Choose more of the following when you are feeling under the weather...
#1 Drink Water, and lots of it! How much is enough? Well if you normally don’t drink much then shoot for as much as you can take in. Keep water by you at all times and sip often (don’t gulp an 8oz glass in one drink). If you already drink a good amount of water, aim to get ½ your body weight in ounces. You may find yourself in the bathroom quite a bit, but your body will be better off for it.
#2 Get Plenty of Rest. Your body needs some down time to deal with the microbes that are trying to wreak havoc on your body.
#3 Eat your Veggies. It's important to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs while sick, but that can be difficult to do with a typical "sick foods" diet. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce and kale are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They are especially good sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. Dark green vegetables are also loaded with beneficial plant compounds. These act as antioxidants to protect cells from damage and help fight inflammation. Leafy greens have also been used for their antibacterial properties. Add spinach to an omelet for a quick, nutrient-packed, protein-rich meal. You can also try tossing a handful of kale into a fruit smoothie
#4 Get out in the Sun. Your body needs Vitamin D for immune health. Supplementation is good, but there is no substitute for the health benefits of the sun.
#5 Consider these Herbs & Vitamins: Help your body with these immune boosting herbs: Turmeric (contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), Olive Leaf Extract (contains a number of compounds thought to influence health. These compounds include oleuropein, a substance found to possess antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulating properties in scientific studies), Mushroom extracts (those containing reishi, maitake and/or shiitake mushrooms are high in beta-glucan, a powerful antiviral agent and immune system modulator), Elderberry, Echinacea, Cordyceps (a fungus that is traditionally used in Chinese medicine that enhances immune activity and reduces inflammation; it’s used primarily for long-term immunity, and some studies suggest cordyceps may help protect against cancer), Cordyceps may also reduce the effects of aging and increase learning and memory, probably because of its significant antioxidant capabilities) and these important immune boosting nutrients: Zinc (critical for optimal functioning of the immune system; the body requires zinc to develop and activate T-cells which are important players in the immune system) and Selenium (a powerful antioxidant that’s been shown to improve immune response; studies have shown that selenium increases activity of natural killer cells), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), from the amino acid L-cysteine, is used by the liver to form glutathione, the body’s most powerful antioxidant.*
#6 Take Probiotics. Get a high quality probiotic to foster healthy gut bacteria and crowd out the bad bugs.*
*This information is for reference only. This is not a recommendation to treat any illness and is NOT a substitute for proper medical advice; please consult your physician for an individualized treatment plan for your condition.
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