Mind
How you can build up your immune system this winter
The majority of people will suffer the misery of the common cold at least once each winter. The runny nose, sore throat, and general stuffed-up feeling can make it difficult to get on with your day.
But there are a few tricks you can keep up your sleeve in order to try and dodge the germy bullet. By increasing your body’s natural immunity you’ll have a better chance of keeping the colds and flu away.
- Include plenty of vitamin C in your diet. Aim for 500-1000mg daily. If you enjoy plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs, and garlic these will also help keep your body ready to fight back. Choose carrots, spinach, oranges, grapefruit, fresh horseradish, onions, chives, green capsicum, cabbage, brussels sprouts, tomatoes and turnips as they are all good sources of vitamin C.
- Include garlic in your diet as much as you can as it can boost your body’s defences and allow it to fight infection. This tiny flavour booster is packed with vitamins A, B and C, copper, sulphur, manganese, iron and calcium.
- You can also try taking a preventive daily dose of Echinacea. This is thought to reduce your risk of catching a cold or flu as it helps enhance the immune system. You can buy it from chemists or health food stores as tablets or in a herbal tea. Also try rose hip tea as another barrier to infection. It contains vitamin C too, as well as vitamins A, B and E.
- Keep the germs in your home at bay by spraying this homemade disinfectant spray regularly. Start off by adding 10ml of methylated spirit to 500ml of water in a spray bottle, and then add 20 drops of lavender oil, five drops of lemon oil, and five drops of eucalyptus oil. Spray on a fine mist setting and use as a room deodoriser.