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When you are a parent and the winter season rolls in, it can be a challenging time of year. Kids get sick at the drop of a hat and then the little darlings pass it onto you. You may have tried antibiotics when what you really need is to try natural ways to beat winter bugs. When babies are born they have little to no immunity, which is why breastfeeding is recommended so that they can get some immunity that way. As they get older and are exposed to bugs from kindergarten or school which is where they get their immunity, alongside immunisations. Over the years antibiotics have been a blessing, but they are being so overused that they are not working as well as they should do in some cases. They definitely have their place, but it is prudent to try natural ways to beat those nasty winter bugs.
Vitamin C
We all know that Vitamin C is great for the immunity, but why wait until you are sick to take it. Your body excretes excess Vitamin C that it doesn’t need, but you will probably notice that you are in desperate need. My family and I take Vitamin C everyday and we barely get sick at all, I definitely put this down to using it everyday as opposed to when we get ill.
Reduce the Sugar
I'm sorry to say that a diet high in refined sugar impedes your white blood cells ability to protect you from invading microbes. So switch from processed sugar to natural sugar in fruits and vegetables.
Get Outside
The reduction in Vitamin D from the lack of exposure to sunlight, definitely plays a part in the dreaded winter bug season. Get outside as much as you can when the sun is out and try taking a Vitamin D supplement.
Honey
Find some local honey and make yourself a nice honey and lemon drink. The immunity from these two powerhouses is incredible and it tastes so delicious.
De-stress
Easier said than done, but de stressing has shown to reduce the amount that you get sick. It makes sense if you think about it, the less stress you put on your body the more efficient it will be to protect itself from the winter bugs. This is where mindfulness will be your best friend. Being mindful is every aspect of your life will intern lesson your stress and make life more enjoyable.
Probiotics
You may all have heard about Kombucha, well there is a good reason for that. Kombucha contains anti-oxidants, which kill harmful bacteria and help fight several diseases. If Kombucha isn’t your thing then try taking a probiotic supplement. Harvard Medical School state that ‘When the gut becomes unbalanced with unhealthy levels of certain bacteria, probiotics can help restore the balance. Probiotics have been shown to secrete protective substances, which may turn on the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking hold’. In Conclusion, you can see that there are many alternatives out there to boost the immune system. Im sure you would prefer to find a natural way to beat the winter bugs, rather than rely on antibiotics which probably won’t work. Start before you get ill and prevent the winter bugs in a natural way.
For more informative pregnancy, birth and baby articles, read our Maternity Mum blog.