Limit Sugar Consumption
No really! Sugar causes inflammation and that is the last thing your body needs when fighting off viruses + bacteria. My go-to in the past was a large glass of orange juice, but even in a glass of homemade, organic orange juice there is 10 grams of natural sugar! Try avoiding as much sugars as possible when you start feeling sick, and I guarantee you'll start getting better faster.
Increase Vitamin Intake
I know what you're thinking... If I can't drink a glass of OJ how else can I get vitamin C into my system. There are many vitamins in supplement form as well as in other non-sugary foods that we can add into our get better quick routine:
-Supplements
Shortly after Labor Day we up our intake of Vitamin D. Another great supplement that you can find anywhere is Turmeric, it is also great as a slightly spicy tea. Vitamin C and Zinc are also great for boosting your immune system this time of year. Even if you don't feel like making these apart of a daily regimen, you can always start adding them in when you feel a sickness coming on
-Food
When I think of food that heals I think of soups. But not chicken noodle or tomato, again staying away from sugar here. Here is a list of well known vitamins, suggested to boost our immunity and some well known ingredients to make when you are starting to feel under the weather:
Vitamin D - fish
Vitamin C - bell peppers, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and
cabbage
Zinc - veal, lamb and beef, shiitake mushrooms
Add in some natural bone broth and mix together any of these ingredients for a super soup, that will get you feeling better in no time! No cold medicine needed.
Wash Hands
Seems like a no brainer, but even after a worldwide pandemic I have still witnessed people in the restroom NOT washing their hands.
It may seem like a hassle and if you are worried about chapped hands please head over to my Cold Weather Skin Care article, but washing your hands has been proved to be the most effective way to rid your hands of germs.
I once did an experiment in a college science course, one person rinsed their hands using just water, another used hand sanitizer and the third washed their hands with soap and water. We turned the lights off and used a black light to inspect all of our hands. Can you guess which looked the cleanest? That's right, the one who used soap and water.
We use our hands constantly and if we want to take better care during cold/flu season we need to give them a thorough wash all day long!
Wash Your Sheets?
My dad was diagnosed with cancer a few years back and one thing my mom became an expert on was keeping the house clean. One of the things she changed in her cleaning schedule was how frequently she washed the sheets and how she changed their bedding.
It got me thinking that maybe we need to wash our sheets more often, especially if we want to try to prevent getting sick. I looked into it, and found that the average we should be washing our bedding is once a week! Chris and I bought an extra set of bedding and I started a washing schedule Tuesday's are now bedding wash days. Bath Towels should be washed twice a week, so Tuesday's and Friday's are towel days.
Another method: before making your bed, vacuum the mattress. Dust mites and bed bugs can cause allergies and giving the mattress a sweep of the vacuum is extremely helpful!
None of these tips are guaranteed to keep you from getting sick EVER. But they do help! I always try to take care of my body and I noticed a huge difference when I altered my sickness routine. I hope you are staying safe and healthy out there and found these tips helpful!
Leave a comment below with any tips you have for staying healthy! Would love to hear from you ❤
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