Join me for an immunity-boosting health kick?

[RedBeech]

I'm just getting over the seventh two-to-three-long flu/covid episode in the last 9 months and am determined not to get ill again.

I've missed out on so much this year - cancelled so many social events, cancelled so much work, been drained and exhausted when visitors come and stay, too tired to exercise, too tired to even keep the house basically clean. I'm fed up of living like this.

Does anyone who also feels like their immunity has been low this year want to join me in a gentle immunity-boosting health kick and share ideas?

So far I plan to:

• Up fruit and veg to 8-10 a day, with some greens every day, and lots of garlic.
• Take Vit D and iron supplements
• Drink 2L of filtered water a day (Need to buy a water filter jug.)
• Do very gentle 5-10 minute yoga and body weight online sessions to develop stamina and strength again slowly
• Carry First Defence with me and use it every time I'm on public transport or in crowds, whether or not I feel ill.
• Have at least 30 mins gentle walk every day.
• No alcohol on weeknights and only one or two measures at weekends.

Try kefir. It takes around 3 months of daily drinking to improve gut bacteria but that helps the immune system.
Chia seeds daily in Greek yogurt is probiotic & boosts immunity.
Don’t forget hand sanitiser.
I use it after every door handle touch, petrol fill up, cash machine, chip & pin or whatever. The general public really don’t wash their hands enough. I’ve been I’ll only twice since 2020 thanks to religiously using sanitiser & I work with the public.

Thank you. These are good tips. I wash my hands about thirty times a day - no exaggeration. And use hand sanitiser. Never had such a problem with illness before this year. I'm usually good at shaking things off in a couple of days and just feelng tired, not ill. But the last few months have been non-stop.

Well I don't know if anyone is going to join me, but will keep the thread going for a couple of days, in case.

Yesterday I took Vit D spray and herbal iron supplement with added vitamins. Had Actimel because it's easy to drink and to keep in the fridge though I'm never sure how effective it is at helping gut bacteria as it either has sugar (which I'm trying to avoid) or sweeteners which also aren't great for you.

Breakfast: wholemeal toast and poached egg
Lunch: ratatouille and granary bread; apple
Snack: banana and some lentil chips
Dinner: steak with spring onions, garlic spinach and new potatoes; grapes and a plum.
Drank about 1l of water, so need to up that today.

Went for a short hill walk with DH which left me a bit exhausted, and did a 5 minute body weight workout. Literally just 9 x 30 second exercises, which was enough. Bit sad as I used to regularly do an hour's workout. But taking it slowly.

My plan is to do one heavy/tiring house job a day, as these too have exhausted me. Yesterday I changed the bed. I'd felt too ill to do this all week, despite night sweats so it felt so good to sleep between clean sheets.

Today's plan
Walk - done, with a friend first thing while it was still sunny. Walked a bit further than yesterday
Heavy job: vacuum kitchen and dining room
Workout: 10 min yoga stretches
Breakfast: skyr with berries and no added sugar granola
Lunch: tuna salad
Dinner: stir fry veg with brown rice

If anyone else is knackered and has been ill a lot, please do join for a friendly thread sharing tips and motivation to cut back on alcohol and sugar, to increase veg and wholefoods, to remember to take vitamins and do gentle exercise, and to pace ourselves.

I would do less rather than more. If exercise (like gym/classes/fast walks) is leaving you exhausted, do none for a week. Don’t forget housework is exercise and you’re still doing that!

Only reason I say this is I pushed myself and ended up with long Covid and now I can’t do anything. If I could wind back time I would tell myself to do a lot less!