Our little one’s are fixin’ to cram back into their classrooms and start exchanging germs once again – then regift those germs to EVERYONE who comes within a 10-foot radius of them. If only love, peace and happiness were as infectious as upper respiratory infections, this world would be a much lovelier place.
So if you are wondering what you can do to boost your immune system this season – I’m about to give you the short list.
SUGAR
The number one offender is SUGAR. Bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses LOVE sugar! They literally feed off of it – so if you want them to thrive, dive in. If you want them to get out and find a new host, I highly recommend you cut the sugar ASAP! This also applies to simple, refined grains such as flour, processed breads, crackers and pasta as they are highly refined and turn to sugar very rapidly when consumed.
COCONUT
Coconut everything is awesome! You all know I am a HUGE fan of coconut oil, and one of the many reasons why is because it is an excellent immune booster when consumed! Like garlic, it also has anti-bacterial, anti-fugal and anti-viral properties to it when consumed as well as when used topically.
PHYTONUTRIENTS
Fuel your body with the nutrients it craves! Phytonutrients, or plant nutrition, is well know to provide the body with a strong defense against invading organisms. You need to get 7 to 9 servings of fresh, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fruit on a daily basis. Here are a few key fruits and veggies that are loaded with immune boosting nutrients
- Citrus – chock full of vitamin C
- Blueberries, Raspberries and Pomegranate are very high in antioxidants.
- Avocados – loaded with immune boosting vitamins C and E (the darkest green part of the avocado has the most nutrients)
- Kale – full of calcium
- Garlic – has anti-bacterial, anti-fugal and anti-viral properties
- Turmeric – 5 times more powerful than vitamins C and E and is highly anti-inflammatory
- Cinnamon – has strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory abilities
SLEEP!
There is no substitute for a good nights sleep! Lack of sleep can wreak so much havoc on every aspect of your physical and mental wellbeing. Getting to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time everyday, even on weekends, is a must for anyone trying to live a happy, healthy lifestyle. And while you may believe the following saying is an old wives tale, there is much truth to it, “One hour of sleep before midnight is worth 2 hours of sleep after midnight.”. Your best quality of sleep is obtained when your circadian rhythm is at its lowest point (usually between 10 pm – 5 am). Therefore, even if you obtain a good amount of sleep (7-9 hours), going to bed late is likely to lead to a large amount of your sleep being highly inefficient. To take advantage of this, you should plan your evenings so that you have nothing to do but relax by 9 pm. Then go to bed when you feel the sleep wave: a period where you will feel highly drowsy (for most people this will occur between 9-10 pm).
Lastly, this piece of advice has nothing to do with nutrition and immune boosting, but it is VITAL to staying germ-free.
Keep your hands AWAY from your face!!!!