Recovery is for Rock stars!!!!

Published: Sat, 10/06/18

Hey !

How was your week? My non-stop life finally caught up with me and I was hit by the dreaded fall head cold! Ugh! So I've been doing my best to get back to healthy by:

Drinking lots of fluids (especially warm soothing tea)
Getting plenty of rest
Putting my workouts on hold
Increasing my Vitamin C and Zinc intake

What are your go to recovery techniques?

Too often in our society we glorify being busy, multitasking, and workaholic lifestyles. We seem to think that taking time to recover is a sign of weakness, or feel that we are being lazy.

The truth is that if we don't schedule time to recover physically and mentally, eventually our body is going to force us to slow down. The immune system can only stand up to so much abuse before it breaks down exposing us to all the nasty illnesses being passed around. The fall season is an especially vulnerable time of year where the cold and flu are running rampant. The more vigilant you are about strengthening your immune system, the better your chances are of staying healthy.

Some of the best ways to boost your immunity include:

Proper sleep - Sleep is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of overall health. I often hear people brag about how well they function on minimal hours of sleep. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but this does not make you cool. Lack of sleep contributes to a large number of health issues. Lowered immunity, loss of memory and lack of concentration, mood swings and increased risk of depression or anxiety, high blood pressure, weight gain, heart disease, and sexual side effects are all effects of sleep deprivation. Make it a priority to get your Zzzz's!
Cut back on sugar - Sugar effects your bodies ability to fight bacteria and infection. It diminishes your immune system for several hours after eating or drinking food and drink with high sugar content. Focus on eating nutrient dense foods high in vitamin C, E, and zinc.
Stay active - Regular exercise can boost your immune system. Try to get a minimum of 30 minutes 3 days a week to keep your immunity and muscles strong!
Reduce your stress - Slow down, meditate, strengthen your close relationships, and engage in activities that help you manage your stress! Sustaining high levels of stress for long periods of time can also contribute to many of the same health issues as lack of sleep. Adequate sleep and stress management go hand in hand to prevent mood instability, over or under eating, muscle tension, high blood pressure, diabetes, sexual side effects, headaches, and more.

As we get deeper into the cold and flu season, take a step back and evaluate your lifestyle. What changes can you make to ensure that you are getting the necessary recovery time your body needs to stay strong and healthy?

One of my favorite warm, soothing, immune boosting beverages is the golden latte! Turmeric is known for it's anti inflammatory powers! Combined with other immune boosting spices, coconut milk, and a small bit of throat soothing honey, this delicious drink will have you back to rock star status in no time! Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Have a lovely week!

In health,

Mary Brown