Autumn's in the air

Not so sure about your neck of the woods but this past weekend, autumn arrived!  Here at Peas HQ we are so excited to welcome the season that celebrates apple cider, root vegetables, Halloween, black cats, cinnamon flavored candles and fall foliage.   The one thing we’re NOT so thrilled about is welcoming flu/cold season. And wouldn’t you know it, before we could say “pumpkin spice soy latte” we’re sneezing, congested and sick with this season’s first bug. 

We’re hoping that the same doesn’t happened to you so we’re revisiting our Fight the Flu series from this past winter to give you tips on how to keep your immune system up, ready to fight off any bug that comes its way.

1. Wash your hands! Suds up with warm water and soap and sing happy birthday and when you get to the final “happy birthday to yoouuuuu” you’re officially germ-free.
2. Rest up!  This is the time of year when summer Friday’s come to an end and schedules become jam packed so it’s extra important to find time to catch up on sleep and relaxation.  Try choosing one evening a week where you and your family get to throw a peas of pie in the oven, watch a movie and go to bed early…put it in your schedule and stick to it!
3. Start your day with a nutrient power-packed smoothie.  To get the most out of this easy morning breakfast, use Kale…as much as you can. If you can get 2 servings of greens and 2 servings of fruit in your morning breakfast you immune system will fight off any virus that tries to attack.
4. A Walk a day keeps the doctor away! Exercising on a regular basis helps to lower stress and speed up the rate our white blood cells fight off illness; this has a major immune-enhancing effect.
5. Take 20 minutes to enjoy the sunshine each day.  This is the last month that the sun is out past 6pm so take time to relish that vitamin D. Roll up your pants, grab a glass of water, put away your phone and breathe. 

Start off this season on the right foot by following these 5 steps and we know that you’ll make it through this fall healthy, happy and energized.

Fight the Flu

If you’ve been watching the news, you know that flu season is here, and it’s here with a vengeance!   How do you stay healthy when it seems everyone around you is getting sick?  Well here at Peas of Mind, we are practicing two simple tips to stay healthy: stay away from germs and keep our immune system strong.

First things first, wash your hands! I know we hear it all the time but it really is one of our best defenses against germs. By washing our hands (sing happy birthday to yourself to gauge how long you should wash) we wash off the germs we constantly come in contact with from doorknobs to sneezes. And remember to avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes because germs can easily sneak through these entry points. Did you know that the average person touches his or her face three to five times per minute? This means you've probably touched your face three times while reading this blog so go wash your hands!

Secondly, get in touch with your animal instinct and find time to hibernate!  Winter should be the season we slow down and get lots of sleep. Now I know sleeping for four months is just not an option but during these cold months it’s important to aim to get about 8 hours per night.  This not only boosts your immune system but it also reduces stress, inflammation and increases positivity.

An apple a day DOES keep the doctor away…well sort of… Diet greatly affects our body’s ability to fight off sickness, which means a helping of veggie wedgies (which is about 10 fries and contains 1.5 servings of vegetables) can really keep those nasty germs at bay.  Combine your veggie fries with seasonal produce, garlic (fresh garlic has been shown to fight off viruses) and whole grains and you will have that healthy edge you need to fight the flu and make it through the winter with a clean bill of health!