Check It Out: Helpful hints to survive the groundhog’s verdict
By Joan Janzen
Early in February, the groundhog presented his verdict. Afterwards, a meme featured a coyote with the caption, “The groundhog said six more weeks of winter … so I ate him”. Prairie folks will no doubt justify the coyote’s response.
Some people offer advice on navigating through the coldest season of the year if we are willing to accept their helpful advice. Sometimes we can be like children who are unwilling to accept help.
The other day, I was with a group of kids who were making a craft. The hour allotted for the craft was almost up, so I offered to help one of the girls cut out paper figurines and speed up the process. She responded with much indignation, “What do you think I am? A child?”
Her young friend reminded her that, yes, she was a child, but a big child, not a little child.
Anyway, I’m hoping you’ll accept some helpful suggestions offered by Dr. Suneel Dhand on a recent podcast. He shared a few ways to naturally boost your immune system during the remaining weeks of winter when viruses are floating around, and people are prone to respiratory infections.
His first suggestion was to minimize your sugar intake, although we tend to increase our sugar intake during colder months when we’re seeking ‘sweet comfort foods’. This also includes refined carbohydrates which get converted into sugar.
“Sugar is added in foods you would never expect, including bread,” Dr. Dhand explained. “Most people consume more sugar in a day than their ancestors did in a month.” It’s good to remember that sugar is pro-inflammatory so it suppresses the immune system in the entire bloodstream.
Secondly, he advised us not to fall into the trap of being sedentary during winter. Even if it’s too cold and icy to be outdoors, we can do some kind of indoor activity and remain active. One of his listeners agreed and suggested using a mini trampoline, which is great for circulating lymphatic fluid in the body.
During winter, he advises to maximize antioxidants in your diet. Antioxidants work against free radicals that are continually produced in your body. His favourite is blueberries. “One cup of blueberries contains more antioxidants than five whole servings of fruits and vegetables,” he said. “And did you know that one red bell pepper contains three times as much vitamin C as an orange?”
He also observed that people are inclined to increase their alcohol intake during winter; however, they should keep in mind that it is a toxin that won’t do anything beneficial for their immune health.
An additional observation was made by Dr. John Campbell who noticed throughout his career that opening a window for ten minutes a day helped change the air for his patients. Another listener of Dr. Dhand’s podcast emphasized the importance of getting adequate rest.
Next on the doctor’s list was consuming natural supplements, primarily turmeric, ginger and Vitamin D. Turmeric and ginger are high in anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants.
In a previous article, he stressed the importance of taking Vitamin D. “If you choose to supplement, look for Vitamin D3, ideally paired with Vitamin K2 for optimal calcium regulation,” the doctor advised.
Being confined indoors during our cold winters can cause us to become sluggish, tired and prone to infections. Dr. Dhand recalls how he felt better and got sick far less often during the winter months after he began taking vitamin D regularly.
“We are designed to be outdoor creatures, soaking in sunlight where our energy comes from, but modern life keeps us indoors more than ever,” he said. He regularly checks Vitamin D levels in his hospitalized patients and often is shocked at how low their vitamin D levels are.
Vitamin D is a natural defense booster that helps fight off bacteria and viruses. He notes that a study in the British Medical Journal found that people with sufficient Vitamin D levels were significantly less likely to experience respiratory infections.
“Something as simple as maintaining healthy vitamin D levels can have a positive impact not only on your immune system, but your heart, metabolism and muscles,” he concluded.
People who listen to his podcast also submitted their own suggestions. One person said he never takes pharmaceuticals but prefers to allow his immune system to build itself up and do the job.
At the end of the day, Dr. Dhand concluded, “These are things I personally do in the winter to naturally boost my immune system. But you are a unique person, so always consider what is right for you.”