10 Steps for staying healthy this winter….

A major foundation for success in your midlife career is being healthy. So many of you know that we bring health tips and products to your attention when we find them.

I recently picked up the November issue of Yoga Journal and it has a great article entitled "10 steps for staying healthy this winter".  the subtitle is" 10 ways to build a strong immune system, naturally so you can thrive this season."

You may want to hunt down the magazine, but in the meantime here are the steps they note:

1. Pick a Natural Kick…in other words, try something natural instead of caffeine such as brewing a cup of nettle.
2. Strike a Heart-Opening Pose. An easy way to avoid getting colds and flu is to weave more heart opening poses into your yoga practice.  Heart openers stimulate blood flow to the thymus which is instrumental in the growth of T-cells, the immune system's frontline.
3. Make the  Most of Mushrooms.  Mushrooms supercharge your immune system by increasing the number of disease-fighting white blood cells in your bloodstream.
4. Soothe your sinuses. Most colds enter the body through the nose's mucous membranes. Consider usng a neti pot for a nasal wash to clear excess mucous and viruses.
5. Try a 10 minute meditation. Stress is the immune system's worst enemy.  Research shows that even 10 minutes of daily meditation reduces the physical symptions of stress. (To learn meditation techniques, go to www.yogajournal.com, click on "Practice" and the choose "Meditation.")
6. Keep moving.  Winter is no excuse to forgo exercise.  For the health of your immune system get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day.
7. Explore Ayurveda.  Explore the ayurvedic herbs: ashwagandha and turmeric.
8. Have fun. Plan a fun night.  Earlier this year, researches at Loma LInda University of California discovered that looking forward boosts immunity.
9. Just add water. Add water to your air and to your body to ward off germs close to home.  The winter low humidity is tied to the spread of flu.
10. Stay connected.  Loneliness can have an impact on your immune system.  Drop an email, text, or call a friend or relative to remind you that you are not alone.