Immune Health for Moms: Top 5 Tips to Stay Strong and Healthy
Sniffles, coughs, sore throats, and sneezes are a part of life with littles.
I used to feel anxiety at the first signs of these symptoms in my husband or stepson. I believed it was inevitable that I’d have to go through an immune system “upgrade” too, if someone else in the house was compromised.
However, over the past couple years, I’ve been experimenting with what it feels like to take charge of my immune health, independent of the condition of those around me.
Giving greater attention to what I can control— the state of my own health — rather than what I can’t, for example, my stepson waking up with a runny nose on a Monday morning, has resulted in a decrease in the frequency and severity with which I experience internal dis-ease.
My body can stay strong, balanced, and healthy irrespective of anyone else’s state. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, or time, to incorporate immune enhancing practices into daily life.
Below, are my top tips for supporting my immune health each day, and especially at times when I feel my body needing an extra boost.
#1. Salt Gargle
I gargle with warm sea salt and/or pink Himalayan salt water every morning.
The practice of gargling with salt water (and swishing it around the mouth) has been shown to aid with reducing severity of symptoms and the length of colds.
Simply warm some filtered water in a kettle on the stove (be sure not to heat too hot), then fill an eight ounce glass with the warm water.
Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the water and stir.
Gargle, then swish the water around in your mouth, before spitting it out. Repeat with remaining salt water, until your your cup is empty.
#2. Stay Hydrated
I drink a sixteen ounce glass of room temperature water, right after my salt water gargle, each morning.
Staying hydrated is vital for your immune system to function properly.
According to Dr. Mercola, in his book, Upgrade Your Immunity with Herbs:… proper hydration is key to,
Keep the mucous membranes of the throat, nose, and eyes moist as these are your body’s first-line of defense against invading bacteria and viruses.
Aim to drink high quality filtered, or spring water, and avoid tap water when possible (as well as water kept in plastic bottles), which can be contaminated with heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides.
I also add these electrolytes to my water.
As a breastfeeding momma, with an insatiable thirst, electrolyte supplementation has been a game changer in keeping me energized physically and mentally, while recording podcasts, chasing around two kiddos in the hot Florida sun, or chilling at the beach on a lazy Sunday afternoon with the fam.
How much should you drink? There’s a lot of conflicting thoughts on this. But let’s make it simple.
Listen to your body.
Drink when you feel thirsty. Pay attention to signs of dehydration such as lethargy, brain fog, fatigue, and irritability.
Additionally, water helps to move lymph throughout your body. The lymphatic system produces white blood cells, that play a role in keeping your immune system vital. Which leads me to the third tip.
#3. Lymph Drainage Movements
Your lymphatic system is an internal drainage system.
It plays a critical role in keeping fluid levels balanced, and eliminating toxins from your body.
I practice a variety of stretches throughout the day, that help keep lymph moving, whenever I feel depleted and/or compromised physically or emotionally. For example, when I’m up with the baby more than usual, under additional stress, or caring for congested children.
Below are links to a handful of my favorite movements and yoga sequences that promote immune health:
Side lying twists
The poses/sequences mentioned above, target the chest, throat, groin, and armpits areas where there’s a high concentration of lymph nodes.
#4. Colloidal Silver Spray
I use Sovereign Silver spray to support my immune system at the first signs of feeling “off –” sore throat, body soreness/aches, poor sleep, and/or congestion.
Silver was used, historically, prior to antibiotics, to fight infections and help with wound healing, because of its potential antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Typically, I take a dose of colloidal silver, in the morning, when I’m already taking other supplements, so that I don’t forget.
Lastly, quality matters when it comes to supplements, and silver is no exception.
For more information, check out the Four P’s for Choosing the Right Silver Supplement article, to ensure you’re selecting a product that will provide the most benefits to your immune system.
#5. Healing Affirmations
As you think, so it is. We’re that powerful, momma.
So choose with intention the thoughts you permit to linger in your mind, and the words you use, when your body is undergoing an immune system upgrade.
It’s so easy to allow ourselves to slip into a way of thinking that is counter our own healing, when faced with uncomfortable symptoms.
We’re fast to speak into existence a reality we don’t want.
“I’m so sick.”
“I feel awful.”
“I’m miserable.”
“I’m going to catch what so-and-so has.”
And so it is. But it doesn’t have to be.
Here are a few of my favorite healing positive affirmations, from Louise Hay, to play with, the next time you find yourself around someone with cold symptoms, or you’ve got a tingle in your throat, etc…:
“My body appreciates how I take care of it”
“I listen with love to my body’s messages.”
“Wellness is the natural state of my body. I’m in perfect health.”
“I’m pain free and totally in sync with life.”
“I’m guided toward healing and balance.”
Try these on, and see what happens. You might find as I have, that your symptoms end up being much more mild, or completely disappear altogether, when you switch out the mental tape of anxiety and stress around immune system challenges, for one of gentleness, self-agency, and ease.
So there you have it.
Feeling good, and staying in vibrant health doesn’t need to be complicated as a momma. Simply creating a consistent routine, with a few key immune supporting habits, such as the ones mentioned here, can make a big difference in maintaining vitality regardless of what’s happening around you.
XOXO
Erika
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Health Disclaimer: The information in this article is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition, and is designed to be, strictly, informational. If you have a serious health concern, please seek out appropriate support from an experienced, trained, health provider. Erika Wirth is not responsible for any decisions you make as a result of the content provided here.
