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Keeping your Immune System Strong Throughout the New Year

Keeping your Immune System Strong Throughout the New Year

Stave off those winter colds and flus by listening to your body and giving it what it needs! The joyful holiday season can leave our bodies worn down with all of the planning, traveling and celebrating with family and friends. Here are some tips for keeping your immune system strong so you can start your year off right!

1. Remember to rest and get plenty of sleep. That’s 7-9 hours a night for most adults, about 9 hours for teens and 10-12 hours for children under 10. Your immune system rebuilds during deep sleep, so if you feel a cold coming on, try getting to bed a little earlier.

2. Drink plenty of water and continue taking your vitamins. Both encourage healthy cellular processes and repair, in addition to helping the body remove toxins and waste.

3. Skip the sweets and party drinks. Both sugar and alcohol suppress your immune system, so at the first sign of a cold, it’s best to avoid them. Sugar can be hidden in fruit juices, dried fruits and granola bars, even flavored instant oatmeal, so read labels! If you miss that sweet taste, licorice tea is a great substitute, or try sweetening your foods with stevia, a natural herbal sweetener found at your local health food market.

4. Eat those cooking herbs! Garlic, onion, rosemary and thyme are a few of the cooking herbs that also have strong anti-microbial properties. What a great gift nature has given us! Using these fresh herbs raw or very lightly cooked, helps retain their anti-microbial activity.

5. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. While washing your hands doesn’t strengthen your immune system, it will help you avoid getting sick!

Remember these tips, stay healthy and enjoy the rest of winter! And if you’re interested in more information on improving your health, check out our wellness classes or please call for an appointment. www.lifesculpting.biz ; phone: 480-883-8160