This winter has been one of the worst for virus infections. What does that mean? It means ask a friend and then ask another, and one of them will have had one or more viruses hit their household this winter.
A virus can not be medically treated so that means one thing, YOUR BODY must do the fighting for you. And how do we help it do that?
Here are 6 key things –
1 – Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.
2 – Reach for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving.
3 – Echinacea is a traditional herbal remedy that increases the number and activity of white blood cells which are the cells that are responsible for attacking infections. Data from 14 studies suggests that echinacea decreases the odds of developing a cold by up to half. If symptoms of a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis do develop, pelargonium extracts – another traditional herbal remedy – can help alleviate symptoms.
4 – Manuka Honey is your friend. Honey is a common ingredient that many people turn to when they come down with a cold or flu, this is because honey in general has natural antibacterial properties. Manuka honey is produced in Australia and New Zealand from the nectar of the Manuka tree and many studies have shown that this type of honey has amazing antibacterial properties.
5 – Eat more red bell peppers. If you think citrus fruits have the most vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable, think again. Ounce for ounce, red bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as citrus.