Guide to Immunity

no more sickness + this weeks grocery list + recipes

Being sick sucks, no doubt about it. I always regret taking for granted being healthy whenever I am sick, it really is a thing to be grateful for. The most frustrating thing about being sick is that you know all your body needs is rest to heal, but all the sucky symptoms make it IMPOSSIBLE to sleep. But rest can occur during the day too. 

The most important thing you can do while sick is give yourself permission to heal. PERMISSION TO REST & RELAX. You don’t need to go go go like a typical hustle day would be. 

My week has looked like: lots of soup, toast, sleep, rest + lots and lots of bevs.

Sickness is a message from your body telling you to slow down. To stop exerting energy on things you typically would. Your body needs that excess energy to focus on healing within. 

Unfortunately, my first thought when I got sick was, “Nooooo I don’t have time for this, I have so much I need to do.” which is probably the worst mindset to have on the matter. I work to acknowledge that I have that thought and retrain my brain instead to say, “Ok, I am sick, that is out of my control.” What is in my control? The way I react to being sick. The best way to react to being sick is listening to my body. What does it need? 

It needs extra rest. Extra nourishment, extra hydration. A pause to the screens, the workouts, the drinking, the caffeine. Time to slow down. This extra time of relaxation makes me realize how important rest and recharge is on my body. That I can work to carry this more into my go go go every day. 

An opportunity to rest + recharge

When my gut health was at its worst, I got sick almost every two weeks. It was HORRIBLE. My immune system was completely shot. This is a lot because around 70% of your immune system is in your gut microbiome. Poor gut health = poor immune health. In addition to that, I didn’t have the holistic resources to know how to get better, so I was on antibiotics every time. 

I soon came to learn that these antibiotics were causing even more detrimental damage to my gut microbiome, so it was an ongoing negative cycle. It was also in a high stress environment with little to no sleep, lots of drinking, and no support for my immune system. 

I have made LOTS of progress from then. I get sick, maybe once or twice a year, and when I do I am able to kick it pretty quickly (without antibiotics*). I have learned how to support my immune system throughout the year and how to EXTRA support it while sick, so I wanted to share all my tips & tricks with you. Let’s get intoooo it. 

*NOTE: I am not telling you to never take antibiotics. There is a time and a place. I am not a doctor, I have just been OVERPRESCRIBED in ways that were detrimental to my personal health. I believe there is a beautiful balance between western + holistic medicine, and both can be used harmoniously when needed. 

Glow’s Guide to Being Sick