As published in My Swiss Story on October 21, 2020
Well here we go, heading into the winter months, as the numbers are spiking. There is quite a bit of collective anxiety around the current situation. Everyone is freaking out about masks and social distancing around the holidays. Instead of panicking, which isn’t good for your mental or physical health, let’s all take a collective deep breath (which by the way is good for your immune system) and focus on the things we do have control over.
- Drink water: Aim for your body weight (if kgs) in ounces, so if you weight 70kgs then you should be drinking 70 ounces of water a day. Hydration is critical to your immune function. Replace your sodas or energy drinks with naturally flavored water instead.
- Check your D: Vitamin D is a critical nutrient, supporting not only your immune system, but your mental wellbeing as well. Most people are seriously low. Ask your doctor to check your levels and take a supplement daily.
- Eat seasonally. “The reason for the season.” Your body needs those nutrients that are most abundant each season. Aim for half of your plate being made of seasonal vegetables at every meal. Stock up on gut nourishing bone broth and leafy greens – fall and winter are great for experimenting with healthy soups.
- Pick some ‘Shrooms: Mushrooms pack some serious immune-boosting health benefits. They are known as nature’s antibiotics. Their medicinal properties help to fight off many types of illnesses.
- Sugar sanity: Sugar diminishes your immune system’s ability to respond to foreign invaders. The effect can last for several hours, which means if you eat sweets several times a day, your immune system may be perpetually operating at a disadvantage. Find healthier alternatives, they are out there.
- Move Your Body. Preferably outdoors for a minimum of 30 minutes every day, as the fresh air and natural sunlight is good for your immune system. If you can’t get out, do something, anything to get your heart rate up.
- Make Sleep a Priority! Lack of sleep negatively impacts your immune system. Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.
- Take a multivitamin: While nothing can replace a healthy diet, it can be challenging to get all the vitamins and nutrients met in our daily diet. Take a high quality supplement to help fill in the gaps.
- Meditate: Meditation creates a positive mental environment for the immune system to flourish. Studies show it can boost antibodies and improve your response to potential illness.
- Reduce Toxins: Chemicals are everywhere from the food we eat to the products we put in and on our body. And don’t get me started on cleaning products. Seek out natural alternatives that are not only good for your planet but better for your immune system.
These tips are not meant to overwhelm you, but to give you some great ideas on areas you can work on to naturally boost your immune system. There is no reason to live in fear, when you can be in the driver’s seat this winter. Being healthy is about progress, not perfection. Check out my 5 Key Strategies to Boost Your Immune System eBook here .
“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live” – Jim Rohn