Ayurveda has always taught us that the host (human body) is the most important tool to defend any invasion. With that in mind, here are 10 tips that will give your body all it needs to fend off sickness at this strange time.
Avoid heavy, oily, and cold foods: Not only can these foods weaken your immune system, but they can also produce excess mucus, which can restrict your breathing.
Add heating spices to your food: Spices such as turmeric, ginger, and cumin reduce mucus buildup while simultaneously rekindling your digestive fire by speeding up your metabolism. Some spices, like garlic and ginger, can also combat inflammation.
Eat at least one citrus fruit a day: Eating citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, or grapefruits are a great way to boost your immunity. They contain vitamin c, which is an essential nutrient for your body.
Stay active: The coronavirus doesn’t do well with heat. According to a Chinese study, high temperature and high humidity reduce the transmission of COVID-19. So stay active and sweat it out.
Add steam inhalation to your bedtime routine: Before bed, practice steam inhalation followed by two drops of sesame oil or eucalyptus oil in each nostril. To do this, grab a pot of boiling water, cover your head, and inhale the steam. Dry nasal passages trap infections more easily, so keep them moist and lubricated.
Practice brisk breathing exercises: Try out breathing exercises like bhastrika or kapalabhati in open air. These breathing techniques energize your body and mind and help keep your sinuses clear from any mucus buildup.
Indulge in daily oil massage: Apply oil, like sesame oil, to your whole body and follow it with a hot shower. Oil massages to the skin can boost neurotransmitters that regulate your feeling of well-being.
Try oil pulling and tongue scraping: Oil pulling promotes oral hygiene. It involves swishing oil in your mouth to remove bacteria. To try oil pulling, gargle with hot water plus salt and turmeric every morning. Tongue scraping removes any buildup, including bacteria and other toxins, on the tongue. Since your mouth is one of the main gateways between your mind-body and the environment, maintaining its health is important to your general well-being.
Make flavor-fresh, home-cooked meals: Minimize eating any frozen, leftover, or quickly reheated food. This is because these foods, while convenient, generally have fewer nutrients than fresh, home-cooked meals. Fresh is best!
Be sure to have at least one good bowel movement daily: Seventy to eighty percent of your immune system is in your colon and gut lymphatics. Eliminating your body’s impurities on a daily basis is very important. If you don’t eliminate your waste daily, it turns toxic and breeds inflammation. If you can’t do this naturally, take two capsules of triphala with warm water at bedtime. Triphala is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine that is often used to treat constipation.
