recovering faster than those who do not. Additionally, folks who take vitamin C on a daily basis get 45% fewer colds than the average person.

3. Keep your lungs clear…with a song! Studies have shown that singing out loud can actually boost your immunity, stimulate deep breathing and increase the amount of health-boosting oxygen in your system. It also helps to dramatically increase your blood’s level of immune cells. So put on your ipod, crank up the volume and belt out your favorite tune for everyone (or just the shower walls) to hear!

Flickr: panemiele_elisabetta

4. Eat yogurt! Research has found that yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, vitamins and calcium. Just ¾ cup serving daily can reduce your risk for the common cold by 25%. Try adding a fruit like blueberries to add extra vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which all help boost your immune response.

5. Play a game. Stimulating your brain’s cerebral cortex boosts the number of immune cells in your body. A great way to do this is by playing a challenging, thought-provoking game such as monopoly, bridge, solitaire, checkers, chess or even Life. All of these games require memory, planning, initiative and judgment- all of which take place in the cerebral cortex.

Flickr: mtsofan

6. Massage away a cold. Using your index and middle finger, rub your forehead and scalp for up to 15 minutes. A massage helps to boost your levels of white blood cells, which are the cells used to fight germs. At the same time, a massage decreases your levels of stress hormones known as cortisol, which destroys important immune cells. According to the director of women’s health at the Chopra Center in California, a 20 minute massage daily is enough to ease symptoms and reduce the need for medication in patients with respiratory tract infections.

For more information and ideas on staying healthy this winter, visit sites such as patient-health-education.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_stay_healthy_this_winter and womansworldmag.com.