The winter’s no fun when you’re sick at home, all stuffy and gross. Whether you try toughing it out or mom brings you homemade soup, it’s time you learned some TLC tricks of your own. Here are some classic remedies that I’ve learned over the years that have worked for Andrew and I.
Honey
Andrew and his family are beekeepers- which means I am too! So of course, we LOVE honey and for many reasons. Honey is nonperishable and it is also a good natural antibacterial! Have some honey in your tea, mix it in with some apple cider vinegar, or add it as food flavoring and it will have you feeling better in no time!
Raw garlic- The bacteria-killing machine
Raw garlic doesn’t sound appealing, but it’s one of the best bacteria killers! Plus, it’s known to help strengthen your immune system so you can get better faster. You can take garlic in pill form (if you’re worried about garlic breath) or chop it up yourself. Just never eat it on an empty stomach— it’s too strong for an upset tummy.
DIY stop snot saline
Congestion isn’t cute-- okay maybe a little. But fortunately, you can make your own sinus-cleaning fluid at home. Simply add a teaspoon of Himalayan salt to one ounce of warm water. Keep the mixture in a tincture and give yourself two drops in each nostril at a time to help clear your nasal passages.
Maitake mushroom immune-booster
Maitake mushrooms are a big part of ancient Chinese medicine. Today, they’re still used as a powerful immune-booster! You can buy them from your nearest Asian supermarket and cook them in food or find them in capsules from your local health store. Personally, I prefer taking them in capsules just because it’s easier when I’m really sick and on the go (or trying to be).
Nutrient-rich green smoothie
I introduced this smoothie in my post on fun and healthy recipes. It’s awesome because it’s super easy to make and gives us lots of vitamin C and other sickness-fighting nutrients. Sometimes we forget to load up on greens, but when we're ill, we really need these basics: fresh veggies and liquids!
Freshly squeezed lemonade
Detox time, guys! If you don’t have a lemon squeezer, buy one-- they’re cheap. Then, whenever you feel the sniffles coming on, start your morning off with freshly squeezed lemonade. It'll clean your body of toxins and strengthens your immunity.
If the citrus tastes too sour, you can mix in some stevia to sweeten up the drink.
When we’re feeling lousy, it’s tempting to roll over and stay in bed, but our inner champion can fight it. Let's win the day.