Tuesday's Change Week 48 - Cold and Flu Season

So Halloween is over and 'Silly Season' has finally begun. It's a time when we all eat and drink too much, have too many late nights, the weather gets suddenly cold and we spend way too much money leading to stress and feeling worn out. Saying all that it's what makes the festive season what it is and we probably wouldn't change it even if we could!

But there is a way we can try and lessen the effects of the season. Keeping your immunity boosted is the easiest way but you need to put in the ground work well in advance to keep those dreaded colds and flus at bay.

This is my go to trick when I feel a cold coming on. I try and battle it head on before it develops into a full blown illness that leaves me missing a Christmas party, work do or even worse the Christmas Markets here in Germany!

Ginger is a natural antibacterial and antiviral so regardless of the cold or flu this should help to boost the immunity and attack the nasty bug before it can take hold. Garlic is similar and can be added to foods easily, providing you aren't planning on getting too close to anyone underneath the mistletoe! Ginger also tastes nicer in a hot drink and so I tend to add garlic to food and ginger to my drinks.

I take about 2 inches of fresh ginger, peel it and grate it into a bowl.
Fill the bowl with freshly boiled water and allow the ginger to stew for at least 5-10 minutes. The longer the better.
If you don't like the bits then feel free to sieve out the ginger.
This makes a 'cordial' of sorts and I place this in a sealed jar or jug to be used throughout the day.
To make a nice tea that will help clear your cold/flu in no time follow the instructions below:

- Add some of the cordial made above to a mug, about 5 tablespoons, or the more the better!
- Add boiling water, a squeeze of fresh lemon, or a slice, a sprinkle of cinnamon (optional) and a teaspoon of honey (optional).
- Mix well and enjoy.

I try and drink this at least 3 times a day if I feel any sort of illness coming on. Even from the first sip you can feel your head clear and the fuzziness lift. Not to mention it tastes nice!

You can read more about the benefits of ginger here.
This will not only fight colds and flus it will also help relieve bloating and digestive pain from over indulgence on food, help ease nausea from a hangover and warm you right up on those cold winter days. The benefits really are endless.

So that is it my Jeanies. This week try and drink a cup of this tea at least once a day and stave off that dreaded illness of the festive season. You won't regret adding this to your routine and you can make it easy and hassle free by preparing the cordial in advance and even adding the honey, cinnamon and lemon to it also. This way even if you are out and about you can ask for hot water and make your own!

Tuesday's Change Week 24 - Stop drinking with your meals!

This might seem like a strange one but it's something I've found works really well for me. I don't just mean don't drink alcohol, I mean don't drink anything at all! No water, milk, tea, fizzy drink. Nothing. Nada, Niente!

Do not drink anything 30 minutes either side of eating.

Why would you do such a thing? Let me explain:

Drinking liquids during your meal dilutes your naturally occurring digestive enzymes and stomach acids which makes it harder to breakdown food. This can lead to 

- Bloating

- Weight gain

- Digestive diseases such as IBS, Constipation, Acid reflux, Allergies etc

- Discomfort and feeling sluggish

You shouldn't need to drink with meals if you 

- Chew your food adequately - producing enough saliva to stimulate digestion

- Eat slowly and mindfully

- Are already properly hydrated

Focus on hydrating yourself between meals vs. during meals. You’ll still be adequately hydrated throughout the day with this method and allow your food to be digested without complicating matters for your stomach and intestines. Check out my posts here and here to learn more about staying hydrated.

If you absolutely have to drink something with your meal then drink warm water and drink it sparingly. Lots of little sips. Cold water slows down the power of the digestive enzymes and thus retards the digestive system. Body temperature water is ideal as the body doesn't have to work to equilibrate the temperature and can focus on breaking down your food. 

A small glass will likely not interfere with digestion and by adding some lemon or ginger you can aid in the digestive process further. Ginger tea is common on most Asian menus and is often drunk with meals. Ginger helps to aid digestion and relieve any discomfort you might feel in the digestive tract. 

This might seem bizare at first and you might keep reaching for the glass in between mouthfuls. but give it a go for at least the 7 days. Try and wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you reach for that cup of tea! The longer the better!

Any questions just let me know.