Why do we seem to get more colds and flus this time of the year?

Did you ever wonder why there are so many more colds and flus going around this time of the year?  One reason is that as the weather gets colder and drier, we need to respond by bringing in more hydration, moisture and winter-appropriate foods to our diet.  It supports our skin and mucus membranes (like our sinuses) to stay healthy and naturally lubricated.

But all too often, we don’t make simple seasonal shifts in our skin care, our home air environment and our diet to support what is happening in the outer elements.

And in response to our skin and membranes drying out in the colder weather- our body overcompensates by producing excess mucus.

Excess mucus can quickly become a breeding ground for cold germs and flu viruses.  Enter cold and flu season.

One of our best defenses is to shift the way we care for ourselves (outside and in) to reflect the season we are in.

An easy way to winterize our diet is to change up the kinds of spices we begin to use in our meals.  Here’s a super immune-building spice recipe that I use all fall and winter long.

Healing Spice Mix

Ingredients
3 tsp ground Indian Turmeric
3 tsp ground Cumin
3 tsp ground Indian Coriander
1 tsp ground Fennel
1 tsp powdered Ginger
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground Cardamom

Directions
1. Mix the above together well.
2. Store in a air-tight container.

* You can use any or all of the spices together to suit your tastes. I combine this mix together and then use it when I make soups, stews, sauteed veggies or sprinkled on buttered rice or whole-wheat pasta.

This recipe is part of the comprehensive 3-part workshop: Roadmap to a Healthy, Happy, Holiday Season.

This workshop covers everything from food, recipes, and lifestyle choices to stay healthy in the fall and winter approach…to handling the hectic schedules and extra stress of the holidays…in ways that are deceivingly simple and powerful to implement for a busy family.