​Your immune system needs certain things to run properly and help your body stay healthy. Though you do need to make sure you are hydrated, calm, and keeping that gut healthy, you also need as much assistance as in natural support to make healing as simple as possible for your immune system. One way you can do this is by using herbs that support your immune system. Here are a few of my favorites!

​Elderberry
 
Elderberry is a plant, but considered to be an herbal remedy by many sources. The berry from the elderberry tree can be dehydrated and added to teas, used in a tea directly, or can be mixed with other herbs to help fight colds and flu symptoms. In addition to the normal assistance the elderberry gives to help reduce sore throats and cold symptoms, it also has heavy anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can help reduce aches and pains in your system as well, which leads to better sleep and fatigue relief.
 
Andrographis
 
Andrographis is an herb that is indigenous to India. This herb is known as a natural antibiotic and used by millions around the world as an alternative to over the counter or prescribed options. It can help with the immune system and help to combat fevers and sore throats. It can also help with minor infections in the body like tooth infections and ear infections. This herb should only be taken short term (up to 3 months according to WebMD) though, so take only when you need it.
 
Ginger
 
Ginger is a root herb that is used for sore throats and stomach issues. You can use ginger in several ways including in teas, as a powder form, and in juices and smoothies. It does have a spice effect to it that gives a heat. For a fully boosting effective option, mix the ginger with fresh squeezed orange juice to give a strong boost and toxin fighting option for your cold or flu and to boost your immune system reaction.
 
Honeysuckle
 
Honeysuckle is a plant that grows in most areas during the early spring and summer months. Honeysuckle flowers can be used to help boost the immune system and aid in fighting against migraines, sinus issues, and sinus relief. It can easily be dehydrated and used in teas throughout the year. In fact, most people who use honeysuckle tend to harvest it in large quantities and then dehydrate it for use later on since it only grows for a short time.
 
Though you can get these herbs in pill or capsule form, the best option is to go with something natural. If you can, go with a whole herb that is either fresh or grown in your own home, as this will give you the most benefit from the herbs for your system.
 
 
This Site is an excellent source for amazing herbs if you are having a hard time finding things locally:
 
https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
 
Organic Tea site:
 
https://www.teahaven.com/pages/About-Us.html
 
Stay healthy!
 
XOXO,
Jules 

​Most people are aware of the types of things that we need to do in daily life to remain healthy. Eating right, exercise, sleeping regularly, and having proper elimination are just a few of the activities that come to mind, but what if there was another important level that very few think about? That’s right, I am talking about yet another daily habit that can do wonders for you!! There is a tiny yet expansive world inside of each of us, populated by bacteria that have a powerful impact on human health, vitality, and longevity. These tiny organisms help us to live by making processes inside our bodies possible, and to simplify these amazing beasties, they are often divided into two main groups.

​Lactobacillus
 
These bacteria are generally helpful because they are responsible for many of the processing functions. When children are born, they receive them from their mother as long as they have had a vaginal birth. Some of these bacteria such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, are related to breaking down sugars into lactic acid and breaking down momma’s milk. Lactic acid is one substance made in the body that is helpful in the fight against harmful strains of bacteria. There is also evidence that suggests that there are a few disorders that can be caused by a lack of these bacterial populations.
 
Modern advances have brought us the marvelous advancements in medicine with antibiotics, but studies have shown that antibiotics tend to have a harmful effect on the good or helpful populations of gut flora, so it might be necessary to supplement the bacteria by ingesting alternate sources of Lactobacillus. What can you do to combat these losses?
Many of these helpful strains can be found in foods such as yogurt, kefir and other fermented food types. There are also a number of pill based probiotic solutions available.
 
Bifido-bacterium
 
Scientists now believe that over 3/4 of our immune system is kept in our intestinal tract, with over 500 species of bacteria in the mix. With such a large population of bacteria living in us, it should be of little surprise that we depend on them so heavily for the various functions they serve on a daily basis. Many Bifido bacteria reside within the colon and large intestine. These bacteria play a heavy role in controlling elimination, aiding in digestion, and even have the ability to repair damage from carcinogenic sources in the body.
If you feel you are out of balance (not pooping as often as you should or too much are signs), you can also add these to your diet through similar sources as mentioned above.  A good thing to remember is everyone is different, so it may take you trying a couple of different kinds to find one that works for you.  Also changing your probiotic every few months can help your gut feel more balanced.  What I mean by that is to find a few different probiotics that work for you and switch between them every few months.
 
