Winter is well and truly here – along with the standard coughs, sniffles and accessorising anything and everything with a cosy scarf or hoodie.
We’ve shared our Ninja Fast Ways To Fight The Flu before so we wanted to look at some more unusual flu fighting tips to make sure that we stay tip top and flu free for the rest of the season. So make a warm cup of our delish Lemon and Ginger Tea and have a read…
The dreaded winter flu is never what anyone wants and can be hard to avoid when basically every person around you is sneezing on your desk or sniffling next to you on the bus. While we know extra sleep and vitamin c are great ways to boost the immune system, try these more surprising tips to bump up your immunity or fight that little throat tickle before it becomes something else.
1: Raw Garlic
You may be surprised but if you can handle it , is very powerful. Try peeling a garlic clove and chopping it into tiny pieces. Mix with a tiny bit of olive oil and swallow it whole, followed by some water. The medicinal enzyme allinase found in garlic, can be deactivated by heat , so slicing it and taking raw will help you get the most out of its antibacterial properties.
2: Probiotics!
We often forget how much our gut does. Known for the hype as our second brain, a healthy gut is also the key to a healthy immune system which can help reduce the risk of infection. Taking a probiotic supplement or eating probiotic rich foods such as yoghurt, sauerkraut and miso can help feed your gut micro biome and support your immune health.
3: Steamy Showers
Bringing it back to basics , we don’t always need a million products from the health food store to cure our symptoms. By simply taking some eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil and placing a few drops in the shower, this natural remedy will help to clear headaches and nasal congestion.
4:Apple Cider Vinegar
Not only is apple cider great for activating digestive enzymes and calming gut issues but also has great antibacterial properties. Try adding 1 tbsp to your water bottle in the day or combining some with boiling water and manuka honey which will also help soothe a sore throat.
5: Incorporating Medicinal Mushrooms
You may have seen some hype around the use of medicinal mushrooms often in coffees or elixirs and there may be some merit in its use. There is increasing research into why incorporating mushrooms and mushroom blends can be powerful for your health including the high antioxidant properties and beta gluten enzyme which supports the immune system. The prebiotics will help feed a healthy gut to protect from disease as well as boosting your immune system when sick. Try incorporating a mushroom blend into your coffee, pancakes or simply try adding more mushrooms to your diet in an omelette or winter stir fry! (Read more about that here)
What’s your secret weapon to fighting the flu? @lornajaneactive
Sarah is a 21 year old passionate health and wellness enthusiast and foodie, spending most of her time in the kitchen creating delicious and nutritious recipes when she is not working on her fitness, studying her media and pilates degrees or catching a swim at the beach. Since the age of 14, after finding a passion for pilates, Sarah started to become fascinated by nutrition and the ways different foods could enhance both mental and physical elements of her health. Now she is passionate to share this knowledge and love for a healthy life with everyone around her by sharing her recipes and tips online and also has started her own bliss ball and healthy treats business
For more delicious recipes from Sarah, head over to her fabulous site Scoop It Up!