Even though it’s early October, I’ve already had clients contact me saying they have the flu. The symptoms are headache, body ache, cough and in one case?a sore throat.

The reason we get colds and flu has a lot to do with how we take care of ourselves. ?So if you want to prevent the miserable conditions associated with cold and flu, try following this easy plan:

• Eat healthy ~ a whole foods based diet with minimal or no processed foods
• Get some rest ~ at least eight hours of sleep a night, especially during the winter months
• Wash your hands often and to the tune of Happy Birthday to ensure you’ve washed long enough
• Exercise ~ at least 20 to 30 minutes per day for five days a week, longer and more often is better
• Do one thing you love every day

If you already have a cold or flu, try these tips to shorten the duration:

• Make a tea of hot water, lemon, a few slices of fresh ginger root and a little raw honey. ?Drink throughout the duration of your illness.
• If you don’t have the ingredients for the tea above, drink hot herbal tea.
• Sweating therapy can also help. ?A few ways to induce sweating are drinking hot tea frequently, taking a hot shower or bath and then go to bed and cover yourself in warm blankets. ?Change damp bedding if necessary. ?DO NOT sweat to the point of exhaustion. ?Once should be sufficient.
• If you have an appetite, eating green peppers, parsley, carrots, broccoli, garlic, scallions, lemon juice, grapefruit, most fruits and homemade chicken soup will help move things along.
• Take 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C as needed. ?Don’t overdo it. ?Too much can cause loose stools or diarrhea.

Prevention is always the better route, but sometimes a busy life can make us feel run down. ?Hopefully these suggestions will get you back on your feet in no time. ?Be well.