The Race to the Finish Line!
We may not be out of the woods yet (in NZ), but there seems to be glimpses of the open meadow on the path ahead.
I think we can take heart that we may be over the hump, but as our leaders tell us, this is not a time to be complacent.
One health-conscious action we can put into effect is to avoid foods which we have noticed produce mucous congestion. Mucous congestion may be experienced as wheezing, light coughing, itchy nose and throat and being sniffy (other people might be more aware of you sniffing than you yourself!).
Bacteria and viruses love the environment provided by mucous congestion, and they find it a great place to replicate.
And our bodies show no immune activity within mucous.
Mucous-forming foods differ from person to person, but the most common are dairy, wheat, potatoes, and bananas. In Chinese medicine these come under “damp, cold” foods, especially dairy and bananas.
We also know that sugar depletes the immune system for about 4 hours after consumption – so once those Easter treats are gone, we should take a break from sugary treats.
Hydration – stay hydrated! Not just water, but also non-caffeinated drinks, about 5 – 8 glasses/cups, more warm drinks than cold, because colds & ‘flu’s don’t like the heat.
To protect ourselves further, we can be taking additional nutrients in the form of supplements, the most researched ones for immune support being vitamin C, vitamin D3 & zinc.