Stay Sniffle Free All Winter
The winter season is an ideal time for catching a cold or the flu. The weather is cold, wet and windy, and your co-workers and friends may be carrying viruses that can infect you as well. However, don't blame them or the weather if you get sick. Infections and colds are the results of a weak immune system. Viruses are seeds that look for fertile land, such as a weakened body, to take root. If you keep your immune system strong, you can stay sniffle free all winter.

DON'T CREATE FERTILE LAND FOR VIRUSES
The best way to increase your immunity is to avoid creating ama. This sticky waste product of undigested food clogs the channels that carry food to the cells and the channels that remove wastes. It also blocks the microchannels that are part of the immune system and provides a breeding ground for viruses. Foods that create ama include leftovers, processed foods, ice-cold foods, and vegetables from the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers). By avoiding these foods and eating regular meals in moderate quantities you can significantly lower the accumulation of ama in your body.

KEEP YOUR AGNI STRONG
Your agni or digestive fire is the strongest weapon against ama. The cold weather can decrease your agni so you need to use spices to improve your digestion. Cook your food with the following immune-enhancing spices: cumin, fennel, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper.

IMPROVE YOUR ROUTINE
Every-day stress can also act as a fertilizer for viruses. Practice the Transcendental Meditation® technique twice a day to reduce stress and to strengthen your immune system. Get enough sleep and exercise according to your body type. Perform a whole-body self-massage every morning to open the channels, stimulate digestion and remove toxins from the body. Take a warm bath to warm the body and regulate its internal thermostat. Dress according to the weather to prevent your body from getting cold.

WHEN YOU ARE SICK
At the first sign of a cold or flu take extra measures. Get plenty of rest and stay at home. Take a few days off to help your body get back on track. If you continue your usual routine, your condition may get worse and the recovery time will be longer. This really isn't the time to push but to follow your body's natural rhythm. If it tells you to slow down, listen to it.

Drink lots of warm water to help flush toxins from the lungs. Eat wholesome, nutritious, easily digestible foods such as cooked leafy green vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetable soups. Avoid heavy foods like meat, dairy, oils, nut butters and sweets.

Since excess moisture and mucus is a sign of Kapha imbalance, consume light, warm, dry, pungent, bitter and astringent foods which pacify Kapha dosha. Flavor your meals with a Kapha-balancing mix of spices.
Don't be the one who comes down with a flu this winter. With these few adjustments you can naturally improve your resistance to sickness and enjoy a healthy season.