Bugs make us sick when seasons change and when we're not taking good care of ourselves
This mild winter has set the stage for a particularly nasty cold/flu season as spring is just around the corner. The change of seasons is a common time for people to fall prey to upper respiratory bugs and stomach bugs too.
Sometimes it seems like its just inevitable, when everyone around you is sick it can be only a matter of time before you succumb to chills and a stuffed nose. Or worse yet, that stomach bug that seems to come out of nowhere forcing you to spend way too much time in the bathroom.
The bug hit the Rubin Rodeo hard in the past two weeks. First I came down with a mild flu which morphed into a nasty head cold/ sinus event. Lucky for me, it didn’t go to my lungs which is my weak spot. After I did battle for over a week, 2 out of 3 of my daughters ended up with variations on this end of Winter bug. As I’m writing this, hubby is now home in bed with his own version of the bug.
5 element theory, the foundation of Chinese medicine holds that each season corresponds to certain energies and organs within the body. As the seasons change, it puts a stress on our body and makes us more susceptible. In Chinese medicine, the Spring is connected to the Liver. As nature begins to wake up and flourish outside, the energy in our body begins to wake up and move differently too. Many people, this results in the flu, colds, or a flare up of existing chronic conditions. The “bugs” are there already, its the environment that enables the bugs to do their dirty work and make us sick. To learn more about the energy of springtime, click here for my acupuncture pal Jason Elias‘s blog post about springtime.
Here are a few simple suggestions to help keep the bugs at bay while the seasons shift.
Cooked greens are the way to go this time of year.
1. Eat well to nourish your body. Avoid many heavy, fried foods as these are harder on your digestion and body. Raw and uncooked foods can be tough on your digestion too. Try to eat light but cooked foods. Chinese medicine recommends nourishing and warming foods like onions, leeks, cilantro, mushrooms, and also spinach and other leafy greens. Steam your greens instead of eating too many salads during this time of year.
2. Get more sleep. Consider sleep to be an important nutrient, like steamed kale! You can boost your immunity by making sure you get a little extra sleep when the bugs seem to be everywhere. Stay away from your computer and TV screens at night, turn down the lights, and get serious about getting to bed a little earlier. Start with 10 minutes earlier, build up to 30. It will make a huge difference in your energy level, your outlook on life and your resistance to illness.
3. Get outside. We weren’t meant to be indoor creatures. Acclimate to the change in weather by making an extra effort to get outside a little every day. Talk a walk, go sit in the park, enjoy a little fresh air. Open the windows a little. This will help your body make gradual adjustments rather than be stressed by a sudden change. Wear a scarf and protect your neck and upper back against the wind.
What strategies do you use to avoid succumbing to the bugs this time of year?