My next challenge is going to be a probiotic challenge!  If you want to know more about probiotics you should sign up! Interested??  Join my FREE group here!
 
 XOXO,
Jules
 
 
 
 https://www.wired.com/2014/04/missing-microbes-antibiotic-resistance-birth/

 You may be considering changing your lifestyle so you can live a more energy filled, sickness-free and healthy life. If you follow me or are in my group I am constantly talking about daily habits.  The difference you can make in your whole life by making small and simple changes every day would amaze you! The trick is to attach these small changes, these new habits that you are forming to things you already do.  One of the other issues may be that you know that changing your diet and exercise routine are part of changing your lifestyle but after that you may be draw a blank. Well I am here to make some suggestions of some daily healthy habits you can start doing to keep you full of energy and illness-free.  

Be Still and Breath
 
You may think that meditation sounds odd for a daily habit that reduces illness. The truth is, meditation can have a direct connection to your overall health. Meditation, which can be done in many forms, helps your body to slow down. It helps you to focus on root issues and find ways to handle those issues so they don't get out of hand.  This is a stress reliever or can be one if you make time for it to your life. Meditation allows you to calm down from daily issues such as problems with your children, work, or just things that are upsetting you. It is a time to breath, reflect and to focus on your overall emotional health. Do not forget that stress can be a killer and finding a way to acknowledge the stressors in your life and having tools to deal with it when it comes up can make such a difference in the way you feel. 
 
If you do not have the tools to deal with these emotional and mental issues, you cause your body to become tense and stressed. This tension and stress can increase your blood pressure, cause headaches, and lead to your immune system breaking down. Simple daily meditation habits can help reduce the stress, increase energy and bonus, it can increase the chances of an illness-free lifestyle.
 
Write it Down
 
You may hear the word journaling and immediately cringe. It does bring to mind to the idea of daily journal entries that can be tedious. The truth is, you can journal in a number of fashions, including video journaling. The reason journaling works to help keep illness at bay is because of what journaling is supposed to do. It has a direct connection to stress levels and can reveal stress inducing instances and people to you that you may not think of as an issue.
 
For example, if you are feeling anxiety and you have worked through the normal checklist of suspects, journaling can help you narrow down the others. By working through a journaling process daily, you will find yourself able to rant, able to release stress, and able to figure out what may be causing undue stress so you can remove it. The reduced stress means a calmer body and mind, which means your body works at a more efficient level and your immune system is healthy and able to fight off illness.
 
If you find you work better with a journaling guide to get you started, one of my favorite tools is a book called “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron.  I have used the journaling process that I learned in this book through several different hard experiences and it has helped me clarify the issues and get to resolutions that were best for me.  Seriously this book has been a life changer for me.
 
There are other journals that give you prompts as to what to write about, to draw something or that have coloring pages integrated into them.  A journal that I have seen that does this is “Wreck this Journal” by Keri Smith.  Another option is just buying a beautiful journal and simply writing about your day because I do understand some people do not like to draw.  One of my favorite journaling prompts that can change your mood is a gratitude journal.  This can help you see the positives that are happening in your life and help you focus on them.
 
H20
 
I know, I know, here I go again about drinking your water!  But seriously, you may have a great meditation practice, journaling habit, workout routine, and diet routine. You may think that you have it all figured out, but if you are still getting sick, you may be missing the biggest link to reducing that illness. If your hydration is off, you could be causing stress within your body and organ system. There is that word again!  Stress!  Your body needs water to work properly, and no, juicing does not cover it. If you have everything else covered and you are still getting ill, try to increase your water intake. You can do this with several methods, including gallon jug marking and apps that are designed to remind you to drink water.  My rule of thumb is half your body weight in ounces of water i.e. if you weigh 120 lbs it is good to try and have 60 ozs of H2O daily. 
 
 
I know these seem overly simple but by applying these habits to your daily routine, you will start to notice that your immune system seems to be stronger and you seem to get sick at a reduced rate. Keep in mind that a lot of the healthy habits you take on have nothing to do with eating or supplements and more to do with keeping your mind and emotions as healthy as everything else. This is why I like the Holistic perspective in health. Whole life, whole body, whole health!

If you want to conquer new daily habits on a monthly basis come over and join me here. 
 
 
XOXO,
 
Jules