5 At Home Remedies to Boost Your Immune System

The holidays are upon us, and unfortunately, togetherness coupled with a busy schedule can often come with germs and stress.  To help combat the terrible twosome we turn to our kitchens for 5 At Home Remedies to Boost Your Immune System.

PHOTO: Gardening Channel

1. Raw Honey & Garlic

Your kitchen is packed with all kinds of wonders to boost your immune system, and your backyard is too. Mix two of those magical ingredients together and you have an odd-couple on a mission for your health. 

The first of this dynamic duo is GARLIC. Garlic is known to decrease blood pressure, improve heart function, fight fungal infections, and boost your immune system in addition to warding off vampires and the like. 

And garlic’s fabulous mate is none other than the sweet RAW HONEY you have sitting in a jar. Raw honey is full of enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, and acts as an antioxidant to fight off free radicals.

• Grab a small container, some local (if possible) raw honey, a head of garlic, and a knife.
• Peel and crush your garlic with the flat end of your knife and let it rest on your counter for about 15 minutes.
• Next, place the crushed cloves in your container with the raw honey and place your lid on tight. Let it stay out for 3 to 5 days before placing it in your fridge.

Next time you feel like your immune system could use a boost, simply pop one of the honey induced cloves into your mouth for a kick. 

***Make sure you use RAW honey and not commercial jars of honey, they are often refined and far from their original state.

2. Herbal Tea

Herbal tea cannot only help ease the symptoms of a cold, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon tea all have cold and flu-fighting properties as well.  They also have the bonus effect of helping you to unwind and relax.

3. Lemon Water

Lemon water is rich in magnesium, B & C vitamins, and calcium which makes it a great fighter against infections and for reducing inflammation. It also helps to boost the lymphatic system, which works simultaneously with the immune system to eliminate pathogens from the body, so bye-bye unwanted germs.

4. Pumpkin Seeds

If you cannot tell already we definitely love pumpkins around here. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, which increases your production of white blood cells to help fight viruses and bacteria. So snacking up on these this cold and flu season is not only tasty but vital.  G prefers her’s toasted, you can see how she prepares them HERE.

5. Turmeric

This golden spice packs a lot of magic in just a little dash. It boosts your immune system through its amazing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. It also helps to increase your white blood cell count, detoxify your body and promote a healthy metabolism. YES. YES. AND YES. Sign us up. On G’s recent trip to Savanah, Georgia she found a great café with a beautiful turmeric latte, which is our favorite way to get our turmeric in. There are countless recipes for soups, dressing, side dishes, and even beauty masks and toothpaste. Follow us on Pinterest to see all the ways we are excited to add more turmeric to our lives.  

What is your go-to remedy for boosting your immune system this holiday season? 
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