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How To Stay Healthy During The Fall Spike Season

The school year is in full swing, and we're already nearing the end of October. There is so much to look forward to now that it's fall, except for colder weather and "germ" season.

That's right... it seems like as soon as the kids are back to school, they get sick with a cold or the flu. And of course, cold and flu prevention is important year-round, but it's even more important to make healthy choices and take preventative measures to protect yourself and your family in preparation for the "Fall Spike"— the increase in sickness, which ranges from colds to severe asthma flare-ups, that's associated with children going to back school and the upcoming flu season.



I'm thrilled to be working with Loblaw as part of the #LoblawFluCrew to spread the important message (not germs!) on how we can keep our families healthy this season.

Studies show that school children bring germs home from school and spread them to us lucky parents and even to their younger siblings, causing sicknesses ranging from the common cold to severe asthma flare-ups. Oh, the joys of the fall spike.

Here's how you can keep yourself—and your family—healthy this season:
  • Stock up on healthy foods. When you're grocery shopping, look for foods that contain vitamin C and E, which contribute to good overall immune health. (These vitamins contain antioxidants that are important for the maintenance of good health and can be found in citrus fruits, seeds, and nuts).
  • Increase your zinc intake. You can increase your zinc by eating more potatoes and butternut squash to help maintain proper immune function.
  • Eat your protein. Whether you're getting it from beans, meat, eggs, seafood, legumes, nuts, or milk products, protein will help build and repair body tissues and antibodies to help you stay healthy and strong.
  • Keep it green. B vitamins, found in leafy greens, will also help you maintain good health, so eat your salad. (B vitamins are also found in whole grains, too).
  • Probiotic food. Probiotic foods like yogurt contain probiotic bacteria that can modulate immune function. Eating foods that contain probiotic is better than taking probiotic supplements because you'll also be getting the other nutrients in the food, as well, like protein and calcium.
If you'd like to find out more about eating healthy and what you should be shopping for, make sure to consult with your free Loblaw in-store dietitian. They are a wealth of knowledge and can help you prepare for the cold and flu season by suggesting which nutrient-rich foods you should be stocking up on.

They'll even give you handy recipes to make meal preparation easier for you. (Like this sweet potato and carrot miso soup recipe, or the sweet potato nacho bake—both so delicious and perfect for fall!)

And while you're at local Loblaw store, you can visit your in-store pharmacist for your free flu shot, too, which is the best way to prevent the flu for the entire family.

From the food aisle to the pharmacy, your local Loblaw store has great products to help you stay healthy during cold and flu season.






Disclaimer: In partnering with Loblaw, I have been compensated for this post. All views and opinions are my own.





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