Winter Prevention Basics for the typical adult

Wash your hands frequently! 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States has a lovely chart that shows this is key to preventing the flu. 

But Canada disagrees and suggests N-95 masks instead.

The Tissue Creative Commons by Brian Lane Winfield Moore

Keep taking your multi-vitamin throughout the winter months.  This provides the basic nutrients that your body needs to process the foods you eat into healthy body tissues and to prevent infections.  But make sure that it is a good quality vitamin.  See my post on:  What to look for in a Vitamin or Supplement
 
Increase your Vitamin C to at least 3000mg (3 grams) per day in divided doses.  Studies show that people who maintain this level of supplementation catch fewer colds and heal more quickly. I put powdered vitamin C in my metal water bottle and sip it all day.
 
Add Acidophilus to your daily routine.   Our digestive track contains over half of our immune lymph system. Gut-dwelling bacteria keep pathogens (harmful bacteria and yeasts) in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function.
 
Add Vitamin D to your daily intake, taking a vitamin D supplement of at least 2000 iu’s.  Ideally you would test first to find your starting level. 
I have only had a few patients test within the normal range.  Personally, I take 5000 iu’s per day and my children take 2000 iu’s
 
Add Fish oil to your daily diet. You need at least 2000 mg of fish oil to maintain adequate essential fatty acids for cell membrane flexibility and  to reduce inflammation.
 
Take one tube of Oscillococcinum by Boiron per month as a preventative against the flu.

When all else fails and you get a cold or flu, follow the Cold wet socks handout for quick relief of symptoms.