If you’re worried about getting a cold or a flu then the best move would be to boost your immunity.
You can prevent yourself from becoming sick with these viruses by protecting yourself – and it’s really quite simple. It’s simple, but something we have to continuously do and make a habit for it to work!
Wash Your Hands
This is something that unfortunately not everyone does (believe it or not!). To prevent transferring germs all you need to do is wash your hands after going to the toilet, before eating, and after touching your face (especially your mouth and nose). A simple 20 second handwash with soap and water will suffice, but if this is not available a hand sanitiser will do the trick.
For our homemade hand sanitiser recipe click here!
Sleep
Lack of sleep can affect your immunity in a big way. No amount of Vitamin C or echinacea will substitute for a decent 7 or 8 hours of sleep for adults (10 or more for children). Lying in bed and napping has also been proven to be almost as beneficial so don’t feel guilty about having that afternoon lie down or nanna nap – it’s good for you!
Hydration
Drinking lots of water can help to flush toxins from your body and dehydration will put unnecessary stress on your body. In warmer weather, we really need to have a good fluid intake. Room temperature water with orange slices, herbal tea and fresh juices are good options to help keep you hydrated and healthy. Coffee, caffeinated tea, soft drinks and alcohol will not keep you hydrated as they are diuretics (which means they make you pee more and strip your body of its hydration!) so stay away from too much of those no matter how tempting they are!
Exercise
Exercise builds your body’s defence against viruses. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, four times a week, including walking, swimming and yoga, not necessarily the high powered aerobics or zumba!
Eat Fruits and Vegetables
At the bare minimum, consume 2 fruits and 3 vegetables daily – but if you can eat more than that it’s a good idea! Nutritionists actually recommend you eat 2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of veggies per day! Definitely opt for food instead of vitamin supplements if you can.
Cut Back on Your Sugar Intake
Did you know that only a couple of tablespoons of sugar a day in your diet can decrease immune function by up to 40 percent as it slows the activity of white blood cells? White blood cells fight off infection in the body.
White Tea
Red Capsicum
Pumpkin Seeds
Yoghurt
So, with a few easy steps, you may be able to prevent yourself from all kinds of nasties!
What do you do to boost your immunity when you’re feeling a little run down?
If you become concerned about your or anyone else’s health please seek immediate medical attention or go to our health hotlines and website post for further resources https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/
SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information. All information provided is correct at time of publication.