The change of seasons from summer into autumn is one of the most common times to develop colds and flus, so it is worth giving your immune system some love and attention over the next couple of months to get over this difficult period and set yourself up for the winter.
You are sweet enough
Too much refined sugar slows down your white blood cells, the foot soldiers of your immune system. And when I say it slows down, they actually move more slowly, so have less chance of catching and despatching those pesky bacteria and viruses before they can make you ill. Cut down on the sweet things.
Take your vitamins
If you were to take a multi-vitamin supplement at any time, this would be it. In particular vitamin C is required by the white blood cells to make anti-bodies, the weapons they in their battles against those bacteria and viruses. Not enough vitamin C and they are firing blanks.
Get some help from the bees
Two of the most commonly taken foods and supplements for helping avoid infections are propolis and manuka honey, both gifts from our friends the bees. Propolis is a natural anti-bacterial that bees make from pine tree resin, and it is what they use to disinfect their hives with. Manuka honey is a particular honey made from the flower of a New Zealand bush, that has very strong anti-septic properties. All honey is anti-septic, but none as much as manuka, which has its own anti-septic scale called UMF, or Unique Manuka Factor.
When it comes to UMFs, the higher the better. Factors 5 or 10 would be great on your toast, whereas factors 15 or 20 are best taken in hot water, or even by the teaspoon, when you are feeling a cold coming on. We also sell lozenges and throat syrups based on both manuka honey and propolis.
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