Rest assured there are steps you can take now that can give you the best possible start to Winter. Sure, there is no guarantee that you aren't going to get sick but I'm sure most of you will agree that being stuck in bed for a day definitely beats an entire week of feeling like death warmed up.
Build up your immune system! There are a few things you can do to boost your immune system right now.
1) Start the morning with a teaspoon of raw or Manuka honey. A small teaspoon dissolved in the back of your throat can help boost your immune system overall and also help to keep the area free of any looming germs. It makes sense that a sore throat is usually a sign that something is trying to take hold and therefore stopping the virus at entry point can certainly help.
2) Up your fruit and vegetable intake. Most of us know we should be eating 5 serves of vegetables a day and 2 serves of fruit a day, right? How many of us actually do that? This is the time of year you should be even more mindful of how much fresh produce you're consuming. Try to incorporate some high Vitamin C fruits into your diet such as oranges, kiwi fruit, lemons, limes and strawberries.
3) Switch your household cleaners. I've spoken about this before but I'll say it again, never underestimate the damage harsh household chemicals are doing to your immune system. Do yourself a favour and change to a natural cleaner for around your home. At the very least switch your general household cleaner. Fill an empty spray bottle with approx 5ml pure eucalyptus oil, half a bottle of pure white vinegar and the remainder just good old tap water. Use this for cleaning in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Sprinkle a little baking soda on stubborn marks and a little lemon juice does wonders to shine up metallic surfaces. If I have a lemon sitting at home that's looking a little sad I use half of that lemon to scrub down my sink. Simply cut it then grab it and scrub, easy!
4) Improve your fitness levels. You'll find your body will be more capable of fighting off those bugs if you're in good physical health. If you're not keeping active already then don't wait til Spring to get started.There's no time like the present!
5) Sleep more. There's a reason we all like to sleep in more in Winter and it's not just because it's cold. Making sure you're getting at least 7 hrs of good quality sleep a night will help your body's immune system. Think about how many times you've had a big weekend and ended up sick the following week? Do yourself a favour and wind up for the night at least 8 hrs before you expect to wake in the morning. That way you'll have some time to fall off to sleep and be sure to get enough to be charged for the next day.
5) Add Garlic to all your foods! Add 1-2 cloves of garlic to all your cooking at home. If you can handle it I recommend adding raw garlic to freshly made dips as garlic in it's raw form is even better for the immune system.
So, here's your grocery list to get you started!
- Manuka 15+ honey (or raw honey is almost as good & certainly cheaper)
- Lemons (add to drinking water, use for seafood dishes and to clean around the home)
- Vinegar (100% pure ONLY, Cornwalls brand is our favourite)
- Eucalyptus oil (PURE only, read to ensure it's not in a base)
- Loads of fresh fruit and vegetables
