We’re all trying our best these days to stay healthy and ward off viruses and infections. But we can do many more things besides washing our hands a million times to stay healthy.
Here are a few tips on how we can support your immunity so that even when we get sick, it doesn’t last for weeks.
How to support your immunity before you get sick:
Begin each day with a nice big mug of warm lemon water.
Lemons have a significant amount of vitamin C and have antioxidant and antibiotic properties, so drinking lemon juice in the morning can really help to support your immunity throughout the day.
Focus as much as possible on eating whole foods.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply creating meals focusing on whole foods and less on ultra-processed foods will help to support your immune system tremendously.
Increase the use of foods that contain high levels of Vitamin C
Did you know there are other fruits and veggies that have more Vitamin C than oranges?
Papaya is first on the list followed by bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, and pineapple. Here’s the full list. When fall and winter roll around, start making meals with those foods.
I pack my kids’ lunches with bell peppers and strawberries and they don’t even know they’re getting Vitamin C. Tricky!
I also buy a Vitamin C spray by Garden of Life that the kids love and spray in their mouths every morning at breakfast for an extra hit. I’ve been adding Camu Camu to my smoothies which also has loads of Vitamin C.
Move your body and get fresh air outdoors
Getting outside every day or walk or other exercise can help to support your immune system. Plus it can help to keep your happy during the cold, dark months!
If you feel like you’re coming down with something:
First and foremost: If you can manage it, try not to automatically reach for the Advil or drugs. Your body is amazing and fever is its way of creating an unwanted space for intruders. As long as the fever isn’t too high, let it do its thing for a bit.
However. No one likes to feel crummy so there are a few things to do naturally to support your immunity:
Drink more warm lemon water throughout the day (add some ginger, turmeric, raw honey, and cayenne for added support).
Warm water will soothe your throat and tummy (as will ginger in addition to helping your body detoxify), turmeric contains a polyphenol that helps with alleviating inflammation, raw honey has loads of benefits including antibacterial properties and cayenne has detoxifying properties and gives your body some heat to help sweat out those bad guys.
Eat garlic and honey
Anytime I feel something coming on, I crush a clove of garlic, pour raw honey on it, and gulp it down. Not the best breath freshener, but nine times out of 10 I’m not sick in the morning so it works!
Ditch traditional cough medicine
If you have a cough, forget about regular old cough syrup and reach for SURO.
SURO is made from elderberry syrup which is a natural cough and cold suppressant that will help, not hinder, your body fight virus. Plus it tastes great and the kids love it. Read about the benefits of elderberry here.
Well, I’ve likely given you enough ideas to make your head spin so I encourage you to try one of these options this season instead of reaching for over-the-counter medication. Your body will thank you for it!
Note: Information contained in this newsletter should not be taken as medical advice. I am not a medical doctor. Views expressed in this newsletter are based on my own research and methods I have tried personally at home.
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