For the first time since March 20th 2020, my kids are going back to school in person. I’m a little scared since there is a rise in Covid cases again, and it seems to effect lots of children. So, besides wearing a mask and washing our hands, we’re also boosting our immune systems to make sure our bodies can fight off any disease, including Covid.
Here is what my family is doing to stay healthy. I do want to point out that nothing in this post is meant to be medical or health advice. I’m not commenting on the severity of the virus, nor am I a doctor. If you or your child feel very sick I recommend seeing a medical doctor.
We Wash Our Hands
It goes without saying that the most effective way to stay healthy is to wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds.
We Regularly Disinfect Our Home and Anything Entering Our Home
We disinfect with homemade disinfectant wipes.
We Use Essential Oils
To boost immunity — Thieves Oil: Dilute 1 drop with 10 drops of olive oil, and rub on the bottoms of feet. It also is great in a diffuser to keep the rest of the family healthy.
I have also made up immune rollers for use.
Immunity Roller
An immunity roller makes applying immune boosting essential oil easy at any time. To be prepared, you can make one. Empty glass rollers can be bought here.
Recipe:
- 8 drops purification oil
- 8 drops thieves oil
- 5 drops lemon oil
- 2 tsp. coconut oil
Mix in roller. Roll along spine, on wrist pulses, or on bottoms of feet.
We Eat Healthy
Eating nutrient-dense “powerhouse” foods is an effective way to boost the immune system. Avoid processed foods with chemical dyes, preservatives or sweeteners. Instead, focus on eating fruits and veggies packed with vitamins and minerals. Try eating as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. My kids loves green smoothies and that is a great food since I can pack in lots of healthy food like fruit, plant milk, green vegetables, hemp protein.
- Organic leafy greens (kale, micro greens, lettuce and spinach are highly nutrient-dense)
- Nuts and seeds (Look for raw almonds, pistachios, cashew nuts, hemp and sunflower, chia, sesame and pumpkin seeds.)
- Colorful vegetables and fruits (bright colors = vitamins, minerals and nutrients!)
- Probiotics (Healthy gut bacteria influence the immune system, correct deficiencies, and increase T-cells. Try kombucha, yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut — anything fermented.)
We Get Plenty of Exercise
Playing outside almost always involves some physical activity. Get some exercise or just take a family walk every day. Exercise as well as spending time outdoors boosts the body’s immune system. A recent study found a solid link between physical activity and immune system health.
We Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is critically important for infants, children and teenagers as well as adults. A lack of sleep impairs the immune system.
We Take Vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D3
- Zinc — A zinc deficiency affects the ability of T-cells and other immune cells to function properly. Get 15–25 mg of zinc per day in your diet, but no more: too much zinc can inhibit the immune system.
We Drink Warm Golden Milk
Golden milk refers to a warm beverage made with turmeric (a spice) and some sort of milk and/or coconut oil. Turmeric is a root that contains curcumin, an antioxidant rich polyphenol known for its anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting benefits. It can boost the immune system.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. organic black pepper
- 1T cinnamon
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 3/4 cups filtered water
- 6 T raw honey or agave
Directions:
- Combine all the ingredients — except for the raw honey — in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, whisking frequently. Once the mixture begins to boil, whisk constantly while letting it boil for 10 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool for about 10-15 minutes, until it’s cool enough to touch. Add the raw honey or agave and mix until combined. This should form a paste.
- Store your paste in a glass jar in the fridge. It will last for a couple of months.
- To make the golden milk, just warm some coconut milk (or almond, soy, rice milk, etc.) and stir in the paste.
