How To Fight Off A Cold
Written by Nichole Kribs
It is that time of the year…cold season! If you are like me, then you are trying your best not to succumb to the winter cold that seems to afflict itself on us every year! While we can’t control everything about our interactions with people who may be sick or the viruses in the air, we can prepare our immune systems to be as strong as possible to fight off various viruses that we may come into contact with. Here are my top 5 favorite things to do to prepare myself and my immune system for the coming cold season:
1 – GET REST
This is major! Your body needs quality rest in order to maintain a strong immune system. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep (I’d recommend 7+ hours of sleep per night) and that it is quality rest. If you can use a sleep app to track your sleep quality then do so. This can be helpful to see how often you are waking up during the night and how qualitative your sleep is. If you see a problem with your sleep then you can start addressing how to get better sleep because the better sleep you get, the stronger your immune system will be.
2 – DRINK WATER
Staying hydrated is important when battling a cold. Water can not only help flush out some of that mucus that may be building up if you are starting to get sick but it will also keep your entire body flushed! This will also help contribute to building a strong immune system to fight off viruses.
3 – ESSENTIAL OILS
If you aren’t already using essential oils daily then today is the day to begin experimenting with them! Essential oils have a wide range of benefits but when it comes to fighting off a cold, try these:
Oregano: Take a few drops of oregano (you can also get this in pill form) to help reduce upper respiratory symptoms.
Eucalyptus: Put a few drops in a diffuser and feel your airways just open up!
Tea Tree Oil: Who knew that this essential oil contains antiseptic, antiviral and antimicrobial properties? Place a few drops into a diffuser and help boost your immune system.
Lavender Oil: The yummy smell of lavender is a natural anxiety reducer so if you are feeling under the weather then draw a warm bath, place a few drops into the tub and relax into the water to help reduce stress.
4 – DRINK TEA
One of my favorite teas is dandelion tea, which tastes amazing and is also a natural diuretic, which will help clean the liver and eliminate toxins more quickly. Dandelion tea also contains a plethora of vitamins like A, C and D as well as minerals like zinc and magnesium to help contribute to building a strong immune system.
5 – DRINK BONE BROTH
Bone broth is incredibly nourishing, nutritious and densely packed with minerals that will help build your immune system. Check out this blog article for an easy recipe to make your own homemade bone broth.
Try implementing the suggestions above to help build a stronger immune system so you are ready to fight off the viruses lurking in the atmosphere this winter!
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