photo courtesy of drfranklipman.com
“Oh no…”
This was my first waking thought this morning; not because it was 6 a.m. (or maybe that was partly the reason), but my concern was mainly for the slight itch/tingle and feeling of discomfort that was originating from my throat. I had barely regained consciousness and yet I was completely aware that the first sign of something that could turn very bad had appeared overnight.
“This is no way to start the new year!” I told myself.
I went about my morning routine, simply ignoring it and hoping that maybe it would eventually go away. But hours later, I found myself at Publix purchasing Halls Natural Honey-Lemon lozenges with high hopes that they would inhibit my impending sore throat.
I hate getting sick. I don’t have the time for it. These days, who does? I’ve got a full-time job to attend to, my own apartment to keep tidy and a dog to look after. (Oh and did I mention that I have this fabulous blog that I have to update every now and again, for my few loyal followers?) So as soon as I start seeing and feeling the signs, my mind races with a list of things to do:
- Drink hot tea with honey and preferably a squeeze of lemon too
- When not drinking tea, drink lots of water
- Get ahold of lozenges and medication
- Overdose on echinacea (Ok, maybe not “overdose” but 4-6 capsules a day couldn’t hurt)
- Exercise!
- Tuck in early
The body’s immune system is a sensitive thing. Treat your body right and you’ll be strongly defended against falling ill. And if you start to feel like you might be coming down with something, do some light exercise (brisk walking, biking, etc.), get to bed early so that you get plenty of rest and pour yourself an extra large glass of orange juice in the morning.
Want to pull out all the stops to fortify your body’s defense systems? Whole Living magazine’s website boasts an impressive collection of articles on what types of herbs to take, and what stretches to perform in order to be more protected. Check out some of the following:
Immunity Boosting First-Aid Kit: http://www.wholeliving.com/133791/immunity-boosting-first-aid-kit
Detoxifying Stretches: http://www.wholeliving.com/136269/detoxifying-stretches-boost-your-immunity
Foods and Recipes: http://www.wholeliving.com/136241/immunity-boosting-foods-and-recipes/@center/147786/colds-and-flu
And for a super-detailed read on boosting immunity, try: http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm
