Immunity Boosters in the Kitchen

Presenting below some easy-to-follow home remedies given by a herbal beauty expert.

• Make a ball of 1 gm turmeric (Hint: 1 tsp = 5 gm) with water and pop it in like a pill, first thing every morning.
• Garlic is another excellent home remedy for staying fit. It sterilises your urinary passage, thus countering several infections. Swallow a clove of garlic in the morning to up your immunity quotient.
• Start your day by sipping a glass of lemon water mixed with 1 tbsp of honey. This vitamin C-rich concoction flushes out toxins from your body.
• Have a glass of hot milk mixed with a tsp of almond oil. It is rich in vitamin E, low in cholesterol, and fights many common ailments.
• Make a paste or juice of about 15–20 basil leaves. Have it every morning to strengthen your immunity and fight viruses like H1N1.

Here is a checklist on what you need to do to up your immunity levels:
Snooze Session
You need at least six hours of sleep. The best time to catch up on sound sleep is between 10 pm and 6 am. Sleep balances hormone levels, helps you think better and recharges your body. So go, catch up on those 40 winks.

Come Clean
Cleanliness does ensure overall wellness. Maintain basic hygiene like keeping your hands clean, since it is one of the best ways to ward off illnesses. Make sure you wash your hands with a soap prior to eating and after coughing, sneezing or using the washroom. Also, wash your hands after you are exposed objects that lead to accumulate germs upon contact, like taps, keyboards and door handles.

Exercise
Just make sure you do at least 45 minutes of exercise every day. With a little more time to spare, nothing beats yoga, running and jogging. Just make your pick, but make sure you keep moving. In fact, a study by the University of North Carolina proves that those who walk 45 minutes a day are half as likely to catch flu as compared to those who don’t. The best part is that regular exercise ensures the smooth functioning of your organs, muscles and tissues and you end up feeling much healthier.

Eat Healthy
If in your quest for weight loss, you have said ‘goodbye’ to carbs and fat, you are starving your body of vital nutrients. You need a balanced diet to boost your immunity. Your body needs a blend of everything—from carbohydrates and fats to vitamins and minerals.