BY BOWFLEX INSIDER TEAM
Runny nose, head throbbing, stomach swirling, temperature rising – must be the flu. Getting sick is miserable, but luckily there are various ways to help alleviate those symptoms.
First and foremost, you need to stay home. Going to work, school or out in public in general will only infect more people. When people with the flu sneeze, cough or just breathe, it releases bacteria that remain in the air for a long time causing it to spread.
Once confirmed with your medical professional that it is the dreaded flu taking over, here are a few remedies to help you in your recovery:
Get some shut eye
When you’re sick, the standard eight hours of sleep is not going to cut it. The best form of medicine is rest because this is when your body goes into recovery mode. In fact, the reason you could be sick in the first place is because you didn’t give your body enough down time, so be sure to catch some extra z’s when you’ve caught a bug.
Glug, glug, glug
Often times the flu is accompanied with a fever, which makes you sweat and in turn makes you dehydrated. For this reason, it is imperative that you drink more than enough water. If you’re someone who gets easily bored with plain old water, there are other hydrating options to help in your recovery. Just stay clear of coffee, soda and alcohol – because they can cause more dehydration during this time.
Get your daily dose
Your body needs nutrition during its journey to recovery. This includes taking vitamins, eating vegetables and fruits, and trying elderberry. Haven’t heard of elderberry? It is known for its natural ability to improve the immune system, which can help your body recover faster once you get sick.
It’s getting hot in here
Turn the shower on as hot as it will go, shut the door, and just sit in the steam. This will help soothe a sore throat, release congestion in your sinuses and sweat out the toxins in your body – but be sure to drink even more water during and after. Sweat going out means water should be going in.
Listen to your body
Ignoring what is happening inside you only leads to worse issues down the line. It is vital that you pay attention to what your body is saying and how you feel. If you are tired, go to bed early. If you are fatigued, drink more water. While getting sick can feel like a huge inconvenience, it is your body’s way of asking you to pay attention to your needs.
