5 tips to help you beat the winter colds
It seems like the winter cold and flu season has hit early this year. My family has already been affected and many people I speak to have already been impacted by “the worst cold I can remember” and are worried about the rest of winter. The last thing we as Mums, Dads, workers, carers or kids need is to be struck down with these nasty viruses that turn our lives and schedules upside down. We’re all busy with life, running around from work to meetings to sporting activities, school drop off and the rest of it, that we can very quickly become run down and start to feel that ominous tickle in the back of the throat that says “watch out – here comes your cold, its time to rest”.
The most common question I’m getting in clinic at the moment is how can I boost my immune system to try and avoid another cold or flu or how can I reduce the time I’m sick. Well here are my top 5 immune system boosters and support that you can use this winter to help keep you and your family well:
- Eat foods rich in Vitamin C like pineapple, oranges, kiwi fruit, celery and broccoli etc. They are high in antioxidants and bromelain and have a major role in preventing and reducing the time of a cold. They demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory effects in reducing swelling, sore throat and sinusitis.
- Make sure your nutrition on a daily basis is good with lots of whole foods. Reducing your sugar, caffeine and alcohol intake will go a long way in supporting your immune system too.
- Increase in garlic, onion, ginger, artichokes, raw honey, lemon and cinnamon are great to ward of a cold or even during. Their antimicrobial activity enhance our immune system. My go-to is this soothing immune boosting “tea” when I feel a cold coming on:
- 2½ cm slice of ginger
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ lemon juiced
- 1 cup hot water
- Get plenty of sleep. Our bodies do most of their repair work while we are asleep so if we’re not getting enough we will quickly become run down making it easier for a virus to infiltrate our weakened immune system.
- Wash your hands often. It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in or who you are around, if you are coming in contact with people who are contagious you are in the virus’ line of fire. 20 seconds of washing hands in hot or cold water is all it takes.
For more information on how to protect yourself this winter from colds and flu, book a Nutrition Consultation today.