Don’t let this freezing cold January weather wreak havoc on your immune system. Here are some tips for keeping your IMMUNE SYSTEM strong and resilient in the coming weeks:
Cover your neck and head!
This means scarves and hats. In Chinese medicine, the neck and head are vital for enhancing immunity. Keeping them covered helps your body stay strong and able to fight off cold and flu germs. This is especially important when you are out running around, getting in and out of your car!
Eat warm, cooked foods: think soups and stews.
This helps your body easily turn your food into energy, making your energy more available to fight off pathogens. Save the salads for summer and focus on body-warming dishes.
SLEEP and WATER
Duh, right?. But really, shining some light on these two basics is PROFOUND. When you feel run down, it is almost miraculous what a good night’s sleep will do. When in doubt, Stop, Drop, and Rest. And HYDRATE. Water is nature’s best detoxifier. Use it to your advantage, in the 70-90 oz. variety, preferably finished by 6pm to avoid having to wake up at night to urinate.
It’s a New Year, and why not make it one that includes more PEACE and CALM?
Mindfulness is a great practice, but how to incorporate it daily?
One of my favorite tools for making sure I stay on an even keel in all aspects of my life is MEDITATION. Just download an app like Insight Timer (my favorite!). Here’s a place where I LOVE technology. I use it every morning, either sitting on my cushion or while walking the dog (truth!), and I think it genuinely improves the trajectory of my day. It offers free guided meditations, music tracks, courses, etc. (or you can purchase a premium membership). Interestingly, mindfulness meditation has been shown to have a huge impact on GUT HEALTH, so why not give it a try?
GRATITUDE
This is one of my favorites for beating the blues. Every so often, I can get a little doom and gloom, everything’s wrong. I’ve been trying this exercise of naming 3 things I have gratitude for when I’m in that state. It helps provide some perspective and context that I probably won’t be in said state forever, and that I do indeed have some things in life to be thankful for. Give it a try–it literally shifts your brain state.
I hope you find these tips helpful in contributing to your big picture of health. I’ve enjoyed collecting all of this knowledge to share with you, and it warms me to know that you might use them to show some kindness and love to yourself and your loved ones.
And if you are feeling like you could use a little boost, tuneup, or total overhaul for the New Year, I’m here for you. You can book a Free Consult online here. Health insurance accepted.
In deep joy and lovingkindness,
Lisa
