6 minute read
Health
Four Ways to Prevent the Flu
By Dr. Stephanie M. Seitz, ND, MT
Many people recognize flu season as fall and winter, but February is typically the peak of flu activity. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stay healthy, so how can we prevent getting sick? Here are a few simple steps to keep yourself well during the peak of the flu season.
WASH YOUR HANDS
The pandemic has shone a light on the importance of hand washing, and for good reason. Washing your hands often is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to wash your hands before and after touching your face, touching your mask, touching a surface that’s frequently touched by others and, of course, after using the restroom. Germs can live on surfaces for two hours or more, so it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based wipe or hand sanitizers are good alternatives.
INCORPORATE VITAMIN D
According to research by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin D plays a role in reducing your likelihood of developing the flu. However, most Americans are deficient in this vitamin, which can lead to rickets, poor immune system function, and risk of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D storages can be increased by exposure to sunlight, eating fish, egg yolks, beef liver or taking supplementation. However, you should have your blood levels checked by your physician before supplementing as too much vitamin D can be toxic and can damage your kidneys.
STAY HYDRATED
Staying properly hydrated can support the immune system and allow it to defend your body from viruses. Drinking at least half your body weight in water in ounces is a great way to stay hydrated which enables your body to fight off the flu. It will also help improve your quality of sleep, cognition and mood. If you have a hard time drinking enough water, consider adding your favorite fresh fruit to the water to provide flavor or a marked water bottle to give you goals to hit throughout the day.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help support the immune system by providing your body the central nutrients it needs to function properly. The immune system protects the body from infection, so giving the immune system the power it needs to defend the body can help keep you healthy during the flu season.
The flu is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets that are produced when speaking, sneezing, or coughing like the coronavirus. Adding these steps in addition to CDC guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus, like wearing a mask and social distancing, will help keep you healthy through the end of flu season.
Dr. Stephanie Seitz, ND, MT with Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences has extensive training in a variety of treatment modalities including homeopathy, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition and acupuncture.
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Health
Seven Ways Infrared Therapy Can Dramatically Improve Your Health
Contributed by Red Effect at Norterra
Imagine it’s a cloudy day, you are outside and it feels cool. All of a sudden, the clouds shift, the sun is revealed and a rush of warmth comes over you. This warm feeling is an infrared band of sunlight heating your body. Professional athletes and celebrities have been harnessing the benefits of infrared, called infrared therapy, inside of infrared saunas.
“Infrared heat can greatly benefit the sore, damaged or tired muscles of an athlete. The heat penetrates the muscles, increasing blood circulation, and assisting muscle repair. Infrared heat will also help in the reduction of lactic acids, allowing tight and worn out muscles to relax,” according to Sunlighten, a top national infrared sauna brand.
While infrared has traditionally only been available to the ultra-wealthy, infrared therapy is now becoming more widely available.
WHAT CAN INFRARED THERAPY DO FOR YOU?
According to studies and infrared experts, infrared saunas help to improve impurities from your cells, specifically cells inside where our fat is and where our body stores waste and harmful toxins such as cholesterol and heavy metals.
WEIGHT LOSS
Studies have shown that benefits of an infrared saunas session can burn upward of 500 calories while you relax. As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn calories.
PAIN RELIEF
Infrared heat penetrates tissue, joints, and muscles to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to chronic pain conditions. Pain management professionals incorporate infrared heat therapy into treatment plans to decrease pain and to speed up recovery time.
DETOXIFICATION
Sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal and stay healthy. Far infrared waves benefit the body by heating it directly, causing a rise in core temperature, resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the level where toxins reside.
CARDIOVASCULAR
Heating the muscles with infrared rays produces an increase in blood flow similar to that seen during exercise. Regular infrared sauna use, especially in the mid-infrared range, can significantly stimulate blood flow up to twice the normal rate.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Infrared therapy induces a deep sweat to make the heart pump faster, which in turn increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and helps circulation.
ANTI-AGING
The near-infrared wavelength is the most effective wavelength for healing the epidermis and dermis layers. Near-infrared treatments stimulate collagen production of the skin to reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin tones.
RECOVERY
Scientific research has concluded that near infrared therapy gently enhances the body’s healing process by promoting faster cell regeneration and human tissue growth. Recover from injuries, soreness, and stiffness in an infrared sauna.
Do you want to experience far infrared heat right now? Take your hands and put your palms together. Move your hands about ½ inch apart. You will feel warmth emanating from your palms. This is far infrared heat very similar to the heat of infrared saunas. Radiant far infrared is all around us and is essential for human life.
To learn more, visit redeffectfitness.com/phoenix.
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