Sleep - and quality sleep.
Relaxing teas or herbal supplement blends containing chamomile, skullcap, passionflower, valerian, and/or hops, CBD or cannabis. Essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, sandalwood, pine, ylang ylang etc. can assist in slowing the body down in the evening. Try to end eating 3-4 hours before sleep to improve quality of sleep. As well work your body to deserve deep rest, meaning moderate movement daily 30 mins + and vigorous 2-3 times per week.
Oxygenate and circulate
Breaking a sweat is beneficial to maintain electrolyte balance. When we work hard, we rest well, and our body is able to detoxify. A steamy bath with magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) and/or Himalayan salts. Other activities like stretching, listening to music, humming, singing, dancing all increase circulation and relax our nervous system.
Mineral & electrolyte balance
Quality salt contains upwards of 60 vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, versus table salt that contains 2-3 + additives- this switch is a great way to pump up the mineral balance in the body. Also like mentioned above- we can add some to our bath to boost mineral concentration via the pores!
Fibre
Balance your fibre intake to ensure things that are supposed to be taken OUT, actually GET OUT. The easiest way to get the right amount of fibre is to consume wholefoods since this will naturally have everything in balance. Try eating a fresh apple- the pectin cleans us out. Other simple and inexpensive ideas: ground flaxseed or hemp hearts on toast, in yogurt or on top of ice cream.. fresh sprouts on the side of meals, potatoes and other root veggies are tasty too!
Protein
Our immune system is made up of proteins! Think about the quality and quantity of protein consumed on a daily basis. Are you getting enough?
The freshness factor
Boost overall vitamin C consumption by squeezing fresh lemon and/or lime on meals, infuse water in the fridge with cucumber or strawberries, learn to sprout at home, try fermented foods.. try to get living foods into your diet regularly.
Natural remedies if you're coming down with something:
Manuka honey lozenges
Homemade broth soup- make this by simmering onions, garlic, carrots, turnip- whatever veggies you like in water with sea salt and ground pepper- bonus add leftover bones from a roast. Try our recipe here!
GET SALTY
Use quality salt, not table salt:
Try making this IMMUNITY BOOST ELIXIR
Bathe: take a bath and add 1/4cup of quality salt or epsom salt to the warm water - no time for a bath? Try just soaking your feet.
EAT & THEN NAP
Make a mild meal (boiled potatoes, roasted veggies, sourdough toast, boiled oats, eggs), use ghee or grass-fed butter and sprinkle with quality salt and fresh ground black pepper, unpasteurized honey or apple cider vinegar. Follow this up with a nap!
Alternatively if you catch it early enough before you system gets tired, eat a high-protein meal, like some serious slow-cooked meat to give your body a boost of protein to give your body the power to detox and evacuate whatever bacteria or virus is irritating the system. Then go to bed for the night!
BEAT EM' WITH YOUR OWN
Bacteria are among the first line of defense for our immune system. We can wait to abolish the bad guys, but we can also send in more troops to get the job done faster. So try taking some probiotics, drinking kombucha, eating yogurt, apple cider vinegar, any food that is known to be PROBIOTIC.
ZEN OUT WITH ROOTS FROM THE EARTH
Roots plunge deep into the earth delivering us precious nutrients such as trace minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.
Simmer, roast or toast some of these: ginger, garlic, onion, dandelion, turnip, burdock.
Samantha