Don’t Let Halloween Be the Start to Your Cold & Flu Season

Skeleton full of candy

Don’t let Halloween be the start to your cold & flu season

For many people, October signals the start of the holiday season. First there’s Halloween, shortly followed by Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Year’s Day are right around the corner. Before we know it, it’s Valentine’s Day. For many people, October can also seemingly be the start of the dreaded cold & flu season. Have you ever stopped to consider why the holiday season and cold & flu season go hand-in-hand?

While there are several reasons, we tend to find ourselves on the losing side of a cold or the flu this time of year, one of the main reasons is SUGAR.

Sugar’s Impact on Your Cold & Flu Season

Sugar has been shown to negatively affect your white blood cells. The white blood cells are responsible for fighting off viruses & other infections in your body. Sugar hinders their ability to defend your body, thus leaving you more vulnerable to germs. It only takes about 75 grams of sugar to weaken your immune system for up to 5 hours.

So, what can you do this October to help keep your body’s immune system in peak performance?

Hand out healthier treats like packages of dried fruit, baked pretzels, packages of popcorn, pumpkin seeds, trail mix, mini boxes of raisins, individual applesauce containers or squeeze pouches, single-serving containers of mandarin oranges, sugar-free hot chocolate or apple cider packets, etc.

You can also give out non-food treats such as anything you might put in a birthday party goodie bag. Some examples are small toys, pocket-sized games, glow sticks, small decks of cards, pencil toppers, fancy erasers, stickers, bookmarks, bubbles, coloring books, or small packages of crayons.

If you’re hosting a party, use party games to encourage physical activity. Have a zombie dance party, three-legged monster race, spider crawl, or pumpkin toss. If you are out trick-or-treating, park the car & walk house to house.

Remember that moderation is key.

Other things to do daily this time of year include making smart food choices, regular physical activity, and begin or continue taking supplements, specifically Vitamin D.  Vitamin D is especially important this time of year as we are getting less and less natural sunlight.  Also, remember getting regular chiropractic adjustments are a great way to help boost your immune system and encourage a healthy immune response to any bugs you may encounter.

We hope everyone has a happy, healthy, safe Halloween!

Call Us Text Us
Skip to content