WELLNESS POLICY NEWSLETTER

ED 2. Vol 2. 2017 Manteca Unified School District

Health & Nutrition Tips for Cold & Flu Season

By Jennifer Lew-Vang, RD, MUSD Nutrition Dietitian

Is your body ready to fight against cold & flu season?

Manteca Unified School District—Health Services Department held its annual flu clinic at no

charge on Wednesday, September 27, 2017. The event was a success and approximately 550 MUSD employees,

students, and family members received vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

since 2010, an estimated 710,000 flu-related hospitalizations have occurred and an estimated 56,000 have resulted in flu

-related deaths. “Flu season” can begin as soon as October and end as late as May. The best way to reduce your risk of

getting sick and spreading the flu to others is to receive an annual flu vaccine. Flu vaccines work by developing

antibodies, about two weeks after vaccination, that provide protection against infection.

A flu vaccine is not 100% guaranteed to prevent you from getting sick; however, research has proven to reduce your risk

or lessen flu-like symptoms. In addition to a flu vaccine, there are other tips to help fight against cold and flu season.

Remember these five tips:

1. Wash your hands. Leslie Agostini, MS, BSN, RN, Coordinator

of Health Services, can’t stress this enough. Clean hands

prevent the spread of germs.

2. Eat nutrient-dense foods on a daily basis. Try to maintain a

diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and

whole grain breads and pastas.

3. Stay Hydrated! Drinking lots of fluids when sick will help your

body recover faster and lessen symptoms. Drink a minimum 8

cups or 64 oz. per day.

4. Get extra sleep. Your body needs time to recover. When we

sleep, our immune system releases proteins called cytokines.

Cytokines help to fight infection and inflammation and overall

boost our immune systems.

Will extra Vitamin C help decrease the duration of the flu ?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), individuals who took a Vitamin C supplement decreased 85% of

reported flu and cold symptoms compared to those who did not. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that boosts the immune

system by destroying free radical damage that occurs in the body. It does not cure the common cold and flu, but it does

help keep your immune system healthy.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it dissolves in water upon entering the

body, therefore your body cannot store excess amounts of Vitamin C for a later

use. Because of this, there is minimal risks associated of extra amounts of

Vitamin C consumed. However, it is always important to talk to your health care

provider before taking any supplements.

Vitamin C is found in a variety of citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons,

limes), kale, bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, and berries.

During cold and flu season, it is ok to juice your fruits and vegetables for extra consumptions of Vitamin C, but it is

recommended by the American Dietetic Association to eat your fruit instead of drink. Researchers at the Harvard School

of Public Health discovered that those who consumed one or more servings of fruit juice daily increased their risk of

developing Type 2 diabetes by 21%. In contrast, those who ate at least one or more servings of whole fruits, reduced their

risk for Type 2 diabetes by 23%. One of my favorite mottos is, “Eat your calories and nutrients, don’t drink them.”

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.

Upcoming Events:

Wellness Committee Meeting Tuesday, December 5, 2017

MUSD District Office

For more information: Patty Page

ppage@musd.net or 209-825-3200