Protect Yourself (1): Things You May Have At Home

Not everyone has the same access or the capability to go get everything you need to protect yourself in this sensitive time. Eating as little to no sugar especially refined sugar as it suppress your immune system and is food for bacteria and viruses. Some foods that are good at fighting viruses and bacteria in your body are lemons, grapefruit, limes, onions, cloves, turmeric, cayenne, vinegar.

Recipe:

Tumeric Milk - Tumeric, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Black pepper (helps your body absorb Tumeric) plant based milk

Here are some household items you may already have in your home that can help support your immune system.

Mushrooms

According to a 2005 report published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, mushrooms contain “compounds and complex substances with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective activities.” That may sound like a mouthful, but it means that they can enhance almost every system in the body and protect you from numerous diseases since they’re associated with lowered inflammation. Sustaining high levels of inflammation long term has been shown to contribute to chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes (conditions identified as risk factors for those exposed to Covid19) and cancer.

Reishi Mushrooms
Reishi mushrooms are considered natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal substances thanks to the active compounds that they contain. For example, aside from relieving allergies, triterpenes offer protection against microbial, viral and fungal infections. Triterpenes can be found in many plant foods that taste somewhat bitter, a sign that they’re protective in nature and defend the plant against predators.

Because reishi mushrooms can improve blood circulation and lower inflammation, they can help resolve infections more quickly, reduce pain and fight fatigue. Reishi mushrooms have been used to help treat symptoms and underlying causes of urinary tract infections, hepatitis and even HIV/AIDS. 

Thyme
For centuries, some of the most common thyme uses have been naturally treating coughs, bronchitis and other respiratory issues. Further research confirms this and suggests this herb makes an effective bronchitis natural remedy as well. It has a long history of use in natural medicine and a proven track record as a natural medicine that can fight off bacteria. Thyme uses include fighting infections that affect the mouth, teeth, digestive system and respiratory system. Other health benefits of thyme include helping to lower blood pressure, improve your immune system, boost your mood, and to support oral/dental health.

Raw Honey
Some people may be experiencing allergies around this time of year, which may cause them to present with cold like symptoms and raise suspicions about having covid19. While it is always prudent to follow covid19 protocols (wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face), its also a good idea to address what may be simply allergy symptoms.  Honey can help.

Raw honey contains bee pollen, which is known to ward off infections, provide natural allergy relief and boost overall immunity. Honey’s ability to prevent allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy. How so? The bees in your neighborhood go from flower to flower collecting pollen that causes you to suffer, but when a you consume local raw honey, you also consume that same offending local pollen. After some time, an allergy sufferer may become less sensitive to this pollen that previously caused problems and experience less seasonal allergy symptoms. Many seasonal allergy sufferers have found local, raw honey to be helpful because it desensitizes them to the fauna triggering their allergic reaction.