Nobody likes being sick. Well, there was a brief period of time as a child that I looked forward to staying home watching television all day when I had a cold or the flu. But now, getting sick is something that I dread and try to avoid at all costs 😷🤒🌡
Since I’ve gone vegan, I’ve noticed that I get sick way less. Pre-vegan I battled allergies/sinus/colds at least twice a year plus any other illnesses like the flu, 24 hour bugs, strep, bronchitis, etc. The only time I get sick now is seasonal allergies once or twice a year and if I take action as soon as I notice symptoms, it goes away a lot faster and isn’t as agonizing.
Whether you’re vegan or not, these 9 easy tips can make you feel better a lot faster. They will help you fight sickness in a much healthier, all natural way that your body will be thankful for. You can still incorporate your regular medicines if necessary. These suggestions will just boost your immune system for a speedier recovery this winter!
one. PROBIOTICS – These babies keep your gut healthy, and the state of your gut pretty much affects the rest of your body’s health, so it’s super important to keep your digestive tract happy. Look for high quality probiotics, preferably refrigerated, that have multiple strains and a high cell count (in the billions is best). Find a brand that doesn’t contain gelatin, soy, wheat or dairy. Use them like a supplement. If I feel symptoms coming on, I take probiotics 3x a day to boost my immune system.
two. VITAMIN D – Another great immune booster is vitamin D. In the winter it may be hard to get this vitamin naturally from the sun, plus if you aren’t feeling well then spending time outside might not be realistic. Find a good quality brand that is vegetarian/vegan and not synthetic. Vitamin D is amazing for boosting your immune system and fighting off illness. I usually take at least 5,ooo IU a day when I’m sick.
three. PUT COCONUT OIL IN YOUR COFFEE – I just started doing this myself and I love it. Coconut oil is crazy healthy as we all know, but it also contains anti-bacterial properties that help ward off infection and inflammation in the body. After you brew your coffee, put it in a blender with 1/2-1 tsp of virgin unrefined coconut oil and blend for a few seconds. I still add some organic soy milk to mine, and the blended coconut oil gives a foamy cappuccino like top and tastes sooooo good! ☕️
four. COCONUT WATER – On a similar note, whenever I’m sick or feel something coming on, I grab a liter of organic non-GMO coconut H20 from the store and drink it throughout the day for added potassium and other nutrients. Not something you would normally go to when you’re sick, but it’s a great way to get liquids and has so many health benefits!
five. NETI POT – Okay, I know some of you probably think neti pots are really gross or weird and I used to feel the same way. But I hate constantly blowing my nose with tissues and then my nose gets all red and dry and flaky and I feel like a goblin 👃👺 If I use a neti pot a couple of times a day as soon as my nose starts to become noticeably stuffy, it really makes a difference and I’m not congested as badly or for as long. I try to stay away from nasal spray but I usually have to use it at night so I can breathe. However, the neti pot makes it possible for me cut down my usage of the spray.
six. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR – I’ve fallen madly in love with apple cider vinegar 💘 It’s sort of great for everything. Including your gut health, whose importance we’ve discussed above ☝️ When I’m sick I will measure out 1-2 caps of apple cider vinegar and add a little water and gulp it down. I do this several times throughout the day. The vinegar is so strong it will also help clear my sinuses and sometimes lessen the pain associated with a sore throat. Make sure you use an organic brand that contains the mother. Bragg’s is a good one.
seven. SPIRULINA – If you’ve never heard of spirulina, it’s algae based and comes in either powder or tablet form. I’ve tried both and I prefer to take the tablets every morning after breakfast. But some people prefer putting the powder form in their smoothie or adding to water or juice. Spirulina is packed with nutrients and it’s what I take in lieu of a traditional multivitamin. Among other things, it contains zinc, magnesium, chlorophyll and beta carotene, which are all helpful in fighting off sickness.
eight. WARM WATER WITH LEMON – When you’re sick, it’s very important to flush the toxins out of your body. One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by drinking warm water with lemon 🍋 If you drink it first thing after waking up, before eating (and even before brushing your teeth) it will be most effective for detox purposes. I heat some water on the stove and put it in a mug with juice from half a lemon or more. I try to do this at least twice a day when I’m sick. Once a day at the very least, and that’s in addition to the coconut water, hot tea and 1.5 liters of water I’ll drink daily as well.
nine. AVOID SUGAR, GLUTEN, DAIRY, MEAT & PROCESSED FOODS – Whew, that sounds like basically everything right? If you’re already vegan or vegetarian it will be easier to avoid these things. All of the foods listed above are extremely inflammatory to your body, especially the first four, and will slow down the recovery process when you are sick. Processed foods contain inflammatory ingredients as well, plus lot of chemicals and yucky artificial things 🕱 Not what your body needs to heal itself. DO consume lots of leafy greens, raw fruits & veggies, vegetable broth, brown rice, lentils, quinoa, smoothies, fresh ginger, mint, and whatever other plant based foods your heart desires.
If you follow these tips, there’s not a 100% guarantee that your symptoms will magically disappear or you’ll wake up feeling great the next day, but you will definitely notice a positive difference. If you incorporate these tips into your daily routine year round, then there’s a good chance you’ll rarely get sick anyways 🤗
Jillian 💙
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