Cold and flu season is coming up fast. While many people are thinking about getting their flu shots for protection, some prefer to take a more natural approach. Seeing a chiropractor can help protect you fight off colds and flues in a variety of ways.

Nutritional Advice

Good nutrition is an important part of saying naturally healthy, and that's why chiropractors offer nutritional advice to their patients. By talking to patients about their eating habits, chiropractors can find out what patients might be eating too much of and what they need to eat more often. For example:

• Garlic. Garlic has a long history of use for medicinal purposes. This wonder food has been used to prevent everything from stomach cancer to hay fever and is also used to boost the immune system. Your chiropractor can tell you about the best ways to eat and prepare garlic, so you can get the most benefit from it.
• Tea. Studies have shown that people who consume enough tea each day show significantly increased levels of interferon, which is one of the body's chemical defenses against infection. Your chiropractor can tell you which types of tea will be best for your needs.

Chiropractors give this type of advice to patients to help them stay naturally strong and healthy. This is especially important and useful at times of the year when viruses are common and many people are sick.

Stress Management

The American Psychological Association has published findings concerning the connection between stress and the immune system. People who feel more stress are less able to fight off infections and diseases. Managing stress can help people fight off illnesses.

With techniques like spinal adjustment and therapeutic massage, chiropractic care provides natural stress relief to patients. Chiropractic care also reduces stress for patients suffering from chronic pain by lessening that pain and improving quality of life.

Spinal Adjustments Optimize Body Functions

The brain and the body are connected by the spinal cord. When the vertebrae in the spine become misaligned, parts of the spinal cord become pinched or injured. This problem is known as a "subluxation." Correcting subluxations is the core goal of chiropractic care.

By correcting subluxations, chiropractors promote good system function throughout the body, including the immune system. In other words, going in for regular spinal adjustments may help to ensure that the brain and immune system are working together to fight off infection.

For more information about how chiropractic care can boost your immune system this winter, contact your chiropractor today.