7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System & Get Healthy Fast
Something’s going around the school, and your office. You can hear it first - with the coughing, the sniffles, the sneezing. Suddenly everyone is saying “there’s something going around”, and then one morning you wake up with a tickle in your throat and an achy head. It’s officially cold & flu season!
There are a lot of ways to support a healthy immune system and prevent yourself from catching that seasonal illness. But what if you’ve already got the sniffles? We have you covered too.
1. The moment you feel it: REST
Many people try to push through and go to work even though they can already feel the symptoms of an illness coming on. The sooner you can start resting your body, the sooner your immune system can do its job. If you can, call in the moment you feel symptoms and start hydrating. You’ll bounce back much faster from being sick if you start resting now.
2. Start ramping up your electrolytes
Electrolytes are super important when you’re sick. Electrolytes are chemicals that help hydrate the body, rebuild tissue, and balance blood acidity. Although sports drinks are electrolyte-rich, they often contain a lot of unnecessary sodium and sugar. An excellent electrolyte drink to make at home: Mix 1 packet of True Lemon Raspberry Lemonade with 16 ounces of water. In a small bowl add a pinch of salt with some hot water, and stir until the salt is dissolved. Add the salt mixture to the True Lemon water, and stir.
3. Stop stressing!
Stress causes so many problems, and immune health is a big part that suffers. If there is any way to take some tasks off your plate while you get better, then find a way to do it. Even just making a list of everything you need to accomplish and prioritizing everything once you feel better is a great place to start.
4. Repair your gut
Believe it or not, your immune system all starts in your gut. If you’re eating a lot of unhealthy overprocessed foods that are difficult to digest, your body will have difficulty absorbing nutrients and it will lead to a host of other issues. To prevent illnesses long-term, eat plenty of nutrient-dense whole foods and avoid processed ingredients as much as possible. This is a great way to start cleaning up your diet.
5. Avoid certain foods and drinks
Alcohol disrupts the natural sleep cycle, slows recovery time, and can conflict with certain prescriptions and antibiotics, therefore it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether while you’re sick. The same goes for dairy products. Your body naturally produces mucus when you’re ill, and dairy products like milk and cheese only make it worse. Avoid creamy soups, and stick to the clear brothy varieties instead.
6. Increase your vitamins & minerals
Whether getting these nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables, or taking high quality supplements, beefing up your vitamin & mineral intake will really help give your immune system the ammunition it needs to fight off illnesses.
7. Take it slow
Once you start feeling better, don’t jump right back into your regular life and busy schedule. It could land you right back in the sick bed again! Start slow, and take it easy. If you need to stop and rest, go right ahead and rest. Don’t try and push yourself too quickly into wellness.
Sometimes getting sick is a blessing in disguise. Often when we push ourselves too hard and too long, we neglect practicing self-care which means our defenses are lowered. It can be an indirect way for our body to tell us to slow down and take care of ourselves. So use this time to rest, reset, and get well!
