Top Tips to Beat the Winter Bugs

As someone once said, “Baby it’s cold outside.”  Winter is definitely here in Melbourne.

Low temperatures, gloomy dull days and even snow in some areas. Along with the inclement weather, we often have to put up with various colds and viruses that seem to come out of the blue.

But what if there was a way to avoid these illnesses or lessen their duration and impact. Well here are some of my top tips and suggestions to beat those pesky bugs, keep them at bay and send them on their way.

1. Reduce your stress! You may think that this has nothing to do with getting the flu, but stress has a huge effect on our immune system. Studies have shown that continued stress has a detrimental effect on lymphocytes and natural killer cells by lowering their numbers. Hence when a virus is encountered, there are less immune fighting cells around to ward off illness.

Simple techniques such as meditation, regular Reflexology, time out for yourself, early nights and including some fun and laughter into your life will all help to reduce stress. Recognition of what causes the most stress in your life, is important so that you can see what changes you need to make.

2. Exercise.  You may put this into the “too hard” basket, especially in winter, but regular exercise helps to stimulate our circulation, increase oxygen into our cells and supply our body with vital nutrients. It also raises our body temperature which may fight circulating bacteria and it improves our lymphatic response to help the body detox. Rug up and go for a short walk, or exercise indoors at a gym or dance class. Do something you enjoy but make sure you keep moving.

3. Sleep. It’s very easy to want to stay in bed on these cold mornings and many animals hibernate during the cold winter months. Although animals do it to conserve their energy when food is scarce and most of us don’t have this problem, making sure you have enough sleep helps your body to become better equiped to fight off illness. Most of the healing and regeneration of our cells takes place overnight while we sleep, so having deep regular sleep is of vital importance for a healthy body.

4. Essential Oils. These are my ‘go to’ whenever I feel a virus coming on. Many essential oils can be inhaled via a diffuser, massaged into the skin with a carrier oil or added to a warming bath. Some essential oils can also be taken internally but these need to be of a Therapeutic grade such as Doterra oils or Young Living oils, both of which can be ordered online. If I have a sore throat, I gargle with some warm water with a few drops of Tea-tree oil, making sure I don’t swallow the oil.

Some of the best oils to use for their anti-microbial abilities, are Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea-tree, Lemon, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Clove Bud, Sandalwood, Peppermint, White Thyme and Sage. Others that boost the immune system are Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Rosemary, Sandalwood and Tea-tree.
Put 1 to 6 drops in a diffuser and let the healing aromas of the oils drift through your home. Mix 4 to 6 drops with some bath salts and add to a warm bath. If you have a head cold, add a drop of Peppermint or Eucalyptus to a bowl of warm water and inhale gently to clear your head.
Two brilliant oils that you can take internally are “OnGuard” by Doterra or “Thieves” by Young Living. These are combination oils that knock a virus directly on its head. They contain cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus and are very powerful.

5. Vitamin C. Much has been said about the benefits of Vitamin C but if taken at the first sign of a sore throat or runny nose, it has been found to stop the virus from developing. If taken once a virus has a hold on you, it can still help to lessen the severity of the infection. Though doctors are divided on its benefits, they do agree that Vitamin C does boost the immune system so it may be of benefit as a preventative. Foods high in Vitamin C include oranges, chilli peppers, red and green bell peppers, kale,broccoli, papaya, strawberries, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, pineapple, kiwi fruit and mangoes.

6. Zinc. Zinc helps to keep the immune system strong. It helps control infections and balances the immune system by decreasing inflammation in the body. Recent studies suggest it may help treat the common cold. It can be taken as a supplement or found naturally in oysters, red meat, poultry, lamb, sesame and pumpkin seeds, lentils, cashews and seafood such as crab or lobster, garlic and luckily, dark chocolate.

7. Olive Leaf Extract. Olive leaf Extract is made from the leaves of Olive trees and is naturally very high in antioxidants. Olive leaves have traditionally been used to enhance the functioning of the immune system. Taking it as a preventative reduces the likelihood of you getting a cold or flu and if you actually become ill, it helps to shorten the illness by reducing the activity of the microbes or viruses.

These are just a few suggestions to keep you healthy this winter. You may have many more and if so, I would love to hear them. Please leave your comments below.

Take time out for yourself on these cold days and learn to be still. Winter is meant for doing less so learn to relax and just be. After all, if animals have been doing it for thousands of years, why can’t we.

Take care,

With love,

Judy xxx

References: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.medlineplus.gov, www.naturallivingideas.com, www.livescience.com, The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Wormwood, www.researchnews.osu.edu, www.health.com, www. olea.com.au, Images by Pixabay.

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.