Getting a head-start on cold & flu season

While I love the chill in the air, as a doctor it’s my reminder that this year’s cold and flu season is just around the corner.

But today I’m going to give you the inside scoop on a secret weapon that could help get you through the winter sniffle-free…

And, believe it or not, that “secret weapon” comes in the form of probiotics.

I’ve been singing the praises of probiotics for years–long before they became “trendy.” Now, a new study shows that probiotics can boost immunity by 50 percent! A group of Italian researchers has published this finding in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Nutrition.

Their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 211 participants. For six weeks, each participant got either a placebo or a probiotic supplement.

At the end of six weeks, each participant got a flu shot. Four weeks later, researchers found that the participants in the probiotic groups had significantly higher levels of flu antibodies than the placebo group.

But it’s important to get a good source of probiotics. And, unfortunately, yogurt and kefir just don’t contain enough friendly bacteria to give you a sufficient immune boost.

If you’re serious about probiotics–and you should be–find a high-quality probiotic supplement. That’s the best way to get sufficient amounts of friendly bacteria that will get the job done.