I currently have 3 people down in my house with some variant of a cold, sore throat, headache, sweats, fever............you name it. Yuk.. frankly.
You forget how horrid it is to hit 'flu season every year don't you? Getting on the tube feels like an extreme act of self sabotage!
Ok this year I'm going for the 10 best immune boosting decisions, so it's a combination of food and activity.
1. Add in zinc, selenium and vitamin D to your diet asap as they boost immunity. (Personally I get them weekly in my Fitamin Drip but some people prefer pills. Just pick one of them.)
2. Almonds- a small handful provides you 50% of your daily vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps your body to fight infection and ward off illnesses.
3. Green leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale, spinach) – are nutrient powerhouses, packed full of disease-fighting vitamin C and zinc. In this type of weather I would lightly steam them, to preserve their full nutrient value.
4. Garlic- research shows it’s a powerful antiviral and antibacterial. Peel, chop and leave for around 15 minutes before cooking to activate full immune-boosting enzymes. (.....or just get garlic capsules?)
5. Ginger- anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti- inflammatory, and that’s just for starters! I have a chunk ginger in hot water with a slice of lemon to start the day (you can use honey to sweeten if you need to).
6. Oats- contain beta-glucan, which research shows as stronger than Echinacea. Soak oats in water or nut milk for at least an hour before eating for optimal nutrient absorption.
7. Keep your gut working at optimum. So take a Probiotic daily to keep your levels of “good” disease-fighting bacteria high.
8. No sweet food. Like none at all. Sugar suppresses the immune system. If you are craving something sweet, have fresh fruit instead which is bursting with phytonutrients.
9. Sleep!- Yes it’s when you’re asleep that your body goes into repair mode and regenerates new immune cells. Studies show that a lack of sleep is as damaging to the immune system as stress, so if you’re feeling grotty- get an early night!
10. Exercise- Now don't go for a 5 mile run in the midst of a cold, but light exercise increases the levels of your body's feel-good chemical serotonin, and helps you sleep better. Win:Win.
