6 Reasons You Keep Getting Sick & How To Fix It

Nothing derails your productivity at work or in the gym faster than a nasty cold.

Fight back this year and find out how you can stop bacteria and viruses in their tracks. Here are six reasons you get sick and how you can fix them.

1. You Don’t Follow A Seasonal Diet

Vitamin A is found in abundance in orange vegetables that are typically harvested in fall. Eating squash, pumpkins, etc. helps rebuild mucosal immunity, keeping the immune army in your sinuses and gut wall strong and impermeable throughout the winter.

The Fix: Follow an ancestral approach and eat seasonally. Pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots are all fall classics rich in immune-boosting vitamin A. They make a great roasted veggie option for lunch or dinner, or you can puree them into soups to warm up and stay cold- and flu-free.

2. You’re Over-Caffeinated!

The Fix: If you are run down, take your foot off the accelerator and reduce your coffee intake by 50%. If you only drink one cup per day, take 1-2 days off per week to give your nervous system a break and your immune system a chance to recharge. As a general rule, always drink your last cup before noon.

3. Your Belly Is Fighting A Losing Battle

The Fix: Add more Paleo-friendly fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha tea, tamari sauce, and yogurt to get your daily dose of “good” bacteria. If you’re feeling run down, add a probiotic supplement daily to prevent bacteria from adhering to mucous membranes and penetrating your immune defenses.

If for some reason you have to take antibiotics, be sure to include a probiotic supplement twice daily (away from your medication) to help maintain healthy gut flora.

4. Your Vitamin D Levels Are Too Low

The Fix: Add a vitamin D supplement (2,000-4,000 IU daily) to maintain your levels throughout the winter months. If you’re supplementing at the top end of this range, get your levels tested every 8-12 weeks. Also, be sure to include vitamin D-rich foods and Paleo staples like eggs, pork (e.g. bacon), fish, and mushrooms to fight off the seasonal decline of vitamin D.

5. You Don’t Wash Your Hands Enough

The Fix: Like your mom always said, “Wash your hands before you eat!” It’s that simple. (Note – soap and water are just as effective as antimicrobial hand sanitizers.)

6. You Don’t Get To Bed Early Enough

The Fix: Switch off and get to bed earlier in the colder, darker, winter months to prevent illnesses and feel more energized. Research shows that sleeping less than 5 hours at night equals a 5-fold increased risk of catching a cold or flu, so make sure that, even during busy periods, you aren’t running on empty.

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