At the time I’m writing this post, it’s mid-December, which is right in the midst of that time of year people not-so-affectionately refer to as “Flu Season”.  Have you ever wondered WHY more people tend to get sick with colds & flus during the winter? 🤔

There are probably a few different theories out there, or some people might think it’s just coincidence… but I personally believe that colds & flus are at a peak during this time of year because of several lifestyle factors people tend to adopt during this season:

• Holiday parties & more family gatherings, which usually equates to more unhealthy foods, sugar, & alcohol intake.
• Less sun exposure, which means lower Vitamin D3 levels.
• Less water intake — probably due to colder weather.
• More stress (due to the “hustle & bustle” & financial pressures of the holidays).
• Less active than normal

All of these lifestyle factors lead to a weakened immune system, which leaves you more susceptible to getting a cold, flu, etc.  Makes sense, right??

When talking about living a healthy lifestyle, people tend to talk a lot about specific daily habits that we can do to promote optimal health, and PREVENT health issues & getting sick.  

But what happens when you DO get sick?  If you want to truly live a healthy lifestyle, you can’t just throw your healthy living principles out the window at the first sign of sickness.  

Rather than running to the doctor or the drugstore to pick up a medication, there are so many other things you can do to help your body heal NATURALLY (that don’t have any side effects or long-term risks, & that are more effective). 🙌

Download the Immune-Boosting Checklist below to discover the exact steps my family & I take whenever we feel like we’re coming down with something or feeling “under the weather”.  These steps will help you fight “sickness” faster by naturally boosting your immune system & supporting your body’s inborn healing processes.  Click below to download the free checklist!

Now, before we get into the practical stuff, let’s talk mindset for a minute — because that’s really where true health all starts!

Master Your Mindset

We need to start shifting the way we think about getting “sick”.  “Sickness” is usually given a bad rap — but the truth is that symptoms (like body aches, chills, fever, runny nose, etc.) are your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t quite right, & it’s also your body’s way of healing.

Let’s take a common example: A fever.  Your body is so smart that when pathogens & bacteria & viruses enter your body, it will raise the temperature to fight it off faster!  So #truthbomb: a FEVER is actually a GOOD thing!! #yep 😌

This is why it’s actually a bad idea to lower your fever with a fever-reducing medication — because it prolongs the healing process & it inhibits the body’s natural response (aka fever) to effectively kill bacteria & viruses.  Meds MAY help you feel a little better temporarily (or they might not), but they’ll only cover up the symptoms, rather than getting to the cause of the problem.

So in our home, we like to call it “expressing health” rather than being “sick” — because we know that our body is always doing the right thing at the right time! ☺️

Let this truth sink in: Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself from the inside out!  You just have to remove any interference that’s preventing it from healing properly. 💜

So how do you do that??  Well, now that you’ve got a dose of empowerment & a healthy mindset, let’s talk about how you can best support your body’s natural healing mechanisms & achieve the quickest healing possible!

6 Health Tips to Boost Your Immune System and Fight Colds & Flus Faster

Here are 6 tips to help you fight colds, flus, & other “sicknesses” faster (I focus on these anytime I feel something coming on or start “expressing health”, too! 🙃):

1. Get Adjusted!

Getting a chiropractic adjustment boosts your immune system instantly, & removes any interference in the nerve system & immune system so your body can function & heal at the highest level.

2. Take Immune-Boosting Supplements

Vitamin D3:

I normally take at least 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 every day for a maintenance dose, but when I’m feeling under the weather, I take up to 50,000 IU in a day, & keep my dose up pretty high for the next couple days (at least 20,000 IU).  I use this super-clean, high-quality Vitamin D3 + Probiotics on a regular basis.

Vitamin C:

You can take a high-quality Vitamin C supplement in the form of a capsule or tablet, a chewable tablet, or a powder that you mix into water (my favorite!).  I recommend taking at least 1,000 mg per day, or even more when you’re fighting something off.

One of my favorite Vitamin C supplements is called Beyond Tangy Tangerine 2.0 — not only does it have 1,250 mg of Vitamin C, but it also has a ton of other vitamins, minerals, & nutrients.  It’s basically a multi-vitamin in a powder form — plus, it tastes delicious! 

Oregano Essential Oil:

Mix 1 drop of pure oregano oil into a glass of water, & let oregano’s immune-strengthening & cleansing properties go to work!  You can get a high-quality oregano essential oil here.

3. Drink Lots of Pure Water

It’s always good to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day, but make sure you continue to focus on this area when you’re sick (it can be easy to neglect water intake when you’re not feeling the best)!

4. Get Plenty of Rest

Your body needs to use as much energy as possible in the healing process, so make sure you don’t over-exert yourself, & rest as much as you need to.

5. Avoid Sugar & Processed Foods, & Don’t Overeat

Sugar negatively affects the immune system & causes inflammation, so you’ll want to limit these types of foods as much as possible (especially when you’re sick).

You also don’t want to overeat, because it takes your body a lot of energy to digest your food.  Your body can use the energy it would’ve taken to digest all that food, & can now use it to more efficiently heal & fight off whatever’s going on.  

6. Incorporate Superfoods

When you’re hungry, try to eat more liquidy foods (like healthy smoothies, soups, etc.). You can also incorporate superfoods like bone broth (the perfect food for when you’re under the weather!), green juices, ginger, & garlic — all help support your immune system.

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Pretty simple, right??  These methods are super effective because they address the main CAUSES that resulted in your getting “sick” in the first place.  

They’re also great because you don’t have to worry about toxic side effects & health risks that come from taking medications (even over-the-counter meds!). 👍

In my experience, my body heals just as fast or faster by doing these things when I’m dealing with a cold/flu, compared to someone else who opts for a medication.

Download the free Immune-Boosting Checklist below!  These simple strategies will help your body heal quickly & naturally, and reduce or eliminate the need for medications or over-the-counter drugs (which means no unwanted side effects & faster healing for you!). 🙌

I hope these tips are helpful for you, & the next time you’re feeling “sick” (aka expressing health 🙃), try ‘em out — and BELIEVE that your body is powerful enough to heal itself!

What are some of your favorite ways to boost your immune system & support your body’s natural healing process?  Leave a comment below!