Cold and Flu Season is Here

Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND

If you have noticed that it seems like everyone around you, you are coughing or sneezing it’s not just your imagination! Cold and flu season has arrived. What can you do to boost your immunity? Well, there’s plenty of nutrients that can help boost your immune system. It’s a lot to cover so let’s get into it, shall we?

How do you know if you have a cold or the flu? Well, the best way to tell the difference is by doing a review of your symptoms. Please see the chart below for a side-by-side comparison of cold symptoms and flu symptoms. (4)

In addition to the symptoms that you may experience there is also a difference in how quickly your symptoms appear. In general, the flu becomes symptomatic very fast. A cold typically has a slower onset of symptoms. So, what does this mean in practicality? With the flu you may feel fine on Monday but by Tuesday night you feel absolutely miserable! In contrast a cold will typically take longer for you to begin to show symptoms. (1)

The severity of the symptoms experienced is also usually different between a cold and the flu. In general, the flu will have more severe symptoms than a cold. Some people describe the flu as a “cold on steroids”. (1)

What exactly are the risk factors for developing a cold or the flu? While cold weather won’t give you a cold or the flu in my clinical experience it can affect your body’s ability to fight the viruses that do cause these illness. Other risk factors for developing a cold include age, for example infants, young kids and elderly folks are at a higher risk of a cold. Those with a compromised immune system as well as those that smoke are also at a higher risk of catching a cold. Of course, exposure is key since you can’t get a cold if you aren’t exposed to the virus! (2) In contrast what are the risk factors for the flu? Just like with a cold age also increases your risk. Having a compromised immune system also increases your risk. Certain chronic illnesses such as asthma or even diabetes can increase flu risk. Just like with a cold being exposed is important since you can’t get the flu if you don’t come in contact with the virus! Lastly, being obese, on aspirin therapy or being of certain ethnicities can all increase the risk of complications of the flu. (3)

So just what can you do to ward off a cold or the flu?

• Hand washing is critical! If you touch or do anything, wash your hands afterward! It is also important to avoid touching your face, for example avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose!
• Sanitize or clean all frequently touched surfaces and items. For example, doorknobs are touched by everyone!
• Don’t share personal items with other people. For example, never share your glasses or silverware.
• Avoid those who are sick and even try to avoid being in crowds.
• Cover your cough and sneeze to help reduce the spread to other people.
• Eat a diet high in nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables. Make sure you get enough exercise and sleep. (1,2,3)
• Don’t forget to dress in layers.
• Tea: One of my favorite things to do for a sore throat is to make tea with lemon, honey and turmeric with ginger. To make this simply add 1 or 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey and the contents of 2 capsules of Turmeric with Ginger to herbal tea. Please see Invite’s Turmeric with Ginger!
• Olive Leaf is one of my favorite nutrients to recommend this time of year! Olive Leaf Extract has been found in studies to be antiviral. (5) This means that it kills the virus that causes infections such as the common cold and the flu. Please see Invite’s Olive Leaf Extract and Renalaid.
• Another personal favorite for this time of year is Black Seed! In my clinical experience, Black Seed is very helpful for improving our breathing. I have found black seed to be very helpful for those with asthma. Anyone who has asthma knows they are at a higher risk of complications from both a cold and flu and thus they are exactly the people who I usually recommend taking black seed. But it’s not just me saying that black seed is a good choice! Black Seed has been found to help with symptoms such as runny nose, itchy nose and rhinitis. (6) Please see Invite’s Black Seed with Rosemary and Cordyceps
• NACis another one of my favorite supplements! While it may have a strange smell it is a powerhouse when it comes to our health. NAC has been found to help break down mucus! (5) This is always important when you have a cold. NAC has also been found to help improve our immune health and help it to better fight off the bad guys that cause colds and flus! (7) Please see Invite’s NAC!
• Elderberry may sound more like something you mix in your oatmeal than a supplement, but it is a powerhouse for colds and flus! In fact, it has been found to help reduce the length of a virus. (8) Please see Invite’s Beta Immunity Hx.
• Vitamin Chas been found to help fight off and prevent colds! (9) Invite health has a very tasty (lol) new Vitamin C gummy that is great for kids and adults! Please see Invite’s Vitality Plus C in both gummy and easy to swallow time release capsules.

• Please feel free to call for more information on nutrients such as Nucleotides, Zinc and of course probiotics! In my clinical experience all of these can be a fantastic addition to any antiviral protocol.

Sources:

1. https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a22498824/cold-vs-flu/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719
4. https://patientplusuc.com/blog/flu-vs-cold-how-to-tell-the-difference
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9953111/#B4-biomolecules-13-00238
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196070910001407
7. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nac-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33827515/#:~:text=However%2C%20we%20found%20three%20studies,necessary%20to%20make%20firm%20conclusions.
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5707683/#:~:text=Thus%2C%20it%20is%20apparent%20that,enhancing%20various%20immune%20cell%20functions.