1. Adjustments: The Nerve-System Connection

At the heart of health is communication—and that starts with your Nervous System! We know regular adjustments stimulate nerve function, but when it comes to fighting off a cold or flu, the benefits go even deeper:

- Increases Circulation: Improved blood flow means your body can quickly deliver vital immune cells to where they're needed most.

- Reduces Inflammation: Less systemic inflammation allows your immune system to focus its fight on the invading bugs, not on chronic stress.

- Promotes Lymphatic Drainage: This helps your body efficiently remove waste and toxins created during the fight against illness.

When you feel those first sniffles, don't miss a beat! Maintaining (or even increasing) your adjustment frequency for a short time is paramount to keeping your body’s communication lines wide open and your immune response swift and strong.

When your body is communicating perfectly, giving it the right fuel provides the ultimate foundation for health. Here are two powerhouse supplements to lean on this season:

2. Vitamin D: Your Sunshine Shield

As the sun becomes a long-lost friend here in Indiana, it's essential to make sure we get ample Vitamin D plays a crucial role in our adaptive immune response, helping you build a "rock-solid" immunity. 

While in the cold and flu season your dosage should be 5,000 IU to keep the body primed and ready to react. When you become symptomatic, doubling your dose to 10,000 IU helps ensure your immune system is truly "firing on all cylinders" to overcome the illness quickly!

3. Zinc: Dropping the Hammer on Your Cold

When you pair Zinc with Vitamin D, you gain a powerful one-two punch against illness. Zinc plays three vital roles in improving your immune function:

1. Shortens the Cold: Taken within 24 hours of symptoms, zinc can reduce the cold duration by a day or two.

2. Inhibits Viral Replication: Zinc ions are shown to actively interfere with the reproduction of cold viruses  

3. Supports Immune Function: It is necessary for activating T-cells, the immune system’s frontline defenders that destroy infected cells.

Ready for the final push? These two simple habits are the secret weapon your family needs to thrive and beat the bugs this season.

4. Eat a Balanced, Nutrient-Rich Diet

Every bite you take builds the foundation of your immune system. A balanced diet provides the micronutrients essential for creating immune cells and antibodies.

- Feed Your Gut: Did you know that 70-80% of your immune cells reside in your gut? A nutrient-rich diet supports a healthy gut microbiome, which directly translates to a robust immune defense.

- Choose Healthy Fats: Consuming foods rich in healthy fats, like Omega-3s, helps reduce chronic inflammation and modulate your immune system's response.

5. Prioritize Adequate Sleep

Sleep is perhaps the easiest, yet most profound, way to fortify your immune system. Getting 7–9 hours of quality sleep allows your body ample time to create cytokines—special proteins that help regulate your immune response by signaling other immune cells into action. 

By supporting your nervous system with adjustments and fueling your body with the right supplements and lifestyle habits, you will be prepared to overcome all obstacles set in front of you. Be proactive, be well, and trust in the body’s incredible ability to heal!

Your brother in Christ,

Dr. Gabriel M. Anastasio