The country is facing a “triple epidemic,” many stores are out of cold medicine, and it feels like half the country is experiencing the weather right now. Kelsey Asprin, an associate professor in the Integrative Medicine Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver, has great tips for boosting your immune system naturally, as well as some herbal remedies in case you get sick.
Take care of the basics…
As a naturopath, I like to look at the big picture. The following three elements are important foundations of overall health, and are especially important in the winter.
Please stay hydrated.
Hydration is Really What’s important only now. People do not realize that in winter we lose more water than in summer. That’s simply because your body uses more water to stay warm. (Think about it: When you see your breath in freezing weather, that’s moisture.) But we have to remind ourselves to keep drinking water even in cold weather. Because we lose our natural thirst for water. Increase your intake with hydrating herbal teas. I especially recommend ginger and chamomile. These are good for the body and have medicinal properties. (However, avoid caffeinated drinks as they can cause dehydration.)
Enjoy seasonal meals.
People tend to think at a macro level. I want to work. travel; snowboarding;go on vacation. But we don’t really think about how, on a micro level, doing these things depends on maintaining our ability to function well through a balanced diet. Winter is the perfect time to enjoy healthy and delicious seasonal dishes like stews, soups, and bone broths. I realized that there are so many delicious food options during the cold season. There are many good things about root vegetables. Lentils and beans are high in fiber and nutritious. Spicy staple foods such as garlic, ginger, and onions have a lot of great benefits.
Take care of your mental health.
Humans like to go against Mother Nature. During this time, literally everything else in nature slows down, but animals hibernate. Plants stop growing, but we continue to grow at full stressful speed. (In fact, many people consider cold weather to be a sign to hunker down.) more ) But it’s important to follow your natural tendency to slow down. Otherwise, your body may become dangerous. make When you catch a cold or the flu, your movements slow down. During the winter months, take more time to rest and sleep, and maybe even take a day off to restore your mental health. Ideally, find a habit you love, like reading on the couch, taking a warm bath, or going for a winter run, and lean into it.
How to boost your immune system.
Elderberry
This wonderberry is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that boost the immune system, and there are many studies proving its effectiveness. It is effective in preventing symptoms of influenza and colds, and is especially good news for the following people. I just found out They catch a cold every year. Use it to further boost your immunity during the winter. It can be purchased as syrup, supplement, or gummies. Personally, I like to add a spoonful of concentrate to my sparkling water. Because it makes delicious drinks.
vitamin C
It plays an important role in keeping winter bugs at bay and provides excellent protection against colds and flu. And the good news is you don’t have to stick to supplements to fix the problem. There are plenty of delicious winter recipes using ingredients like kale and broccoli that are rich in this healthy vitamin.
Related: Better Ingredients for Better Health
vitamin D
During the winter months, many of us don’t spend enough time outdoors to get enough vitamin D naturally; teeth I’m still using it. And a deficiency of this important vitamin can make you feel depressed, which can affect your immune response and lead to illness. Vitamin D supplements can help maintain good health when taken safely and in appropriate doses.
zinc
Zinc is a great supplement that helps boost immunity and shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms. However, it is best to consult your doctor or health care professional before using it, as overdosing can cause unwanted problems such as stomach cramps and nausea.
A natural (and effective) cold remedy.
From a natural medicine perspective, the best strategy to effectively deal with bugs is to act as soon as the first signs of illness appear.do do not have Wait and try your best to get through it. I cannot stress this enough. Unless you start treatment when symptoms first appear, the disease will always catch up with you, to some extent.
Quercetin (colds and flu)
This wonderful flavonoid is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, but especially apples and onions. Recent studies have shown it to be effective against coronavirus and cold symptoms, but another big bonus is that it can also stabilize histamine-releasing cells in the body. This means it has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. As a naturopath, I use several products containing this ingredient and it really helps.
Related: 8 tips for dealing with seasonal affective disorder
Thyme (respiratory or nasal infections)
Inhaling thyme is a great solution if you are suffering from any kind of respiratory or nasal infection (just be careful not to infect your skin). My advice is: Prepare a hot shower in a steaming hot bathroom. Splash Thyme Water on the shower walls a few times. Then take a splash and inhale the steam. Active thyme quickly kills insects that cause infections and makes breathing easier.
“Warming socks” treatment (congestion)
You might think I’m crazy when I suggest this age-old natural remedy for congestion, but it really works. Before going to bed, rinse your thin cotton socks with cold water, take a deep breath, and put them on. (If you’re hardy, you might put it in the freezer for a few minutes.) Then put on some thick wool socks over it and get into bed. What happens is your body realizes that your feet are cold and pumps warm blood there (conveniently, thick socks already insulate and dry your feet). But here’s the smart part. In other words, congestion is caused by increased blood flow. So tricking your body into letting blood flow to your legs will clear things up and reduce congestion symptoms. Simple but incredibly clever.
