6 ways to boost your immunity for cold and flu season

Let’s face it….schools and nurseries are crawling with germs and that means as a mum, it’s very hard to dodge them. But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the years it’s that keeping yourself well as a mum so that you can look after your children is SUPER important. We all know there’s no time for being ill when you’re a mum, so as cold and flu season arrives (not to mention the dreaded Covid), now is the time to boost your own immunity so that you can do battle with the slew of bacteria and viruses that will inevitably enter your house over the coming months.

I am a firm believer that there is a lot we can do to bolster our immune systems from the inside out, and so today I’m sharing my top tips on how you can boost your immunity as a busy mum for cold and flu season.

Eat well

Firstly – that means avoiding processed foods that deplete your system as much as possible. Instead, aim to load up your daily food intake with plenty of fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants. Focus on foods with anti-inflammatory properties – so think plenty of leafy greens, tomatoes, nuts like almonds and walnuts as well as seeds, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines and berries.

You really are what you eat, so if you want to feel well, you need to eat well. Here’s a really useful list of anti-inflammatory foods to include. Similarly, ensure you eat plenty of foods that are good for your gut i.e. fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir which all are all great for your microbiome. Experts now know that a healthy gut means a healthy immune system.

Know your supplements

There are certain supplements that are really important at this time of year. Namely Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3, and Selenium. All four of these play an important part in fortifying your immune system. However, not all supplements are equal. We love the Sambucol range because it harnesses the power of NutriProtect liposomal technology which is designed to deliver maximum absorption into your body.

Sambucol is a range of great tasting food supplements founded on the unique qualities of natural Black Elderberries. Black Elderberries contain naturally occurring flavonoids which are packed with antioxidants. Sambucol’s Immuno Forte range also contains Vitamin C and Zinc which are well known for their ability to support the immune system.

Elderberries have been used for centuries as a natural remedy. Sambucol is produced from whole, natural Black Elderberries, each bottle of Sambucol contains 100s of Black Elderberries that hold twice the natural antioxidant capacity of blueberries and more than 50% the overall antioxidant capability of cranberries. Antioxidants strengthen the immune system by helping neutralise the harmful effect of free radicals.

Exercise!

Did you know that exercising regularly actually helps to reduce your chances of catching a cold? We all find it hard to feel motivated to exercise, so if you needed yet another reason to exercise then this is it! Exercise causes changes in antibodies and white blood cells which helps to fight illness and disease. Nuff said.

Keep up with the hygiene

Handwashing is so important. As a rule in our house – we wash or sanitise our hands when we come in and before we eat (and of course after the loo!). The act of handwashing is your best ally in helping to reduce the chance of transmission of viruses.

Keep surfaces clean by wiping them down regularly and that includes phones, keyboards and other gadgets that are used frequently and can all be a hotbed for bacteria and germs.

Get enough sleep

As someone who has often struggled so much with sleep, I know first hand how important sleep is, and how bad things can be when we don’t get enough sleep. The bottom line is: sleep is when our bodies repair themselves. We need it to boost our immunity.  Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus.

Open the window

Sure – it’s getting colder outside and it’s tempting to keep all the windows closed, but that means all the germs get trapped inside stuffy air. Try to open your windows for a bit every day to let air circulate. Having plenty of houseplants around like aloe vera and spider plants are also great for filtering the air naturally or you can also invest in an air purifier of which we have a couple of in our house.

Hopefully, with these immune-boosting tips, we’ll all be ready to do battle with the endless lurgies that the kids seem to bring home from school and nursery. What do you do to try and boost your immunity during cold and flu season? Do share in a comment below.

Giveaway

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

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