The time of year has come when you can’t turn the corner without hearing someone coughing or sneezing! And your kids are just a walking petri dish, am I right? It all makes me cringe, and while you want to be polite, you also want to be healthy, so how can you do both?
Our health starts on the inside. So, start there. I’d like to share with you some of the things we have incorporated into our routine for the past few years. Other than some sniffles, we’ve had a rather clean bill of health. Whether you’re a proponent for the flu shot or not (not my business) you should be introducing these into your routine
Elderberry Syrup
The buzz around this holistic, all natural remedy is legit! A study done in 2004 showed when taking Elderberry syrup, symptoms of Influenza were relieved up to 4 days earlier than those who were not given the Elderberry Syrup. You can likely find Elderberry Syrup concoctions all over, the key is all natural ingredients and local honey (ideally, made within 10 miles of your home).
Vitamins
Vitamin C is a biggie during this time of year. Many drug stores have a good vitamin you can dd to your arsenal of support, but a few things to look for when picking the perfect vitamin for you and your family include finding the right supplement for your age and gender. A child needs different vitamins and minerals than a 60 year old woman. Finding a vitamin that is water soluble is also key, this way you know that the vitamin is being absorbed into your body. A vitamin that adds 100% of the DV for any vitamin or mineral is also essential. The vitamins and minerals that I take on a daily basis are backed by science and have 3rd party testing done so they meet my standards for my family.
Nutrition
Maintaining proper nutrition is generally the root of all things in sickness and in health. How will your body fight off the germs if it isn’t being properly nourished?
Boost Your Immune System
Proper nutrition, elderberry syrup and vitamins help with this. I also incorporate a oral zinc spray that my kids take every day, along with an Immune support powder I mix into my morning smoothie. Staying properly hydrated and washing your hands often are also great practices for boosting your immune system.
Essential Oils
How many of you love Essential Oils? I will admit, I do love them, but other than a great concoction for a cold, wet towel after a sweaty barre class, I don’t have many recipes memorized for how to use all of my oils. ENTER PINTEREST! (don’t get side tracked with that cute fall craft project…stay focused!) I have a diffuser that sits on my kitchen counter and one in each of our bedrooms and I will diffuse essential oils all day long. If nobody is sick, I like to diffuse lavender and defenseshild. Not only does it smell amazing, but the different benefits of the two oils help ward off unwanted germs. When the kids are stuffy I will drop a few drops of Airway into their diffuser with lavender and let them breath that in all night long while sleeping, along with rubbing Breathe on the bottom of their feet.
and maybe my most favorite tip….
Sleep!
Ah, yes, get that beauty sleep my friend! The younger you are, the more sleep you require (gosh, my kids don’t know how lucky they are! – LOL). Once you hit 18, it is suggested to get at least 7 hours of sleep….I will admit, I don’t get that all the time, and I need to make this a bigger priority in my life!
See you at the barre,
Dawn
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