5 Simple Ways to Beat the Flu &
Boost Your Immune System Naturally
1. Wash Your Hands
A public health staple, this simple task greatly reduces the spread of cold and flu germs. No need for antibacterial hand soap, regular soup works just as well without creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
2. Catch up on your ZZZ's
Sleep is when your body rests and recovers, but don't think that because you are being passive your immune system is doing nothing. Getting enough sleep helps our hormones stay in balance and our immune system stay in tip top shape. If you feel like you’re coming down with something, try to get a few hours of extra sleep or naps right away. You just might stave off the infection altogether.
3. Take in some trees
Going for a walk in nature gives quite a lot of benefit for your time. First, there is the walking bit. Exercise is a great immune booster. Also, spending time in nature seems to help the immune system on it's own! Throw in the fact that both exercise and time in nature decrease stress (which in it's self boosts the immune system) and you've got yourself a powerful immune boosting activity.
4. Turn down the heat (in your shower)
What! A cold shower! Well not so fast, I'm not suggesting your whole shower is cold, just a few minutes of it. After you've been in the nice toasty shower for 3-4 minutes, turn the shower to cold (or cool, whatever you can handle) for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times ENDING YOUR SHOWER ON COLD. This is a wonderful hydrotherapy treatment you can do at home to actually increase your core temperature, move your blood and lymph fluid, and much like exercise, is great for the immune system. (Plus, it gives you a bit of a natural buzz to start your morning off right!)
5. Cut the sugar
I know you've heard this one before, but sugar dampens our immune system. If a little extra sugar has slipped into your diet since Thanksgiving, cold and flu season is a great time to kick it back out! We have three consecutive Sugar Holidays right as cold and flu season kicks off: Thanksgiving, Hallowe’en, and Christmas. A quick and easy tip we suggest is to drink two glasses of lemon water or immune boosting herbal tea such as ginger, green tea or Echinacea tea half an hour before you have your meals or snacks. A recent study showed just 16 oz (about 2 cups) water taken 30 minutes before meals helped people lose an average of 9.5lbs in 2 weeks, without making any other changes! Taking in extra fluids is great for your immune system and may also help you avoid those sugary temptations ;)
A public health staple, this simple task greatly reduces the spread of cold and flu germs. No need for antibacterial hand soap, regular soup works just as well without creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
2. Catch up on your ZZZ's
Sleep is when your body rests and recovers, but don't think that because you are being passive your immune system is doing nothing. Getting enough sleep helps our hormones stay in balance and our immune system stay in tip top shape. If you feel like you’re coming down with something, try to get a few hours of extra sleep or naps right away. You just might stave off the infection altogether.
3. Take in some trees
Going for a walk in nature gives quite a lot of benefit for your time. First, there is the walking bit. Exercise is a great immune booster. Also, spending time in nature seems to help the immune system on it's own! Throw in the fact that both exercise and time in nature decrease stress (which in it's self boosts the immune system) and you've got yourself a powerful immune boosting activity.
4. Turn down the heat (in your shower)
What! A cold shower! Well not so fast, I'm not suggesting your whole shower is cold, just a few minutes of it. After you've been in the nice toasty shower for 3-4 minutes, turn the shower to cold (or cool, whatever you can handle) for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times ENDING YOUR SHOWER ON COLD. This is a wonderful hydrotherapy treatment you can do at home to actually increase your core temperature, move your blood and lymph fluid, and much like exercise, is great for the immune system. (Plus, it gives you a bit of a natural buzz to start your morning off right!)
5. Cut the sugar
I know you've heard this one before, but sugar dampens our immune system. If a little extra sugar has slipped into your diet since Thanksgiving, cold and flu season is a great time to kick it back out! We have three consecutive Sugar Holidays right as cold and flu season kicks off: Thanksgiving, Hallowe’en, and Christmas. A quick and easy tip we suggest is to drink two glasses of lemon water or immune boosting herbal tea such as ginger, green tea or Echinacea tea half an hour before you have your meals or snacks. A recent study showed just 16 oz (about 2 cups) water taken 30 minutes before meals helped people lose an average of 9.5lbs in 2 weeks, without making any other changes! Taking in extra fluids is great for your immune system and may also help you avoid those sugary temptations ;)