The school year is back in full swing, spring sports are around the corner, New Year’s resolutions are testing you, it’s getting colder outside and the flu is spreading like wildfire. What are you doing to take care of yourself to prevent a health catastrophe? We can’t go on living extreme lifestyles (staying up late, eating on the run, stressing over finances, driving all over town, etc, etc) without taking extreme care of ourselves. I can’t remember the last time I caught a cold or the flu and I attribute it to self-care, a nutrient-dense diet and an extremely healthy lifestyle.
So, these are just a few things I have done over the years to prevent the flu:
1. Reduce blood sugar levels by "just saying no" to processed carbohydrates and refined sugar. Use nutrient-dense foods to satisfy your sweet cravings, like raw honey, fruit, sweet vegetables like onions and winter squash, licorice tea, and banana/coconut milk smoothies, etc.
2. Incorporate superfood shakes or green smoothies each day with ingredients such as seasonal fruit, leafy greens, bee pollen, marine phytoplankton, camu camu berry powder, mangosteen powder, goji berries, maca powder, cacao nibs, etc.
3. Post a note on your car dashboard reminding you to exhale fully and breathe in deeply into your belly. This will promote relaxation, increase circulation, boost the immune system and eliminate toxins.
4. Drink 1-2 quarts of hydrating liquid daily: water (use lemon for flavor), herbal tea and green juice.
5. Add probiotic-rich foods to your diet including kvass, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, etc. Probiotics provide a supplement to your own immune system by being a first-line of defense within your digestive tract.
6. Sweat! According to Livestrong.com your body temperature can raise up to 100.4 degrees in a sauna. This can help kill bacteria and viruses, just as a fever will.
7. To reduce your stress, keep a detailed schedule and to-do list in a spiral notebook or in your mobile device. Check it morning, afternoon and evening so that you stay on top of things. You will feel more in control.
8. Make sure you are eliminating (ahem, number two) daily. When you aren’t eliminating, your body is accumulating waste and toxins, which put an increased burden on your immune system. If you aren’t eliminating daily, consider spending a few moments in the morning relaxing into a routine. Relaxation and routines can trigger bowel movements.
9. Get to bed by 10 pm each night. You really do need 8-10 hours of sleep most nights to repair, recharge and clean up your body.
What do you think of these suggestions? Are they too extreme or are they doable? What steps are you going to take to prevent the flu and stay healthy in the face of our extreme lifestyles? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts!
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