It’s lurgy time folks!

Unless planing on locking ourselves away over the next four months,  it’s time to up the ante on our wellbeing regime, giving our lovely bodies everything they need to help fight the winter germs, bugs and viruses lingering around every corner.

It’s far wiser to prepare ahead for the ‘lurgy months’, so when coming into contact with these nasties, we are better able to fight back.  Prevention is, as they, say better then cure.  Especially since cure and recovery from bugs is a lot harder for us then our healthier friends.

If you’ve just finished treatment, your immune system is shot to pieces and you will need to be extra extra careful.  The first winter after my treatment finished, I kept public transport and crowded places to an absolute minimum.  Long term however, this isn’t necessary, and as we get stronger, there are other ways to protect ourselves whilst being out in the big wide world.

This kind of yearly winter maintenance is especially important if any of your major organs have been operated on or removed.  For example, I no longer have a spleen, which automatically means a compromised immune system.  Plus, most of my pancreas has been removed and liver affected, both compromising my body’s digestion of food and nutrients, which of course has implications on how I cope with the lurgy.

In a series of ‘Winter Wellbeing’ posts, I will share with you the things I’m focusing on for optimum protection.  Starting with a cracking tip I’m pushing onto anyone and everyone that will listen.  That is to drink a large mug of hot water with lemon, turmeric, ginger and honey at least once a day.  Why? Well, here’s the science bit:

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin.  Curcumin increases levels of a protein called CAMP that helps the immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi the first time they try to attack. How cool is that!?

Lemons have immune-boosting ingredients called pectin & limonene and the main ingredient in Ginger is Zingiber.  Combine these together and you get a powerful combo which helps prevent bacterial infections.

Honey is much needed in this drink to add natural sweetness and balance the other ingredients, but it also adds its own goodness by aiding in the production of white blood cells – and we need those to fight infections.

How can you not love the sound of all that natural help!

You will find all sorts of recipes on-line with different ratios of these four ingredients, some even suggest pots and strainers.  I’m far too lazy for all that.  I mix everything in a mug and pour over boiling water from the kettle, meaning it takes no more time then making a normal cuppa.  As for a recipe, it really is all down to taste, I encourage you to come up with your own ratio catered to your own palette.  Here’s what I do…

1. Squeeze half a lemon into the biggest mug you can find

2. Add half a teaspoon of turmeric to the lemon and mix with teaspoon

3. Throw in chopped ginger

4. Poor boiling water

5. Finally add a teaspoon of honey, or to taste

Once you’ve got used to the taste of the turmeric you can add a bit more each time, you know when you’ve put too much when the tonic becomes bitter.

Drink when hot, as the turmeric isn’t so nice once cooled.

On days I’m home for a long period of time, I keep a board with all the ingredients chopped and ready next to the kettle, and keep topping up throughout the day.

Happy health.

Lulu x