Published January 22nd, 2021 by Jeev Trika

CBD for Flu Season and 3 Other Natural Remedies That Increase Immunity

CBD for illness

There are many reasons why people say winter isn’t their favorite season: Cold weather, grey skies, and worst of all, the spread of the cold and flu… not to mention new viruses like COVID-19 are evolving and spreading every year. 

But have you ever wondered why sicknesses spread more during the winter season? 

Well, according to Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert, Dr. William Shaffner, “The winter season is the time of year when we have more respiratory infections… Respiratory infections are transferred more readily in the winter time for two reasons… The first is we spend more time in enclosed spaces, close to each other, so that we have more prolonged fact-to-face contact.”

And humidity is the second reason...

Dr. Shaffner stated that, “When we transmit viruses from one person to another, we’re usually 3 feet from each other –– the so-called ‘breathing zone’... When we’re in a time of low humidity such as we have in the winter time, it appears that that little bit of moisture that surrounds the virus evaporates, so the virus remains in the air for a sufficiently prolonged time so that the person who is sufficiently close to me can breathe it in.”

And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each year in the United States, there are millions of cases of the common cold. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get a cold any time of the year.” 

Flu season is even worse, especially in the United States. “The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May.” 

And now, we have a new pandemic to worry about… Covid-19 –– a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 respiratory disease. Which is far more contagious and much harder to treat.  

So what are we to do when the winter months hit? 
 

How to treat covid, colds, and flu 

CBD and covid

While we know getting sick is never fun for anyone, some of the basic treatment options include over the counter medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin IB, Aspirin, and decongestants) and prescription drugs (Tamiflu, Xofluza, and stronger pain relievers). 

There are just a couple of issues… 

One, you’ll likely need to be diagnosed with a severe cold, influenza, and/or COVID to obtain prescription drugs.

And two, depending on how sensitive you are, the side effects of these drugs, prescription and over-the-counter, may cause further damage in the long run. 

In fact, over-the-counter medications can cause a number of life-threatening symptoms

  • Nausea 

  • Vomiting 

  • Abdominal pain 

  • Fatigue 

  • Decrease in appetite 

  • Jaundice (skin or eyes look yellow) 

The main concern regarding over the counter medications is liver damage. 

As for prescription medications, according to research, they’re the third leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. 

Not to mention, prescription pain relievers and opioids are highly addictive and can cause horrible withdrawal symptoms. Overdoses and death are largely correlated with prescription opioids as well. 

So what’s the alternative? 

Believe it or not, according to the Mayo Clinic, hydration and rest are the two ingredients that play a huge role in treating colds, influenza, and even the newly discovered COVID-19. 

But here’s what the media often neglects to share…
 

Disease Prevention 

CBD oil prevention

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that taking care of yourself is the number one way to prevent health problems like disease, sickness, and unwanted symptoms. 

And believe it or not, maintaining a strong immune system is what we need to do in order to prevent illnesses like colds, influenza, and Covid. 

In fact, getting the flu or cold is usually a sign that your immune system is overwhelmed with germs and bacteria, and it’s not necessarily at its prime to fight them all off.  

But when we build up our immune system and take care of ourselves, we can help prevent future sicknesses and diseases. 

So what are some of the ways we can prevent disease and boost our immune system? 

 

How to boost immunity

While we know our immune system plays a pivotal role in maintaining our overall health and warding off horrible invaders, some pesky germs can still manage to get through. 

All the more reason to build up your immune system. And there’s several ways we can boost our immunity if we’re willing to do so. 
 

1. Healthy diet boosts immunity 

CBD and diet

First and foremost, eating healthy is perhaps one of the best ways to boost your immune system

Contrary to what you might have heard or believe, food is medicine in a sense.

That’s right…

What you put in your body plays a huge role in how your body wards off certain illnesses and diseases. 

In fact, certain foods have been proven to fight off inflammation, like: 

  • Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, and arugula) 

  • Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, and more)

  • Fruits (blueberries, strawberries, cherries, oranges, lemons, apples, and more) 

Not to mention, fruits and some veggies contain powerful antioxidant properties, which help protect your cells against free radicals. And believe it or not, antioxidants are primarily found in the foods we eat. 

Now you might be thinking: What’s so important about anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods? 

Shockingly, inflammation has been found to be one of the main root causes of most, if not all, unwanted diseases and illnesses, like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. And guess what? Chronic inflammation is what suppresses our immune system in the first place, so the lower our inflammation is, the less likely we’ll feel stressed.

Not to mention, free radicals are these tiny little molecules that your body uses when it breaks down the food you eat and the environmental toxins your body is exposed to. 

It’s also imperative that you eat foods that are packed with good bacteria, like organic greek yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, and other foods filled with naturally occurring probiotics. 

And here’s why…

Your gut microbiome plays a huge role in your immune health. In fact, research says that your gut is actually your second brain. This is because our gut is home to its own nervous system and it communicates to our brain and other organs to function properly. 

You see, if there’s something ‘off’ with our intestinal health, unwanted mental conditions may arise such as anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental disorders. 

