Wellness With Linds

Growing up I was sick all of the time, and constantly was battling colds in the winter season. Instead of combating it, and prepping beforehand, I prepared for when I was to be sick. When I was a sophomore in college, I realized this probably wasn’t the best method.

Instead of prepping to get the flu or a cold my sophomore year, I prepped for the sick season. I changed my supplements, was very conscious of those around me, and even changed my diet.

For the first time in eight years I did not get the flu- and let me tell you – it was beautiful. For someone who has been in a constant war with her immune system, I felt like I had finally won a battle.

Lindsay: 1 Immune System: 284,291

One thing that is a bit ridiculous about the cold season is the tendency people have to go straight to medication, and unnatural supplements in order to heal their bodies.

It might seem easier at the time, but it can do long-term damage, and weaken your immune system in the long run.

Here are a few of my immune system building tricks. Each one of these will help build your immune system in order to prep for any impending viruses that might come your way.

Turmeric

Turmeric is one of my favorite herbs. Not only can it add great flavor to food, but it also works as a phenomenal healer. Some of the basic benefits Turmeric is known for include: increases inflammatory health, supports liver health by naturally stimulating it, and supports your digestive tract.

But it also has some killer benefits when it comes to your immune system. It helps the production of proteins that naturally regulate your immune cells, which increases your immunity levels. It also works as a support to your body’s natural detoxification systems.

Application: You can add turmeric powder into your foods, or teas but be aware of the flavor it brings.

Here are the turmeric powder and the turmeric capsules I have.

A solid sleep schedule

For most twenty-something-year-olds, keeping a solid sleep schedule can be extremely difficult. It’s also usually not a priority. For me, I saw the biggest change in my immune system when I started tracking my sleep and trying to keep it in sync with my body.

Like food, and fitness, your sleep schedule also depends on what your body needs & wants. For me, as a twenty-two-year-old female with autoimmune deficiencies, I need a solid eight hours of sleep consistently to be at the top of my game. While I can be functional with six hours, to be in my prime, I need eight.

Application: Start a sleep journal, or use an app (like Sleep Cycle) to track your sleep, and find what is healthiest for you.

Eating nutrition-dense foods

Veggies! Veggies! Veggies!

Your diet is so important in keeping your immune system healthy and strong. An easy way to work these into your diet is by simply adding them to dishes. There are also so many good soup recipes out there. I love to fill my soups full of fresh veggies– gotta get the green intake somehow!

Application: Stock up on veggies and add them to every meal. That means breakfast, lunch, and dinner people!

Vitamins

I am a huge fan of vitamins and supplements, especially during the wintertime. These babies help you fight just about anything by supporting your immune system.

I switch out my vitamin intake depending on the season but year-round I always take elderberry, echinacea, zinc, and vitamin C. These are all immunity boosters!

Application: Take as directed on your vitamin bottle, usually most beneficial when taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

You can find my favorite elderberry supplement here, zinc here, echinacea here, and vitamin C here.

Tea

Tea is such an easy and yummy healer. My two go-to healer teas are lemon and ginger. Usually, I end up just mixing the two together.

Application: If you are crunched for time you can just buy ginger and lemon tea packets, but if you want to go a step further then buy the ingredients raw. Simply freeze ginger root, and keep lemon-fresh. Then, when you make tea, add a piece of ginger root and some lemon to it. It actually tastes really good too!

Zinc Lozenges

Zinc lozenges are my secret weapon for colds. According to Web MD, they can decrease the length of a cold by 50%. During the winter, I take zinc every single day because of the immune-boosting properties, but when I feel a cold coming on, I’ll start taking these lozenges.

They’re awesome for anyone who wants to decrease their cold length, or even potentially fight it away before it fully hits.

My favorite lozenges are under $10 — you can get them here!

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I hope you enjoyed this post and you feel more prepared to fight the ugly winter colds that can come upon us.

xx Linds

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, check out my post on healthy and nutritious snacks here!