In the Kanto region, there is news that the first wave of spring has arrived much earlier than last year, and the temperature difference has become more severe. In fact, the temperature difference between February and March is as dramatic as autumn, making it a time of the year that has traditionally been referred to as the three coldest and fourth warm months.
If possible, we would like to get through this period in good health without catching a cold.
We spoke to Dr. Tomoko Hashimoto, a doctor who treats various illnesses from the perspective of molecular nutrition, about ``building your body to prevent colds.''​

Increase your preventive effect by washing your hands and gargling + rinsing your nose

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, hand washing and gargling have become firmly established in our daily lives.

"To protect yourself from infectious diseases, it is important to remove invisible viruses from your body and prevent them from entering your body."
For this reason, it is important to continue washing your hands and gargling.

``However, some people think it's better not to use too much mouthwash, as it can kill even the good bacteria in your mouth,'' says Dr. Hashimoto.

It seems okay to gargle with water unless you've been on a crowded train or come into contact with someone who has a cold.
What the teacher recommends is gargling your nose.

"Viruses and bacteria tend to cause inflammation when they stick to the upper respiratory tract (from the nasal cavity to the pharynx). Nasal gargling can cleanse that area, and is expected to have a greater preventive effect than just mouth gargling."

There is an image that ``rinsing your nose = pain''...

"There is a trick to rinsing your nose. Ever since I learned the correct way to do it at an otolaryngologist, I have been able to gargle my nose without any pain."

For future reference, it might be a good idea to have an otolaryngologist teach you how to do it.

What I want to be conscious of is living a life that raises my basal body temperature.

In order to create a body that is less likely to catch a cold, it is important to increase its resistance to viruses. Basal body temperature is the key to this.
"First of all, it's important to have a regular lifestyle and moderate exercise, and to keep your body cool."

It is said that when your basal body temperature rises by 1 degree, your immune system increases by 50% to 60%, and conversely, when your basal body temperature decreases by 1 degree, your immune system decreases by about 30%.

"What's important is the food you eat. Make sure to eat hot meals and add foods that warm your body, such as ginger and chili peppers, to raise your body temperature."

Another important point is to eat three meals a day.
"You won't be able to get the nutrients you need with just two meals. Breakfast is especially important. Eating enough vitamins and protein will boost your metabolism from the morning."

The teacher recommends Japanese breakfast. Miso soup with rice and vegetables is perfect if you add some protein such as fish or natto to it.
"It's okay to eat leftovers from dinner in the morning. Don't overdo it and try to eat three meals in your busy schedule."

However, you should avoid eating too quickly just because you don't have time.
"Chewing well and producing saliva are also ways to prevent colds. Saliva has the function of preventing viruses from entering, and it is said that when the amount of saliva decreases, the barrier function deteriorates."

Check the nutrients you want to actively consume

Lastly, we asked about the nutrients that they would like to actively consume to prevent colds.
"The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract plays an important role as the first line of defense against colds. Vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, and protein maintain the condition of this mucous membrane. These nutrients They work as a team, so eating evenly from all of them is the key to good health."

Vitamin C is found in vegetables, fruits, and potatoes; vitamin D is found in mushrooms, fish and shellfish, and eggs; vitamin A is found in green and yellow vegetables, eel, and liver; zinc is found in seafood such as oysters, meat, and pumpkin seeds; protein is found in meat, It is abundant in fish, soybeans, and eggs.

"However, vitamin C is not produced in the body, so it tends to be deficient. Also, vitamin D, which is produced by exposure to ultraviolet rays, is said to be insufficient in the winter when sunlight hours are short. It can also be supplemented with supplements. It is important"

summary

Since the beginning of February, it seems that the number of people becoming unwell due to infectious diseases such as colds and influenza has increased.
There are two points for prevention. First of all, prevent the virus from entering your body, and then increase your resistance.
This time, Mr. Hashimoto taught us some habits that we can incorporate into our busy daily lives, such as rinsing our noses and eating meals that raise our basal body temperature, even from tomorrow!
Supplement the vitamins C and D that tend to be deficient with "Lypo-C C+D" and enjoy a healthy daily life.




Professor Tomoko Hashimoto
Certified instructor in clinical molecular nutritional medicine. Certified doctor for high-concentration vitamin C drip therapy. She discovered molecular nutrition after suffering from breast cancer. At the clinic, we perform molecular nutritional tests and counseling, and treat patients whose health is not severe enough to require a trip to the hospital.

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