Boost Your Immunity to Get Better Faster
January may be close to over but I’m finally jumping into 2022! Despite following all the protective measures and being as careful as possible, Vivian and I still managed to get COVID and had to quarantine.
Our symptoms started on New Years Eve and lasted about 72hrs — thankfully we had mild cases. It felt like a head cold with body aches and a headache. I immediately increased our immune-boosting supplements and nutrition and began the routine of holistic and natural remedies I use anytime we are under the weather. I do believe that taking good care of yourself helps you heal faster. Here is my list of go-to remedies for a sick day:
Homemade vegetable soup and bone broth. We keep bone broth on hand in the freezer for a quick start to soups but you can also start with store-bought bone broth or Better Than Bouillon in a pinch. My secret is a TON of garlic. I saute veggies like onion, carrot, celery, or bell pepper, add a TON of garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper and top with broth. Let boil for about 5 min and serve with some crackers or toast. (Insert Image)
Hot grapefruit juice. This one I got from my mom. I grew up drinking this with grapefruit from our backyard in Arizona. Take a clean grapefruit and quarter it, place the pieces in a saucepan full of water and bring to a boil for 5 -10 min. Many of the grapefruit’s nutrients are in the white fleshy part no one eats, so by boiling them down you get all the goodness. Pour into a mug and sweeten with a spoonful of honey. I also like to add a couple dashes of cayenne for added detoxification. This can also be done with lemons instead of grapefruits! You can see step-by-step instructions here.
Vitamins. We take vitamins daily. Vivian takes a child's probiotic and a multivitamin with Zinc and Iron. I take prenatals, omegas, probiotics, B-complex, and D with K. Cody takes a male reproductive health vitamin, which is good for the prostate, containing omegas, probiotic and B-complex. During cold and flu season — and now COVID — I always add immune boosters like Emergen-C and Zinc.
Humidifiers and diffusers with essential oils. Living in Colorado, perhaps the driest climate known to man, is the worst during the winter months. So many Coloradans experience nose bleeds, chapped and cracking lips, and itchy dry skin. The moisture is literally sucked out of us into thin air. Humidifiers are essential for keeping hydrated this time of year.
I like to run mine with essential oil aromatherapy to get added benefits. My favorites this season are:
Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus: Cleanse, Purify, Breath
Wild Orange, Tea Tree, Peppermint: Energize and Purify
Other things I use include:
Traditional Medicinals Tea: Breathe Easy Tea, Echinacea Plus Tea, Throat Coat Tea
Apple Cider Vinegar (I drink 1-2 TBSP/day mixed in 8oz of water)
Wanna CBD gummies (I medicate with CBD for muscle and body aches associated with scoliosis and these also worked great for the body aches from COVID)
Having nearly 2 weeks quarantined with my daughter was a surprisingly nice way to start the year, minus being sick for a few days of course. I really appreciated having time to hit pause on work and connect with her. We had some epic snuggle sessions, watched a few movies, caught up on laundry, and did a lot of arts and crafts. I needed the opportunity to slow down, recharge and reconnect after 2021.
Now that we are finally through quarantine, feeling healthy and strong, we look forward to what 2022 has in store for our new business, our family and our friends. Let’s do this!