How to Skip The Sudafed, Mama

We’re planning to breastfeed for at least 12 months and I’ll be damned if big Pharma with their easy pill fix gets in the way of this. So, to increase my milk production, for the past 24 hours after every feeding I’ve been pumping. Dreadful! I know with the help of my Medela pump, my son nibbling away constantly and a ton of fenugreek capsules and tea that eventually I’ll have enough milk again. But, I’m still whining.Now what can you and I do to make sure we don’t get sick again this season? Breastfeeding or not, none of us like to get sick regardless of how many reruns of Sex in The City that we get to watch. (It’s like the only silver lining of the whole experience!)

1. Get enough sleep This means if you are feeling the least bit run down, then by golly, Sally, slow down. You have got to listen to your body, or it’ll take 2-3x as long to kick whatever is causing your life harm. Reschedule your plans, let the dishes sit in their dirty juices & revert to newborn days of napping when junior naps.
2. Drink lots of water Amp it up when you’re sick. Water helps aid digestion and a whole host of physiological processes. If your body isn’t using energy to digest food, then it has more energy to fight the pesky viruses & bacteria that make us sick. No excuses here, Mama. Get a straw like junior if it encourages you to suck down the clear stuff.
3. Eat plenty of veggies & fruit, especially greens For some reason when winter hits, we start thinking potatoes are vegetables (they should be labeled a starch) and we stop eating all the veggies that keep us healthy. Eat your greens (at least 2 servings/day) for many reasons, but one of the best is to aid in digestion and the removal of bad bacteria and other junk from our systems. Today, I ate spinach in my smoothie and kale in my soup.
4. Take a high quality probiotic, daily. Probiotics are “the windex” of healthy living. This mama has Lyme disease, a compromised immune system, and when I religiously take my probiotic (HLC capsules) life is grand. I seriously have not been sick since taking these beautiful little gems daily, until now when I ran out of the buggers right before Christmas.
5. Wash your hands constantly. I’m a frequent hand washer, probably a little OCD about it too thanks to my mom. Note to self “when your kids’ hands are dirty, even the slightest, try not to make a HUGE deal out of how icky they are or they may get a complex.” No, but really, the CDC has proven this is one of the easiest ways to protect our health.
6. Enjoy a spoonful of elderberry syrup. Besides being freaking delicious, this syrup is jammed with immunity boosting nutrients. It ain’t cheap, but is well worth the moolah.
7. Take vitamin C tablets that are derived from food. We’ve all heard that vitamin C boosts immunity & reduces cold/flu symptoms. BUT, what we don’t hear is that just any vitamin C won’t do. Even that pesky age old disease called scurvy isn’t protected against by taking ascorbic acid, the most common form of vitamin C. Studies show you must take a vitamin C that is whole food based or you might as well skip it.
8. Drink garlic broth. Sounds gross but it’s not that bad. Frankly, when I’m sick I’ll try anything and garlic broth is my go to, especially when breastfeeding or pregnant. Crush 1 clove garlic in hot water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink up. Add some fresh lemon juice if needed.
9. Avoid dairy. Dairy promotes mucus. I know it’s yummy but if you want to get well soon and avoid any lung infections stay away from the dairy. The more mucus the body produces, the more icky we feel.
10. Sip on bone broth. You’ve always heard that chicken soup is the best remedy for being sick. Well there’s truth to that. Traditional chicken broth is made over several days allowing the nutrients from the bones seep into the broth – these nutrients are what makes chicken soup medicinal. That’s why every cold and flu season, my house starts to smell delicious. I often have bone broth brewing in the crockpot. Here’s a simple recipe.