You probably started hearing it in your surroundings… Coughing, sniffles, nasal voices telling you they need to stay in bed. Yes, people, germs are on the hunt, ready to attack. It’s flu season. Apart from handing you your much needed vitamins in store, we would like to hand you some extra pointers on the side. Here are our tips on how to boost your immunity and stay on your feet during the darker months of the year.
Lower your stress-levels.
Not that it would come as a surprise that stress is bad for you, but make this a priority. It so often gets overshadowed by our work, to-do lists, social calendar. Calming your nerves will give your immune system the much needed space to fight infections. Biologically, being stressed increases your risk of catching a cold because of the constant release of stress hormones. Stress hormones hinder your body’s ability to produce the molecules that your immune system needs in order to start fighting diseases. Apart from the scientifics, when you are stressed you are less likely to take good care of yourself. So take some me-time. Take a relaxing bath. Meditate. Try to keep your exercise-regime somewhat alive. And, very important, catch at least 8 hours of sleep at night.
Shot shot shot.
Ginger and turmeric work magic when it comes to dodging sickness, in whichever phase you find yourself. Before, during, after. We can not state it enough. They are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, nausea-settling, soothing, basically everything you need.
Wash your hands.
We’re not talking a quick rinse after going to the bathroom. You’re going to be in contact with people who are contagious, and touch is the most popular way for germs to spread. You will want to wash your hands over and over and over again. Every time, opt for a minimum of 20 seconds. Don’t forget the backs of your hands, your fingers, your nails. Dry thoroughly with paper tissues. And keep your fingers away from your face (eyes, mouth, nose) as much as possible please.
Munch on garlic cloves.
Wait, what? Yes, it sounds extreme. We’ll admit it also tastes a bit extreme, but it does the job and it does it really well. You can really seem to kick the early onset of a cold in this old-fashioned manner. Garlic is super high in antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic antioxidants, and also contains vitamin C, enzymes and minerals that help boost immunity. Crush it, put it on a spoon with generous amounts of cinnamon, maybe even add a little raw honey if you're feeling festive, and guzzle with a big glass of water. It does not taste not as bad as you think. If you’re not keen on risking to drive off not only the flu, but also the people around you, add a clove to some broth and drink it as a tea.
Don’t hide inside.
Often, when we’re scared of getting sick, we dive deep inside our homes and offices, even take the public transport, to avoid the cold outdoors. However, a Harvard study has shown that moderate exposure to the cold does not increase our risk of getting sick. The main reason everyone seems to get sick in winter is not because of the cold, but because we spend so much more time indoors, in contact with people who can spread on their germs. Of course, you can keep your environment clean by sanitizing often overlooked germ-cities like light switches, doorknobs, keyboards. Washing your hands of course. But, when in doubt whether you should jump on your bike or take the tram to go to work, sounds like facing the cold might be your best option to avoid contagion. Make sure you're warm out there.
Vitamin D.
Another reason to get your tush outside, because this can be derived from sunlight. Unfortunately, fall and winter usually don’t provide many occasions to sunbathe, and even if it would. Our bodies more often than not need some help to hit the right amounts of vitamin D in order to prevent illness.Vitamin D is actually a prohormone that has a huge positive effect on our mood and immunity. It contributes to the production of white blood cells, which form the first line of defense against bad bacteria. When you want to know if you have a vitamin D deficiency, the only way to be absolutely sure is by doing a blood test. You can easily order these online. If it turns out you are deficient, supplements are the way to go.
Vitamin C.
We put this one last and you probably know this by heart, but stocking up on your vitamin C is an essential. As an antioxidant, this one plays such a big role in desease prevention, it could not be left out. Make sure you always have tablets at your disposal. Always. Another carrier of loads of C is our Reset juice. We at the Juicery take this guy (maybe even pop in an extra gingershot) whenever any one of us feels a cold coming up. It works! Our nutritionist agrees. The Bedrock juice also has a lot of vitamin C packed citrus fruit and veg. Oh and now that we're at the store. Whenever you have a smoothie, ask for us to add Camu Camu. This root contains 50 times as much vitamin C as an orange!
Sometimes desperate times call for non-desperate measures. Just be nice to yourself and be nice to your body. Make it easy for your body to fight this fight. Pick foods that are easily digestible. Have lot's of hot herbal teas and warm soups. Have a green juice. If you did catch something, we wish for you to get well soon. If you didn't, stay well. And comment below if you have any other tips we did not mention, we are super curious to know about your go-to secret weapon.