The more you can “prime” your system, the better protected you will be and the faster you will feel better if you do get sick.

Nutrition is #1! Now is not the time to be restricting calories in an effort to get “cut”.

 

However, it’s still important to eat high-quality foods and drink water.  Without proper nutrients, your immune system cannot function optimally. 

 

Here are some considerations for supplements you may have heard about recently on the news: Vitamin C (extra!), Zinc, Fish Oil, Pre/Probiotics and Oregano Oil.

 

Many of these are things you’d probably be wise to take anyway (I do!) – especially for anti-inflammatory diets. And illnesses, like viruses, provoke an inflammatory response in the body.

 

A quick word about Oregano oil: If you’re taking Super Strength varietals, and you should, do not take it every day because your body will accommodate and needs a ‘break’. (I take it 12-14 days/mo)

 

I’ve posted recently on Instagram about the role our “gut” plays in warding off viruses and also helping with serotonin levels – important for our emotional health! (Under my Instagram account Bio, click on the icon named “Facts” to read highlighted posts)

 

Other foods that boost your immunity include: mushrooms, green leafy vegetables, berries, yoghurt (if you’re not vegan) along with other  fermented foods (i.e., kimchi, kombucha, etc)

In fact, kombucha is great because the process of making the drink renders it with a slight alcohol content. Regular alcohol, turns out, is NOT good for immunity. (I’ll pretend I didn’t just write that)

If you have hypersensitivity to any foods, try not to indulge- now especially! This will potentially weaken your immune system and make your digestive system (& gut) work even harder. Not to mention making you feel like crap afterwards even though, I get it- those cravings are REAL!! And yes, that includes common allergens like gluten; Life Time Athletic recently posted about the damage excess gluten can cause even if you are not gluten intolerant.

Breathe! Deep belly breaths – the kind which you may NOT be used to practicing habitually – not only helps your immunity but engages your deeper core muscles, reduces anxiety plus more benefits than we could possibly mention here AND can help prevent the virus from taking hold. There is currently a YouTube vid that went viral showing how to do this…but if you’ve been in my classes and/or a client of mine, you’re already in the know!

A longer exhale than inhale is a sign of better health- TRY IT NOW!

 

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The Essentials

• Eat Well
• Move More
• Breathe
• Get Outside
• Sleep

 

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What other immunity tips do you practice or know of?