Does fall have you feeling under the weather?

I was originally going to write about different spices but before I got too far into it yesterday, I had to remove myself from the library to take a power nap. I woke up this morning feeling a bit under the weather and I know several people I’ve been around have been feeling the same way lately, so that’s how I got the idea for this week’s topic. I figured most people can relate to feeling sick rather than somebody reading a title about spices and saying “I don’t give a fuck about spices” before disregarding reading.

Ok anyways, here we go.

Instead of doing what we as a society are programmed to do the second we feel remotely uncomfortable (pop a pill for a quick fix), let whatever it is you’re feeling (physically, mentally, or emotionally) run its course. Listen to your body, mind, and spirit (i.e. heart for those of you not so open to spirituality). Nourish yourself. Allow yourself to heal naturally. Next time around you will be even stronger.

Think I’m crazy? Don’t have the patience or care to do that? You’ll probably want to stop reading now.

For everybody else interested in healing yourself naturally, continue reading.

We have two immune systems: 1) Innate immune system- you’re born with this. This is your first line of defense that developed when you were young.

2) Adaptive (acquired) immune system – this develops over time based on our individual exposure to pathogens. It kicks in when the innate immune system is overwhelmed. This immune system has a “memory” that makes it effective. So the more exposure we have, the more adaptations that occur, hence a stronger immune system.

On the other hand, if you’re someone who always gets sick and instantly runs to the doctor for medicine (a hypochondriac– I used to be one too, it’s okay), your body has adapted to rely on things like antibiotics to get over an illness because you’ve decreased your bodies natural ability to fight off infection on it’s own.

Our immune system and health can be compromised by several factors.

• Stress-physical, mental, or emotional

• Exercise- heavy athletic training, not enough recovery

• Nutrition- lack of or out of balance nutrients, digestive issues*

• Disruptions to body clock- a change in work or sleep schedule, lack of sleep

• Change in environment- change of seasons, traveling

(Berardi, John, et al., 2017)

So here I am at 9:12 PM wrapping up this Foodie Friday because I couldn’t physically or mentally gather the strength to use my brain and write until about 4:30 PM and had to go to work at 5. I feel like my day did a 360 from when I woke up at 6 AM until now.

My immune system has been compromised from the accumulation of physical and emotional stress, heavy athletic training, not enough recovery i.e. lack of sleep, disruptions to my body clock due to change in work schedule, and the change of seasons.

What did I do for my day to take a 360? LISTENED TO MY BODY.

• I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from my morning sessions to get some Kombucha and ended up also getting ingredients to make a juice.

• I ate an orange while peeling the 3 I bought.

• I made a juice with 2 oranges, a bunch of celery, an apple, a cucumber, and ginger.

• I drank some kombucha.

• I ate vegetables, eggs, egg whites, and toast.

• I made the No Bake Protein Bars from Foodie Friday EP. 10 with added greens powder for extra ~nutrients~ and ate 2.

• I drank just enough caffeine to wake me up so I could last through my workout, which I probably would have otherwise taken the day off if I was not training for a competition that’s in 1 week.

• I got myself some post-workout sushi.

• I took a bath and read a book to help me relax.

• I put my headphones in, set my alarm for 35 minutes, and fell asleep listening to a guided sleep meditation via the app Insight Timer (highly recommend for anyone interested in meditation for any reason).

• I woke up feeling like a new woman.

• I hydrated, ate some strawberries, rubbed some lemongrass essential oil on my wrists, and proceeded on with my responsibilities.

• When I got home, I made a huge dish of mixed vegetables with garlic, pepper, red pepper, sea salt, turmeric, shrimp, and rice.

And now we’re here. I still don’t feel 100% obviously, because there are no quick fixes. I know that if I continue to listen to my body, feed it what it needs, and get plenty of rest, I’ll be better in no time (WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM A DOCTOR OR OTC MEDICINE, ~MAGIC~).

Next time you feel a little sickness coming on, I challenge you to fight through it. Now obviously there’s a time and place for medical intervention. I am not currently a doctor nor do I know what you’re feeling, so listen to your body and what it’s telling you. Medical treatment is needed less often than we as a society are accustomed to seeking, but first we must understand that we have the power to heal ourselves. YOU ARE A FUCKING POWERFUL UNICORN. Excuse my french.

*For anyone suffering from digestive issues, or if your digestion just isn’t where you’d like it to be, here’s a podcast about digestion that I listened to while driving and training today. The Model Health Show with Nutritionist Shawn Stevenson covers A TON of interesting health (not only physical but emotional and mental health) related topics. Highly recommend.

We are privileged to have access to SO much information at our fingertips. There are so many different ways to consume information now a days. If you’re up for another challenge, next time you pick up your phone out of boredom go seek out information that will actually benefit you rather than checking what you’re ex is doing on social media. Take advantage of all the different outlets (podcasts and audiobooks are super convenient for anyone who drives in a car for a decent period of time and is sick of the same songs on the radio every day), but make sure that you are consuming information from a reputable source. That is all.

Have a good weekend Sydney

Resources: Berardi, John, et al. The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition. 3rd ed., Precision Nutrition, 2017.