Germs are all around us…year round.  But they seem to creep up on us more often through the winter months.  With the changing temperatures and drier air it lets the germs linger in the air a little longer and leaves us more vulnerable.  Here are my favorite winter essentials to keep my immune system at its peak and feeling good all season long.  I hope you’ll adopt a couple or all of these for you and your family.  Four of these you can do easily every day!

1.  Wellness Tonic – I have come across this in various ways since I first began at the Academy of Healing Nutrition.  I have adapted my own recipe and I would like to share it with you.  Whenever I am feeling a little under the weather, the first hint of a sore throat or cold I mix up this little potion.  It also helps kick start digestion!

2. Thieves Essential Oil – I use this oil blend daily to keep me healthy.  It is a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils.  I rub a drop onto the bottom of my feet before bedtime or throughout the day if I’m not feeling quite 100%.  Legend has it these herbs were worn by thieves throughout the Middle Ages as they stole from plague victims.  Supposedly, this blend kept them alive and well.  If you would like to order some shoot me an email.

3. Drink Herbal Tea – sometimes it is as simple as steeping a few slices of ginger into my morning lemon water.  I also love Traditional Medicinals brand, in the winter I reach for Gypsy Cold Care and Echinacea Plus.   Drinking tea keeps you hydrated and warm and with these immune supporting herbal teas you can help keep sickness at bay. (Bonus:  I do this year round but it is especially important in winter: drink room temperature or warm water and drinks.  Cold drinks shock the system and in winter we really want to keep our body and digestive system warm.)

4. Eat seasonally!  Eat warming and grounding winter foods.  Add warming spices or just more spices in general, mix in some root vegetables and winter squashes, switch to dark leafy greens (as opposed to light and bright ones), and eat more cooked foods, soups and stews (minimal raw this time of year). 

5. Turmeric – This spice is wonderful for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties.  It helps to detoxify the system and packs a large amount of antioxidants.  It is a great addition to many dishes or you can also take it as a supplement.  I take 500mg in the morning and double it to 1000 mg if I am feeling under the weather.  Black pepper helps the bio-availability of turmeric so I like a supplement with it included.   The one I use can be purchased here.

Do you have any favorite wellness tips or recipes you would like to share?  Please leave them in the comments below!  I would love to hear them!

Warmth and wellness, 

Crystal