Parenting Australia

Stay well this season

"Help! I don't have time to be sick!"

It's a refrain I hear a lot. Life is so busy that taking the time to stay healthy usually takes a back seat to work, home and family commitments.

That neglect has to stop if you want to stay well. This is the time of year where the physical and emotional stress we place on our bodies can weaken the immune system and leave us vulnerable to infections, especially colds and flu.

I advocate a two-pronged approach to warding off the winter blues and staying in shape by boosting immunity levels naturally and using common sense to minimise the risk of infection.

A strong functioning immune system is dependent on having a well-balanced diet containing important immune-bolstering nutrients such as vitamins C and A, zinc, selenium and antioxidants.

Wherever possible, steer clear of processed and fast foods that are notoriously void of any goodness and are stacked with sugars, fats and salt. Opt instead for a diet rich in fresh wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, wholegrains, fish, poultry, lean meat, tofu and eggs.

Cook with herbs and foods that have properties which support the body's natural immune defences, including garlic, seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, chilli, cayenne pepper, lemon, thyme and sage. A number of supplements enhance the natural properties of nature's superfoods through their extraction techniques. One of my favourites is Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, which produces a supercharged, immune-boosting garlic without the garlic breath.

Once immunity levels are addressed the focus should be on avoiding infection.Wash hands well during the day and use hand sanitisers, especially after being in contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. Also, don't share cups or water bottles and reduce your alcohol intake.

Finally, if you are struck down, please rest up and prevent the further spread of your cold or flu by staying home when at your most contagious--the first two to three days of infection. Influenza hospitalises 15,000 Australians each year, so don't be a hero.

If we take a common sense approach this season we can mitigate the impact of the winter blues and strike the right balance between staying healthy and leading manic lives.

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Lisa Guy - Adv Dip Nat, Adv Herb Med, Adv Hom, Adv Nut, BHSc – is an experienced naturopath and nutritionist who runs the successful practice Art of Healing (www.artofhealing.com.au) in Sydney's Double Bay. Co-owner and operator of a natural holistic healthcare centre for mothers and their babies (www.thehappybabyclinic.com), Lisa is Body and Soul magazine's expert nutritionist, involving weekly feature columns and regular content offerings on-line, appears on the ninemsn.com.au expert health panel and routinely contributes to the Natural Parenting website. Lisa is the author of the children's health and nutrition book, My Goodness.

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