I Got the Flu

After getting glorious 9 hours of sleep last night, I woke up this morning feeling well-rested and excited about the day. So you can imagine my surprise when 10:30am rolled around and, as if on cue, I got pummeled with a pounding headache, chills, swollen throat, runny nose, body aches (particularly in my neck and shoulders) and an overall sense of weakness.

Having had a busy weekend planned, I was less than thrilled about the timing of Mr. Flu's arrival. I know why he showed up though.

For the last couple of weeks, I was go, go, going non-stop...it was a new experience for me as I almost never find myself going so fast without stopping and have no problem make time for self-care and rest.

But between a newly overwhelming workload, combined with extra work on a project I'm working on in my free time (really fun, but time-consuming), and coast-to-coast travel, I found myself running on 5-8 hours of sleep without slowing down. Boy did I got a glimpse into the lives of busy people who don't stop. I couldn't live like that!

To combat the overwhelm and busy schedule, I concentrated on eating nutrient-dense foods to at least give me enough energy to get through the day. It worked, but after several consecutive days of not getting enough sleep, I knew that focusing on my diet wasn't going to be enough. So I got 9 hours of sleep the last few nights and felt much better.

But imagine how weak my immune system had gotten by today after several weeks of stress, running around, and flying across different time zones.

My body was telling me to STOP! SLOW DOWN!

When my body talks to me, I listen. I don't start downing the meds to treat the symptoms. I listen really hard so I can treat the root of the problem and let my body heal itself using natural remedies.

Flu-Fighting Formula

So when my mind and body couldn't take it anymore, I left work early and fortunately had all of the ingredients in my house to make my Flu Fighting Tea so I didn't need to go to the store. Great!

Garlic, Ginger, Juice from a Fresh Lemon, and Cayenne Pepper.

Does that sound gross to you? It's really not, especially when you think to yourself that what you're nourishing your body with is going to help you feel better.

Jam-packed with antioxidants, antifungal and antibacterial properties, Vitamin C, and everything you need to boost your immune system and detoxify your body. It's important to get plenty of fluids into your body as well, so I've already had 3 cups and will continue to hydrate myself while I'm feeling sub-par.

All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a mug, pour hot water over it, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, and enjoy.

Since it's too late to prevent the flu, my hope is that drinking this tea and getting as much rest as I can will shorten the duration so that I'll be back in action in no time at all.

The next time you're sick, try letting your body heal itself by giving it what it's asking for. By resting your body, drinking plenty of fluids, and nourishing it with flu fighting ingredients, you should feel better without the intervention of pills or other medicine.