How to Boost Your Immune System

Hey ladies!

I'm totally into beating the fear that has gripped our nation with a little common sense. The experts are predicting that 40-80% of the population is going to come down with coronavirus, even with all the forced isolation and restrictions that are in place, so I just want to encourage you with some tips on boosting your immune system.

 

• Limit your contact with others, but don't stay inside all the time! Exercise and vitamin D both build up your immune system. Get out and move. The fresh air will feel so good after being cooped up for a while. They also help keep away depression. 

• Think happy thoughts! I'm not joking. Science has proven that positive thinking positively impacts your health. So turn off the news for a while and turn on your favorite show. Write a list of the things you are thankful for. Do a good deed for someone else. Anything to help you shake the weight of this crisis for a bit and make you feel better.

• Laugh. Kids are great for this, because they do and say a lot of silly things. So have a joke telling competition. Or turn on some goofy music and have a dance party. Or put the kids to bed, snuggle up to your hubby, and watch your favorite comedy (Hitch is a personal favorite of mine, but I also really like Last Holiday). 

• Enjoy your relationships with family and friends. From a distance, of course. Loneliness is not good for anybody, so make sure you can still connect with people, even if you are physically isolated. So call a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Send a goofy picture of the kids to Grandma. Make sure you are maintaining those important bonds. We can get each other through this, even if we have to stay apart to do it!

• Eat lots of fruits and veggies! Everyone is stockpiling packaged food right now, I want to challenge you to go to the produce section and load your cart with the vitamins that really will help your body fight any sickness that it comes across: the ones that come from plants.

• Avoid sugar. Sugar actually weakens your immune system. This is a hard one for me because sugary foods are usually comfort foods for me. But the sugar really doesn't help! It kills the good flora in your gut, and gut health is an essential part of your immune system. 

• Limit alcohol and quit smoking. Again, these are substances that can be comforting for some people, but they don't fortify the body. If you can't completely cut them out, at least try to cut back. Will save you a little money, too.

• Wash your hands and change your clothes after coming home from grocery shopping or errands. 

• Have sex. It may be the last thing on your mind right now, but studies show that it actually does boost your immune system (semen has a lot of zinc in it). It's a nice way for you and your spouse to comfort each other during these uncertain times, too!

I hope these suggestions will help you, mamas! We can be proactive about this thing. We do not have to be the victims! Some things are completely out of our control, but we can do our best to prepare for the storm.

Much love,

Lee

P.S. 

Lee's Recipe for Immune Boosting Pink Lemonade

To a blender add:
juice of 3 lemons
2 Tbsp baobab powder
2 Tbsp Pyure (or sweetener of choice)
2 Tbsp Elderberry syrup (I use the Nature's Way Sambucus, whivh also has echinacea) 
1 cup water

blend until well mixed, then let the foam settle and add 5 more cups of water. Enjoy!