Recent reports show that the prediction is for an above average cold season, meaning that more people will suffer from cold/flu this season.
The good news is that "experts" predicted that the new Covid variant was going to mutate into something as potent as the Omicron version.
Apparently, they were wrong.
Shocking.
Recent discussions show that the global risk of the new variant is low.
(This is typical for all viruses to become less and less virulent with each mutation. Not sure why they insist on scaring the public. It's infuriating.)
However, it's not all good news.
Although the latest news about Covid variants is good, that doesn't mean that our immune systems are in tip top shape.
We have been demanding a LOT of our immune systems for the past 2 years.
Y'all know.
You were there.
Now "experts' are saying that it's probably a good idea to get yet another Covid booster AND a flu shot.
I disagree.
In fact, I think part of the reason more people are getting colds in higher numbers is because their immune systems are just plain exhausted.
My argument
Your immune system has two parts:
Adaptive immune system
Innate immune system
To put it simply, the innate immune system is the one we use when we are attacked out of the blue. You are walking around minding your own business and BAM! a virus comes at you. Your innate immune system now has to mount a defense. It does that via your white blood cells which are:
Innate immune cells are white blood cells that mediate innate immunity and include basophils, dendritic cells, eosinophils, Langerhans cells, mast cells, monocytes and macrophages, neutrophils and NK (natural killer) cells.
The adaptive immune system is what we use to create immunity when we get a vaccine. You get a vaccine, it stimulates the adaptive immune system to create antibodies so you are protected when and if that specific virus comes calling.
Adaptive immune cells are also white blood cells but they are lymphocytes. There are B and T- lymphocytes.
And yes, your innate immune system will often hand off to your adaptive so that AFTER you are infected, you can develop antibodies against the virus that attacked you.
So in the case of Covid, if you were infected, you have "natural" immunity because your innate immune system dealt with it and then handed off future antibody production responsibility to your adaptive immune system.
Got it?
Now, here is where I am coming from.
Let's say you are one of the elite people who got the vaccine and did NOT get Covid. I know there are probably some of you out there but I have not met you yet.
If you got one or more boosters- there have been 3 so far- then you have a total of AT LEAST 3 shots maybe up to 5. Each one of those vaccinations is a load on your immune system to develop antibodies.
And all of that has happened in a record 1-2 years.
That is an insane demand on your immune system.
And that does not include the impact that stress has on your immune system from isolation, work load, lack of human interaction, etc.
All of this is an additional load on your immune system.
Whew! I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Imagine how your immune system feels?
Invest in rebuilding and recovery
Much like everything else in your body, I think it's imperative to support the recovery and rebuilding of your immune system and its' essential functions.
I would recommend the following:
probiotic rich foods- anything fermented
prebiotic fiber- vegetables and fruits, green tea, apples, pomegranate...
plenty of sleep- 8 hours for adults. 10-11 hours for those younger than 14.
moderate exercise- walking is a great exercise- 30 minutes a day. Or you can try to do what longevity experts recommend-10K steps or 5 miles.
WASH YOUR HANDS!
If you are looking for a supplement protocol to help support the rebuilding of your immune system- check out our Immune Support Protocol on Fullscript:
If you do to get a cold this year, I would recommend you get the products listed below on our cold protocol.
These will help speed up recover and give you some symptomatic relief.
Also, remember these tips:
get plenty of rest
stay warm
drinks lots of fluids- pedialyte ice cold if you need electrolytes
eat foods that are soft and easy to digest- soups, porridge, stews.
A few preventative steps may be able to keep you from getting sick.
But if you do, don't worry, just take good care of yourself like you would from any cold.
And if I were you, I would not stress too much about Covid.
Just sayin'
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