Get ready for the most obvious statement you’ll hear all week: It’s flu season – welcome to it.

Chances are, if you or someone you love hasn’t yet been hit with the most dreaded winter health woe of them all, you ARE trying your hardest to avoid it – and for good reason. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the 2017-2018 flu season was one of the deadliest in history.

“More than 900,000 people were hospitalized and more than 80,000 people died from flu last season,” the CDC also reported.

Do we have your attention yet? Good.

At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a leading family chiropractor in Plantation, it’s our mission to not only educate you on all things health-related, we make it our job to give you the tools to live your healthiest life. We’re not here to scare you, but the truth is, the flu can be scary business. There are ways, however, to protect yourself and your family from letting the flu run you down.

But first, a few things to know about the flu. Detecting early flu symptoms can help you better manage your illness and prevent the spread of it before it gets worse. Early flu symptoms include:

• Sudden or excessive fatigue
• Chills and body ache
• Persistent coughing
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Gastrointestinal problems

Now for the good stuff – our top flu prevention tips to keep you healthy all winter long:

It’s important to start with chiropractic care. If you are already receiving regular adjustments and keeping your spine in alignment, you are one step ahead of the game. Chiropractic care at Dr. Gena Chiropractic emphasizes the importance of improving your health in an effort to reduce the risk of pain and illness, increasing how well your body functions, in the first place.

Next up: Supplements

The right supplements can be a game-changer. Our favorites for keeping your immune system strong all winter long?

Elderberry

Elderberries are particularly rich in flavonoids, especially anthocyanins which are responsible for their deep purple (almost black) coloring. These powerful antioxidants work to keep the immune system strong and resilient.

Dr. Gena’s favorite elderberry supplements? Immunoberry by Designs for Health. There are also some great recipes online to make your own at home.

Oregano Oil

Not just delicious in your pasta recipes! Oregano oil and the carvacrol it contains may help fight bacteria and are considered a natural antibiotic.

Vitamin D

Always a favorite supplement across the board, Vitamin D also has serious immune-boosting benefits. According to the National Institute of Health, “vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.”

Supplements aside, there are a few other ways to boost immune function naturally:

Sleep

A well-rested body is one who’s immune system is less-compromised and ready to tackle any virus that comes its way.

Exercise

Endorphins. Immunity. Energy. All of these, together, will help keep flu symptoms at bay, and, hopefully, far, far away.

Diet

There are natural immune-boosting foods that we swear by, like garlic, ginger, turmeric and citrus fruits. Even if you are not a fan of these, you can still help your immune system by staying away from foods that compromise it, such as:

• Fast food
• Refined carbohydrates
• Sugary sodas and alcohol
• MSG/Gluten
• Processed foods

All in all, we want you to live healthily all year round which is the best way to ensure you don’t fall victim to cold and flu viruses. Our hands are always here to help, but for more information on taking your health into your hands, contact us today to visit our chiropractic care center located just minutes west of Fort Lauderdale.