It seriously feels like everyone is sick right now. I showed up to work on Monday and three different people were suddenly coughing and had sore throats. Unfortunately we have an awful sick day policy (they don’t exist) so most people don’t go home when they are sick.
Thankfully, I haven’t gotten sick this year, but I don’t credit it to luck. I do a lot of things to make sure I stay healthy.
Have a healthy morning
I have been making sure that the first thing I put in my body every morning is good for me. I do hot water with juice from half a lemon, cayenne pepper, ground ginger, cinnamon, and a little less than a tablespoon of honey. This stuff tastes good and makes me feel good! Seriously, if I wake up bloated for whatever reason this gets rid of it right away. I’ve also had some mornings where I wake up with my throat feeling a little sore and this helps with that too.
Vitamin C
I mean this is an obvious one right? But wait! What kind of vitamin C are you taking? Stay away from ones like EmergenC, they have lots of added sugar and preservatives which don’t help your immune system at all. Find ones with short ingredient lists and the use GMP certified processes.
Also, vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, meaning it inst stored in your body for continuous use. It needs to be taken everyday to help keep your immune system strong.
Elderberry syrup
I feel like there has started to be more hype around this product. Its great for keeping a healthy immune system. You can buy it online, at Whole Foods, or make your own! It comes in liquid, capsule, and gummy form. It can be a little expensive, but its totally worth it. Again- you want to stick with a limited ingredient list. I take this every morning right after drinking my lemon water.
Now you may be thinking, aren’t these supplements? Won’t my body build up a tolerance? No. These are not medicine. They are supplements. Meaning they are just supplementing your diet with things you aren’t getting enough of in your food. With our agricultural system its almost impossible to get the needed amount of nutrients and minerals from food alone. These can be taken everyday in the correct amounts without worry.
Sleep
Sleep is key to keeping your immune system strong. As soon as I go a few days without enough sleep I get sick. Getting 7+ hours will help keep your immune system strong and fight all the germs floating around.
Diet
70% of your immune system is in your gut. Diet plays a huge role in health. Make sure you focus on nutrient dense foods and limit processed sugar.
Epsom salt baths
This was a total game changer for me. If I ever start to feel even a little bit sick I take an Epsom salt bath. The water needs to be super hot. As hot as you can stand. You should be sweating. 2 cups of Epsom slat and 1 cup of baking soda. I like adding lavender essential oil too. Supposedly this helps to draw toxins out of the body. I don’t know if that true, but it always helps me feel better after!
All of these have helped me stay healthy this winter! Knock on wood- I’ll go the rest of the season with no runny nose, cough, or fever.