The weather is changing here in the East Bay Area and people are more susceptible to falling sick during the winter months.  Read about the Eight Essential things you can do to keep yourself healthy here.

It is so easy to indulge in the wrong types of food during the holiday season and Halloween really starts off the holiday season with a sugar kick.  If you feel that you are under the weather or going through a particularly stressful time, foods you should avoid include: sugar, caffeine and fried foods.

Here are some supplements that help support your immune system.  You may consider taking them daily if you are prone to getting sick through the holiday season.

Probiotics: Probiotics are supplements that include the good bacteria that reside in you GastroIntestinal (GI) tract.  Your GI tract is a prominent part of immune system, serving as the first line of defense by keeping potential pathogens out of the blood and lymph.  Medications, stress and poor dietary choices can all upset the bacterial balance in our GI tract, favoring bad or potentially pathogenic bacteria.  Taking probiotics helps re-colonize the good bacteria in your gut, protecting you from infections and also killing bad bacteria.  Look for a probiotic supplement that has several different strains of good bacteria and take it daily with meals.

Vitamin D: Another vitally important vitamin for our immune systems, it helps the immune cells fight bacteria and viruses.  Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with chronic pain, depression, high blood pressure.  Vitamin D also helps build bone mass, prevents many cancers and helps with the absorption of calcium.  One of the ways we make our own Vitamin D is through sun exposure to our skin and since we are less likely to get to have sun exposure through the holidays, we make less Vitamin D through the fall/winter seasons.   Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form that you want to supplement but before you do that on a regular basis, a simple blood test can determine if you are deficient in Vitamin D.  Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor about this blood test and see if your levels are within the optimal range and if supplementing if this vitamin is appropriate for you.

Other Vitamins to consider include Vitamin C, Zinc and Selenium along with herbs such as Echinacea, Elderberry and Garlic.  The Garlic Oxymel is also a great immune supporter, make it and drink at the first signs of a cold or flu.