So now that you’re armed with your herbs that we talked about in yesterday’s post, lets go over some common sense stuff that your Grandma used to tell you growing up! Ah, yes the good ole “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” philosophy! I can tell you in my life following these tips have really helped me from catching every cold that’s going around. After all I would much rather not deal with them at all if possible wouldn’t you?
Confessions of a germaphobe….
Ok, I admit it I struggle with the whole “germ thing” and while I don’t want to pass that on to you I think that there are some “sane” steps that you can take to protect you a little more from colds. You’ve probably seen me at the grocery store, I am that woman that is standing in the doorway wiping down the shopping cart handle with that little wet wipe they provide at the door. Hey stop laughing! Seriously though there are a few key places that I am extra vigilant about cleaning my hands when out. Shopping cart handles were found to be quite germy and also gas pump handles so I usually give my hands a squirt with hand sanitizer after handling them. And of course we all know about those handles in public restrooms and the possible nasties on them! So here’s what I do: I’ve made up a germ buster that I carry in my purse. After getting to my car I spray a spritz in my hands and also wash my hands good when I get back home.
The germ buster:
Essential oils are awesome and I like to use them in many different ways. I purchase a good grade of an essential oil germ buster blend which you can purchase from a variety of different companies and make this up:
15 drops Essential oil germ killer blend in a small glass spray bottle.
Fill the rest of the way with water. Shake good and spritz on hands after exposure.
Break some habits…..
I was a nail biter for years! This was a HUGE help to me when I finally stopped. It seems like I didn’t get near the amount of sore throats and colds. Under your nails is a hot bed for germs and if you are constantly putting them in your mouth you’re adding that bacteria to your system all day! I know it’s tough to stop believe me, but if you can avoid putting your hands in your mouth it helps a bunch.
Cutting out the sugar!! Did you know that sugar is not very good for your white blood cells? It keeps them from being as strong as they could be which weakens your immune system. They are the cells that fight off infections and viruses in your body. Keeping these cells as strong as possible is a great ally in the fight against winter colds and flu.
What to add to your routine…
Sometimes in the drab winter months I wonder if the sun will ever come back out! But with little sun comes even less Vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial to help your body fight off illness and disease and when that gets really low your body is at a big disadvantage. If you get a lot of colds it might be worth it to get that checked. I always ask to see my results. Sometimes the doctor will just say “Oh it’s normal” but it may be like the very bottom number of NORMAL which may not be enough for my body to fight off illness. Taking a good grade of Vitamin D and especially a liquid one for better absorption might give your body a much needed boost. As I’ve said on my blog numerous times Shiitake mushrooms are a good and tasty source too.
Nurture that terrain! You have a whole colony of good bacteria living in your gut, otherwise known as your microbiome. The condition of that terrain is absolutely CRUCIAL to your immune system function. Especially if you’ve been on antibiotics and steroids, your microbiome could be severely out of balance and limping along. This really lowers your immunity terribly! I like to give my internal terrain some good guys to help strengthen that army by consuming fermented and cultured food. This is constantly adding back in the good bacteria that builds that good flora up. Sauerkraut is a great place to start because it’s super easy to make and just eating a tablespoon or so with each meal gives you a boost. Any kind of fermented food helps and the more you can incorporate in your diet the better in small consistent increments. I love eating miso soup in the winter. I stir miso paste into any kind of soup I’m eating after I’ve brought it down to a low simmer for added flavor and health benefits. See below for more links to some fermented foods and drink recipes.
I hope that gave you a couple of ideas to help give your body a virus free winter. Check out tomorrows post for another great ally I use to blast colds! This one is a little crazy so don’t miss it!
Links for more fermented goodies:
Wow! There’s some great tips here I never even heard of or would have even thought about!
Thank you Garth! I’m so glad you found some value in it 🙂