The Online is Now Store Closed
While I don’t usually recommend drinking alcohol when you’re sick, this hot toddy recipe takes a wee dram of whisky to another level. As Dr. B explained in Episode 10 of EAT THIS with Lianne, the effect of his hot toddy recipe is that it’s a vasodilator and that helps those aches and pains that you’re feeling if you’re sick.
The pain in your body, the soreness in your throat, achey back or legs, maybe even your knees is from inflammation. Inflammation happens because your immune system is doing what it knows how when its invaded by a virus, bacteria or is injured, it creates inflammation.
Sure you can squash it with over the counter meds, feel better for a bit, but as Dr. B confirmed, the anti-inflammatory meds are going against what your body is trying to do. That’s capture that damn virus and get it OUT of your body.
Supportive ways to help your body do what it is trying to do:
💦 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink more water than you ever have. Drink herbal teas, diluted juice or coconut water.
🛌 Rest and sleep. It takes energy to fight any invader of your body, and rest is what your body needs. That’s it. Full stop. I could end here, but I won’t.
🥗 Eat light. Digestion takes energy and because you’re already fighting an internal war with the immune army doing its thing, save what juice you have for the immune system. Eating little and often is your best option. Think a handful of blueberries, or a smoothie popsicle.
🍓🥦 Eat colours. I know you don’t really feel like eating a salad; spinach, baby kale, grated carrot and beet, sunflower seeds, chopped zucchini and even blueberries, but those antioxidants, plant nutrients and superfood level colours are like the calvary coming to the aid of a failing army.
🙅🏻♀🙅🏻♂Avoid sugar. While you crave anything that will make you feel better, don’t. Fight that craving with yet another glass of water or herb tea. That ice cream tub that is calling your name… let it, and say ‘not tonight honey’. The craving and wanting will ease, promise.
🥣 Drink broth. Yes, grandma was right about the shot of whisky and drinking broth. Whenever my kids or I get sick, I immediately make chicken noodle soup, with loads of garlic. Every time. If I don’t have any broth (recipe in my book Sprout Right Family Food btw) I make it there and then with chicken thighs–skin on, bone in, and use the boiled chicken for the soup. The nutrients, fat, collagen and gelatin all help break up mucus, help your gut and immune system.
🧘♀ Move gently. Go for a walk, a 15 minute gentle yoga video, get up off the couch and shuffle to the bathroom and around the house. Movement helps to move your lymph which is your body’s filter system right along side your immune system. The movement helps to flush out what you need to get rid of.
⏰ Supplement right. No, taking 10,000 mg of vitamin C isn’t going to be like a dead end to your virus, but having 2000 - 3000mg two or three times a day, every day can help shorten its severity and duration. Vitamin D3 and K2, zinc, magnesium and probiotics are at the top of my must-take-daily list.
Taking care of yourself is the only way through this and rather than fighting it, put your feet up, ask for help if you need it, get that water bottle filled up and REST! Before you know it, you’ll be back in the game again.
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