By practicing healthy living on a daily basis, we provide the best support possible to the immune system and help to prevent illness altogether. There are many active steps you can take to boost your immune system against coronavirus, flu & colds! Ol’ Benji Franklin was right!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
-Benjamin Franklin
With that said, coming down with a cold or flu is often inevitable and now we are dealing with a whole new monster with the Coronavirus disease -COVID-19. However, if you’re practicing healthy living strategies, the chances for a less severe illness, of shorter duration and milder symptoms is much greater. And remember, getting sick now and then is okay; comparable to a musical instrument that needs tuning, so too does the immune system. It keeps us healthy and strong in the long run! Here are some quick tips for daily healthy living…
Boost Your Immune System Against Coronavirus, Flu & Cold
- Make sure to rest! 8 hrs of sleep/night, don’t overdo it; proper rest is the foundation for health and the time when your body heals, repairs and restores.
- Clean eating! plenty of organic, fresh fruits + veggies, hormone-free meats, minimally processed with the fewest ingredients possible… real food.
- Minimize sugar! medical studies show sugar decreases white blood cell function– white blood cells are the soldiers that make up the army that is our body’s immune system. Keep ‘em healthy + strong!
- Hydration! Aim for ½ of your body weight in ounces of room temperature water daily. (example: if you weight 150 lbs, aim for 75 oz water/daily)
- Manage + minimize stress! Studies show stress also decreases immune function.
- Go outside for fresh air + sunshine! Your body produces vitamin D naturally when it’s directly exposed to sunlight. You can also get it through certain foods and supplements to ensure adequate levels of the vitamin in your blood. Vitamin D has several important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating normal immune system function.
- Movement + exercise! Even on days when you’re not feeling so well, if you can move or stretch gently, it will help to encourage lymph, blood, oxygen and nutrient flow throughout your body, which in turn helps to kick start healing.
- As a preventative, avoid shaking hands and touching your face and wash your hands frequently.
Bone Broth… it’s oh so good for you!
One great way to beef up your nutrient status is with a batch of homemade bone broth. This soup packs a punch, containing a remarkable amount of vitamins + minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and potassium.
The bones used for this broth also include collagen, a protein that is released during slow cooking to form gelatin. Gelatin can help build healthy skin, hair, and nails.
The gelatin in bone broth also protects and heals the lining of the digestive tract. The liquid is particularly rich in two amino acids, glycine and proline. Interestingly enough, these nutrients are not found in as high amounts in meat—hence the beauty of bones. Amino acids are important for digestion and a healthy gastrointestinal tract, as well as many other processes within the human body.
Reduce inflammation
Damaged joints and autoimmune diseases often result in inflammation, which can also be brought on by stress and poor diets, among other factors. Bone broth contains glucosamine and chondroitin, two compounds widely sold to reduce inflammation and to decrease joint pain. Not only may bone broth calm your joint pain, but it can also help to calm your mind by producing relaxing hormones like serotonin and GABA. Cool, huh?
Lastly, this nutrient-dense soup is a great go-to during the months when colds and flu are running rampant. The immune system loves it!
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Boost Your Immune System: Tonic Tea Recipe
[yumprint-recipe id=’45’]For more tips on healthy living, visit Rachel and Carly online at their website, www.kaleblossom.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
