5 Tips to Help Boost Your Immune System Before School Starts
As we head into likely one of the most scary times for going back to school, many parents are wondering how to best prepare. Even if you don’t have kids, the very fact that kids all over the city will soon be co-mingling again has to stir a bit of emotion. So what should we do? Well boosting our immune systems is a great start. Here are five tips that you may or may not have thought of:
1. Lower Your Stress. “Oh great, during the most stressful times of our lives? Right!” Lol. Well, sure life is incredibly stressful right now and there’s only so much we can do to mitigate that stress. AND we’re totally capable of lowering our stress levels - to a certain degree. For example, if when you take a break from work do you just hit Facebook and see what’s happening? Sure, a lot of people do. And what’s on your feed most of the time? Well, if it’s news it can be pretty stress-inducing sometimes and that 15-minute break can actually increase your stress levels. So next time maybe instead of heading to Facebook you head to Netflix or Youtube and watch a little comedy for 15 minutes, or just call a friend you know will give you a quick, light chat. Laughing, i.e. humour can reduce your stress levels immensely - give it a try more often! And of course we can help at Yellow Gazebo too: counselling, naturopathy, massage therapy, acupuncture and our other therapies such as chiropractic, physiotherapy and osteopathy all can help reduce stress levels, even if you don’t have any physical pain that you’re feeling.
2. Eat More Vegetables. “So I get to laugh but I have to eat more vegetables? Sounds awful!” Okay, so not everyone wants to eat a plate of broccoli for three meals a day, and for some of us even one serving of vegetables a day to our kids can mean an hour of nagging. Try instead to make some shakes that include veggies. Carrots have a lot of natural sugar, and greens such as parsley can be bended into shakes with some banana or protein powder that will make them taste just fine. For your kids try to mix in veggies with loaves (e.g. meatloaves), or puree them into sauces you know they’ll like. Adding cheese to vegetables can sometimes make them more appetizing to you and your kids too. And remember - juice does NOT count as a serving of fruit or veggies. Sorry!
3. Get More Sleep. You were hoping for this one, weren’t you? Well, you got it! Yes, more sleep can definitely help boost your immune system. Try to get to bed just 15 minutes before your normal bedtime (same for the kids) and you’ll actually be doing your body a huge favour. This is because not only are you giving yourself a few more minutes of sleep, but you’re also tricking your mind into thinking it’s a huge act of self-help. And to be honest, for us night owls losing 15 minutes of downtime in the evening kind of IS a huge sacrifice, is it not?
4. Exercise Proportionately. This is a hard sell to most people because we’re always told to “exercise at least 30 minutes, three times a week.” Well that’s great for some, not enough for others and even too much for certain people. So what’s the answer? Try experimenting with exercise. If you’re already in a program of some kind, as yourself if what you’re doing might be too much. If your goal is to boost your immune system, too much exercise can have the opposite effect. And if you’re not doing much, try just a basic walk after dinner in the evening, or some playful exercise with the kids. The important thing about going from nothing to a routine is actually establishing a plan and making it a routine - decide it has to happen a certain frequency or it just won't happen often enough to make you healthier.
5. Keep Your Air Clean. During COVID times this is something we strangely don’t talk about a lot. Yes, handwashing is an incredibly good way to get rid of germs and hopefully this pandemic will get more people washing their hands regularly. But the air you breathe can carry a lot of germs, COVID and otherwise. So make sure the filter in your furnace and/or AC unit has been cleaned and/or replaced recently. Maybe even pick up a cheap air purifier for your bedroom too. They don’t have to have fancy UV systems to make them work better than nothing - a basic HEPA filter in an air purifier will do a good job in helping clean your air and boost your immune system. Other ways you can keep the air cleaner in your home is to allow as much sunlight in during the day as possible, not smoking or burning anything inside, and even opening windows or doors at least once a day and allowing air to flow through. Running a fan while you do this will help as well. And houseplants, lots of houseplants to filter that air for you!
If you’d like some more information, would like to book a free consultation or would like to go ahead and schedule an appointment at Yellow Gazebo, please give us a call at 416-909-2334, email us at info@yellowgazeboclinic.com, or use the online booking link below. We’ll be happy to help you get on your way to optimum health.
