As most of you know, I will be away from blogland a bit while I’m on maternity leave. Lucky for me – AND you!- I’ve partnered with some lovely bloggers to consistently bring you great content.
This week, I am sharing a post by Faith from The Wild and Free. She offers great advice about how to get over a cold. No one likes being sick in any season!
Enjoy!
10 Tips to Help You Get Over a Cold Faster by Faith of The Wild and Free
I hate seeing people sick with a cold. Colds are dumb and no fun.
And while I will be the first to admit that it’s no fun to be sick, there are lots of easy, natural things to help prevent catching a cold or flu, or get better faster.
My husband and I hardly ever get a full blown cold because of all the things we do to help keep our immune system strong and resilient.
But, when we do occasionally get sick, we are able to get better WAY faster than our average neighbor using the following techniques.
But, when we do occasionally get sick, we are able to get better WAY faster than our average neighbor using the following techniques.
Please know that we are NOT DOCTORS, nor do we pretend to be on the internet. Use your brain, if you are legit sick and not getting better, go see one of those awesome folks with an M.D. or D.O. or D.C. behind their name. We are not doctor haters. They spent lotsa years in school learning lotsa lotsa stuff.
Also, FYI if you buy stuff using the links in this post, we will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Scouts honor, these are actual products that we use ourselves and recommend to our pals. My Mama whooped me for lying, remember?
Also, FYI if you buy stuff using the links in this post, we will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Scouts honor, these are actual products that we use ourselves and recommend to our pals. My Mama whooped me for lying, remember?
1. Cut out sugar except for moderate amounts of RAW honey
Sugar feed all kinds of bad things like cancer, inflammation, imbalanced gut bacteria. I know that you think that pop/ice cream/cookie/popsicle will help you “feel” better but it really won’t. It hinders your body’s ability to heal itself. The ONLY exception to this “no sugar” rule is raw, unfiltered, 100% pure honey. If you’re over the age of 2, raw honey has some phenomenal benefits to actually help you get better faster!
2. Cut out ALL dairy
Not only is dairy hard to digest and therefore taxing on what is already a stressed digestive system, but it contributes to excess mucus (aka boogers and phlegm).
PHOTO BY JANIS OPPLIGER ON UNSPLASH
3. Use Young Living Essential Oils as often as possible
Essential oils have been a game changer for us. Really. We were healthy before, but these powerful tools in tiny bottles have taken our healthy kid game to a WHOLE. NOTHA. LEVEL. If we are feelin a little crummy we’ll use Thieves oil literally every 15 minutes if we can. We use this oil at least once a day on a regular basis, but when we are feeling less than stellar or have been around sickos we use it more often.
Other favs include: Purification, Oregano, Eucalyptus Globulus, Peppermint, Melrose, Lemon, and Joy. It is MUCH easier for your body to utilize and benefit from the use of essential oils when used frequently in smaller quantities.
I get it, there are a ton of different essential oil companies out there. And most of them are cheaper than Young Living.
However, if you want the actual therapeutic benefits and not just the smelly-goods, I can ONLY recommend Young Living with confidence.
If you don’t already have a pal that will teach you about using oils, hit me up. I LOVE to share how these oils have helped us.
4. Drink water, lots and lots of water
Water helps to flush the junk out of your body. Not enough water equals slower recovery time. Besides, you’re probably dehydrated anyway. In fact, studies show that roughly 75% of Americans are.
5. Drown your sorrows in tea, hot herbal tea
Peppermint tea and green tea are our personal favorites. Organic is best and avoid the boxes of tea with added flavors. Do NOT microwave your tea for optimum benefits. Buy your sweet self a tea kettle. It’ll come in handy, promise.
6. Take more Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Probiotics (not via yougurt)
These ALL increase your body’s ability to fight off infection. Most people need nutritional supplementation even when their immune system isn’t compromised. We ALL need extra boosts to help get our body get better faster. Beware of many supplements, especially Vitamin C supplements as they are often chalked FULL of sugar and other crap. Again, it is most helpful to break your supplementation up throughout the day and not take it ALL at once.
7. Blow your nose.
Please for the love of all that’s holy, don’t sniffle. Your body is trying to get rid of the excess mucus. Go buy a big ol package of Puffs Plus tissues and go to town.
8. Get some light exercise in
Even a brisk walk helps to stimulate your lymphatic system and get that junk moving OUT of your body so that you can get over that cold faster.
PHOTO BY KARSTEN WÜRTH (@INF1783) ON UNSPLASH
9. REST. Get extra sleep.
Go to bed EARLY. The human body is designed to rest best when it’s dark outside. My wise Grandma told me that your best sleep happens between the hours of 10 pm and 2am. Try your guts out to be asleep by 10. This will help you get over a cold faster more than we would often like to admit.
10. Go to the Chiropractor and get adjusted
I kinda hate to even share this secret because it means that if all my local pals listen then the sickos will be in MY chiropractor’s office when they are sick. But alas, I shall share. Getting an adjustment by a skilled chiropractor gives your immune system a boost. This is actually a really cool article about how chiropractic care had better results than mainstream medical care during the flu of 1918.
What about you?
What about you?