It�s Fall and we are already in the full swing of flu season.  Last week I talked about the importance of taking Vitamin D to help the immune system.

This week I want to mention how important it is to stay away from sugar when you are sick OR if you are around a lot of people that are sick making you more susceptible to getting sick.

Sugar, the kind in all that leftover Halloween candy, will suppress your immune system by making your white blood cells inactive and less effective for several hours after eating some. If you have a small sweet treat once a day that might not be too much. But sugar in any form when you are sick can keep you sick longer.

Sugar also has a more inflammatory effect when you are sick so avoid it at all cost when ill. If you snack on sugary snacks throughout the day you may be causing a problem with your immune system and make yourself more susceptible to getting sick.

The time that sugar can be good is if someone has been throwing up a lot and hasn�t eaten in a day or two. Electrolytes can get thrown off quickly when you are vomiting so eating a small amount of sugar in the form of honey or real maple syrup can help boost glucose levels and increase energy. A little lick of salt, when you�ve been vomiting, is also very helpful to recover.

So remember to watch your sugar intake during the winter months when the flu is out there and so active this year.