Seasonal Sniffles – 7 tips to support your body

Well school started 2 weeks ago for our family. As I suspected the sniffles went round like wildfire. We are at the end of a week of runny noses, coughs, temperatures, headaches and such like (no not the C-word, just a funky cold). It happens every year, but I have a feeling that this year was a bit of a stronger dose as the children hadn’t had their immune systems tested for 6 months due to isolation. The immune response is a bit like a muscle, it needs to be flexed and check that it works. On a daily basis we are warding off minor bacteria, bugs, viruses, etc via our skin, lungs & digestive system without even knowing. However, staying away from others and not adventuring as much as normal as directed by the UK government has meant that the kids’ immune systems had a bit of a bigger stretch than normal this September.

It’s a good thing, as it helps clear toxin build up & makes them stronger for the coming winter. When they had the normal childhood illnesses they changed so much during the deeper infections. It was as if they grew up after emerging from chicken pox and the other common infections.

So in light of the past week of caring & nuturing our two lovelies, here’s a reminder of my top tips for caring for your body when going through seasonal sniffles:

1. REST – don’t divert vital energy away from your immune response by staying busy. STOP and rest as much as you can.
2. DRINK – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate with water, herbal teas, fruit teas to flush out toxins and waste products from the invader and your immune response.
3. EAT LITTLE & OFTEN – grazing is best when you are ill. Eat foods that are easily digested and don’t overload the system. Soups, stews, fruit (our favs are raspberries & grapes) and (green) veg all help support your body detox.
4. SLEEP – cat napping, grabbing 40 winks, etc all help support your immune system, especially as our night time sleep can be sporadic when we have a cold.
5. TIME – this is the best healer. Don’t forget to convalesce when you are over the worst. Get your energy back to 100% before going full pelt again.
6. FRESH AIR – open a window if you can (and stay warm). Some essential oils we love to help clear congestion – peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree. A few drops in a bowl of hot water by the bed can help clear a stuffy nose.
7. Lastly, avoid eating foods that are going to contribute to mucous and congestion – foods containing REFINED SUGAR, DAIRY & REFINED WHEAT are all mucous forming. There’s enough gunk generated by the viral invaders and your immune system. Don’t give your body more work to do.

Be kind to yourself and support this amazing defence system. Take care x