7 Ways to Boost Your Health This Winter
Let me see a metaphorical show of hands. How many of you are either feeling sick at the moment or like everyone around you is sick? For the record my hand is also up. It feels like everyone everywhere has something whether it be the common cold, influenza, whooping cough or gastro. It's all going around. Tis the season and all that BUT there are things we can do to booster our immune system and get through winter. Here are 7 easy ways you can give yourself a boost.
1 - Staying hydrated.
This helps your immune system by maintaining optimal bodily functions and ensuring efficient transport of nutrients to cells and removal of toxins
2 - Prioritising resting and avoiding pushing through.
Prioritising good quality sleep is essential, as it allows your body to repair and strengthen itself.
3 - Book in a check up with your GP
This winter, book in with your GP or ask your naturopath to do some bloods to make sure your Vitamin D levels are optimal. Vitamin D is really important for your immune system because it helps white blood cells fight off infections and reduces inflammation.
4 - Sort out your gut health
Book an appointment with your naturopath to help you sort out any gut health issues at play. Good gut health is essential for your immune system because the gut houses many immune cells that help detect and fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. Nurturing a healthy gut with probiotics and fermented foods can further enhance your body's ability to fend off infections.
5 - Give your cooking a boost
Start using ingredients like Bone Broth in your cooking. Bone broth supports the immune system by providing essential nutrients and amino acids that help strengthen gut health and reduce inflammation. I really like the brand Best of The Bone and Nutra Organics. I will buy the healing mushroom one from BOTB and then get powdered bone broth powders from Nutra Organics in particular a chicken one and also a vegetarian immune boosting one. I love them.
6 - Focus on a balanced diet
Aim for nutrient dense whole foods, especially those high in vitamins C and D, zinc, and antioxidants. Think vibrant fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. I have lots of recipes here on my website which you are welcome to check out.
7 - Move that beautiful body of yours
Even though it’s cold, making sure you stay active. Regular exercise even something as simple as walking or tailored yoga sessions, can stimulate immune function and improve circulation. It is also really great for our mood and stress release.
One quick hack before I go……
One quick hack before I go is to set yourself a goal of eating as many different fruits and veggies as you can each day to give yourself a boost. The perfect way to do this is with soups. I love a good soup. I feel like I am always harping on about this, and here I go again, I often use my soups as pasta sauces and pair it with red lentil or chickpea pasta for protein. It's a delicious and very easy way to make sure you are getting lots of yummy vegetables into your diet. I cook all of them on bone broths mostly from the brands Nutra Organics and Best of The Bone (I love the healing mushroom one). Here are 4 of my favourites. I actually spent all day yesterday cooking them all to make sure I had a freezer full of nutritious meals so I am feeling particularly smug right now :P
So here are really simple ways you can boost your immune system this winter.
To help you this winter, until September I will be offering Acute Winter Consultations which will focus purely on supporting your immune system this winter. These 30min calls won't be an in-depth initial naturopathic consultation so if you have a lot going on please make sure you book in a 90 minute consultation so we can spend the time together.
If you are interested in booking one of these sessions in, hit reply or book in an Acute Consultation using THIS LINK.
And as always if you have any questions email me hello@carolynallenhealth.com And don’t forget, you are always welcome to book in a FREE discovery call to find out if seeing a naturopath is right for you.