Our gut and brain are intimately connected, so what we put in our body surprisingly affects our brain and overall health. 

So as you can see, what we consume plays a huge role in the health of our immune system. 

 

2. Daily exercise strengthens immunity 

CBD and exercise

We all know that exercise helps reduce the chances of obesity, heart disease, and an array of other diseases. But did you ever stop to think that if exercise helps ward off certain diseases, it could also help prevent the common cold, flu, and possibly new viruses like COVID-19? 

According to research, scientists theorize that daily exercise may help increase immunity to certain illnesses. They even say it could help “flush bacteria out of the lung and airways,” which may help ward off common sicknesses and illnesses we tend to experience in the colder months. 

They’ve also theorized that exercise may actually change our antibodies and white blood cells, which help fight against disease. 

In fact, they believe that exercise helps our “antibodies or WBCs circulate more rapidly, so they could detect illnesses earlier than they might have before. However, no one knows whether these changes help prevent infections.”

Additionally, scientists have found that our body temperature rises when we exercise, and that rise may actually fight infection better. Think of it this way: Developing a fever is your body's way of fighting off infection. 

Finally, scientists theorize that exercise helps in slowing down stress hormones, and if we know anything about stress, it’s that “chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifests an illness.”

But too much of a good thing can actually cause the body harm…

While we know exercise is good for mental and physical health, over-exercising while you’re already sick can actually weaken your body and your immune system. That’s why it’s important to rest! 

Which leads us to our next point. 
 

3. Getting enough quality sleep boosts immunity

CBD and rest

Did you know that sleep plays an important role in the health of your immune system?

If you’re not getting enough quality sleep, your immune system suffers. In fact, poor sleep is actually linked to weakened immune response and functions. But don’t just take our word for it; let’s look at the science behind sleep and immunity. 

In a study involving 164 healthy adult participants, researchers found that the adults who got less than 6 hours of sleep were more susceptible to getting sick and developing a cold than those who got more than 6 hours of sleep. 

Crazy, right? 

Have you ever noticed that when you’re sick, you want to sleep more? You get tired more easily and usually feel better if you just close your eyes. 

Well, it’s because your body knows what it needs: SLEEP! 

Here’s the thing: Sleep is your body’s single best defense against stress, oxidative damage, and inflammation in your body!

A good night’s sleep is like putting your body through the “clean cycle”. It rids your body of its own metabolic waste and helps restore your body’s systems to their optimal function.

In fact, good quality sleep helps with so many aspects of your health like: 

  • Memory

  • Mood

  • Mental clarity

  • Energy and vitality

  • Healthy metabolism

  • Etc.

But how do you achieve better sleep? 

  • Intermittent fasting –– Eating gives your body energy, especially carbohydrates. But you can improve your sleep simply by limiting the window of hours that you eat each day. So try eating dinner 3-4 hours before you go to bed, and avoid any late night snacks, especially ones filled with carbs.

  • Avoid blue light –– Phones and computers emit a strong blue light that can disrupt your circadian rhythms and trick your body into thinking it’s daytime instead of bedtime. When you avoid blue light, especially after sun down, you can help reset your circadian rhythms and promote better sleep.

  • Finally, and most importantly, try CBD oil  –– This has become the #1 game changer for improving so many people's sleep. Studies show that CBD not only helps restore our health and wellness; it also addresses the root causes of poor sleep to begin with. 

Which brings us to our next and final point…

 

4. CBD oil for immune health 

CBD and health

First and foremost, it’s important to know that the reason scientists have been so fascinated with CBD oil is due to its incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Not to mention CBD also contains pretty potent antioxidant properties as well. 

And believe it or not, these two properties (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant) actually help to reduce illnesses / disease and improve our immune response. 

Research also points out that cannabinoids like CBD actually “have their effect mainly by interacting with specific receptors on cells in the brain and body: the CB1 receptor, found on neurons and glial cells in various parts of the brain, and the CB2 receptor, found mainly in the body’s immune system.”

And since our CB2 receptors are primarily found in our immune system, it makes sense that consuming high-quality CBD oils helps address unwanted symptoms that are associated with the common cold, flu, and other viruses. 

In fact, studies show that CBD is a pretty powerful immunosuppressant and immunomodulator. Which means it can either suppress or prevent immune response, or it can help regulate the secretion of cytokines –– specific cells found in the immune system –– which help normalize the health of our immune system. 

 

CBD for flu season: Bottom line

CBD and health care

While we know that diet, exercise, and sleep are all key ingredients to better health and less sickness; adding high-quality CBD oil or premium CBD gummies to your daily routine may actually help you achieve a better diet, motivation to exercise, and more restful sleep. 

Now we’re not saying that CBD is a “cure-all”. In fact, CBD should never be used to diagnose, treat, or cure any type of disease or illness. 

However, we are saying that CBD oil is trying, as it’s been shown in multiple studies, to improve overall health and wellness.

In the end, the more we focus on prevention, the stronger our immune system can become. And a stronger immune system can help fight off those pesky, and at times debilitating colds, flu, and other viruses and illnesses.

 
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