Can an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

Flu shot. Check.

Washing your hands with antibacterial soap. Check.

Getting 8 hours of sleep. Check. Well, you try anyway.

Despite following these sage words of advice, you may still find yourself reaching for a box of tissues as the cold weather approaches. According to the Mayo Clinic, even healthy adults can expect to catch a few colds every year. Before you can say a-choo, here are some ways—some perhaps a bit unusual—to boost your immune system.

South Orange Teacher, Author and Coach, Rita Desnoyers-Garcia, reminds us to remain healthy by focusing on our already perfect health and wellness. "Our bodies are so perfectly designed to heal and come back into balance," said Desnoyers-Garcia. "So, to think of avoiding will only lead you to where you don't want to go.  In other words, do, say, think, and believe from a place of wellness and ease and not a place of being afraid or avoiding sickness or disease."

One way to do this is to meditate. "You can say, 'I come from wellness,' or, 'My body naturally heals itself when I listen to what it needs,' or, 'I create wellness by focusing on what feels good to me.'"  

She also reminds us to be gentle with ourselves. "Getting sick is not a personal failure. It doesn't mean something is 'wrong' with you. Accept, love and embrace it all," she advises.

Maplewood Certified Holistic Health Counselor Aarti Aziz believes that what we eat has a great effect on our bodies. She recommends eating more downward growing roots and winter squashes, such as acorn, spaghetti, butternut, yams, and sweet potatoes when the weather gets colder. "These are not only warming, but loaded with nutrition for the winter," said Aziz.

Since the wind and the cold dry out our body in winter, Aziz recommends good fats like avocados, nuts and seeds and apples, bananas and oranges to counterbalance the dryness. Lastly, she suggests going outside as much as possible. "The most important ingredient above all is Vitamin D. Try to get a daily dose of sun for a minimum of 15 minutes everyday when the sun is out. There is no better defense for the body."

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) philosophy, when chi, or life energy, is flowing evenly and is strong, the body maintains good health. When there is chi stagnation, the body's immune defenses may lessen. Debra Bernath, who practices traditional massage therapy and other bodywork modalities at Shakti Yoga and Living Arts in Maplewood and Bodhi Tree in South Orange, says that the key factor to massage is relaxation and distressing. "This time of year, when the days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling from tree is nature's way of telling us to slow down." However, people tend to go against nature. "The holidays are approaching and we are busy," said Bernath. As a practitioner of TCM, Bernath believes that prevention is the best medicine. "Having regular body work sessions is beneficial to support your immune system." Bernath, who offers reflexology and QMT—Qigong Meridian Therapy—says that "reflexology stimulates the relaxation response. QMT gets the chi to flow. One hour of QMT may equal a good night's sleep."

Owning partner and practicing physician at Summit-Springfield Family Practice Dr. Marnie Doubek pointed out that studies have shown that the single most effective method of preventing a cold is washing your hands. "One should wash with soap and water and rub hands together vigorously for a minute or so. If soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol based hand rub is a good substitute," said Dr. Doubek.

As a doctor who sees endless amounts of sick patients on a daily basis, Dr. Doubek practices what she preaches in order to keep herself healthy. "I wash my hands constantly and consciously try to avoid touching my face. I do my best to eat a healthy well balanced diet, exercise regularly, get a good night sleep, and attempt to eliminate stress whenever possible."

Do you have ideas for upcoming columns, know an athletic enthusiast, want to ask a question, or can put me in touch with people who are inspiring or creating a healthier Maplewood? Post a comment or email Judie Hurtado. Hurtado is an enthusiastic fitness and wellness expert with years of experience. She blogs about her health and fitness adventures at www.judiesjuice.wordpress.com. Her articles have been published in magazines such as Time Out New York and Park Place.