Have you ever proclaimed you caught a cold from someone else? (As if being in someone else's presence had the power to override your immune system and make you sniffle, sneeze and cough.) It is time to put this notion to rest.
Imagine you are at a party and someone walks in with the flu. Not everyone at the party will get the flu; some will and some won't. What's the difference? Why do some folks succumb to viral and bacterial infections while others seem to be "lucky"? It is not a matter of luck. Think of your immune system as a bank account. Actions you choose can either add to the bank account, or take away from it. The more positive, health promoting actions you take, the more you have in your account - the better your resistance. Health promoting behaviors that add to your resistance include: drinking water (no - water filtered through a coffee bean does not count), eating real food (real food can spoil - if it came in a bag or a box, be suspicious), getting enough sleep (8 hours for most folks), managing your stress (exercise, managing your perspective, doing nice things for yourself, breathing from the belly), and most importantly - getting adjusted. Your brain can't manage the body's functions with a poorly functioning spine.
Now that you know what adds to your immune system and resistance to disease - let's go back to the party. The people who are most likely to be "unlucky" are the ones who have not been making good choices for a while. They are the ones who have been over stressed, not drinking enough water, not sleeping enough, and eating the comfort foods (starchy grains). They have been debiting from their bank account of immunity. Now when they are exposed to a virus or bacteria, they get sick.
Next time you get a cold or the flu, ask yourself what is out of balance in your life? Have you been neglecting your diet, your sleep, your food, your spine? Health is not a matter of chance - it's the little choices you make on a regular basis.
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