Choices. Prevention. Cocktails.

The holidays are right around the corner! You know what that means… turkey, gravy, cookies, pumpkin pie… you get the picture. Why not give your holiday menu a makeover. Join me and 100 of your closest girlfriends for the 12 Days of Healthy Holiday Recipes. Oh yeah, it’s totally free. My holiday gift to you. Click here and sign up!)
Last winter, I got the flu. Actually, we all got the damn flu. Brian got it first. Then Madilyn. Then yours truly. Yikes.
There I was 7 weeks pregnant. Achy. Chills. I could barely move my head. Madilyn was 15 months old. All she wanted was mommy. It was a rough 4 days. That’s an understatement. It was hell.
My doctor said I needed to take Tamiflu since I was pregnant. There I was trying not to take any medications but I was so miserable. She said that I needed to drink lots of fluids and stop nursing because the “new baby” needed all the strength I could give him/her.
Madilyn’s pediatrician said that I needed to nurse as much as I could to help Madilyn break the fever she had. She also said to give her Pedialyte.
What’s a mama to do? I chose to 1. take the Tamiflu 2. nurse Madilyn and 3.try to give her some unsweetened Pedialyte.  It’s so hard to make these decisions, isn’t it? Do I take care of myself and my unborn child or do I continue to put my daughter first? I tried to find a happy balance in the middle. I went with my gut. It is a shame those two doctors gave different advice. I even told each of them what the other recommended but they stuck with their advice and let me sit in confusion and eventually come up with my own solution. No offense to either doctor. They are both very good at what they do. However, I wish I had someone to tell me what to do that helped everyone. Someone who saw the whole picture.
To get the flu shot or not get the flu shot? I haven’t gotten the flu shot in years. The last time I got the flu shot, I got the flu. Last year, I didn’t get the flu shot, and I still got the flu. Hmmm. Again, what’s a mama to do? Let me know your thoughts. Are you pro or con flu shot?
I felt much better four days later. Madilyn did too. I lost my pregnancy weeks later. I still wonder if my sickness had anything to do with it. Was it the Tamiflu? Was it dehydration because I was nursing? I guess I will never really know.
One thing I do know is that I don’t want the flu again so I am doing my darndest to prevent it this year.
Below are my top 6 ways to prevent winter sickness:
1. Green is the new black
It goes with everything. Throw some kale in a smoothie. Scramble some spinach with your eggs. Toss some seaweed in your chili. Try bok choy. Try mustard greens. Try them all on for size. Greens really prep you to fight off the bad bugs.
2. Get tropical
I don’t mean take a trip to Jaimaica. Well, if you can that might work too… I digress. I am talking about making the switch to coconut oil. Coconut is full of lauric acid which is a rock star when it comes to antiviral properties. It is the most abundant natural source of this stuff. Oh yeah baby. It helps boost your immune system and fight the bugs. Coconut oil is awesome for baking and sautéing.
3. Don’t be a cheese ball
I hate to say it but you better skip the cheese pizza. Oh, the milk too. For now at least. Dairy makes you a mucus queen and girl, if you are not feeling well, it’s the least thing you need.
4. Stop being a do-it-all
I am talking rest my dear. When I don’t feel my best it is usually after a few days of staying up too late working on my blog and Facebooking. I know, I am addicted. Sleep does wonders. Get your 8 hours when you are not feeling good. Make it a priority.
5. It takes one to know one
Fight the bad microbes with the good microbes. I am talking probiotics. Probiotics help support digestion as well as your immune system. You can take them in capsule or powder form, and/or eat lots of fermented foods like unpasteurized sauerkraut or miso. I prefer to drink kombucha.
6. Have a cocktail
A raw apple cider vinegar cocktail that is. Never heard of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar? Your mind will be blown with it’s healing properties. When your throat hurts or you feel that extra mucus, make this cocktail:
Apple Cider Vinegar Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 glass of water
splash of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon of honey
2 ice cubes
Directions:
Pour one glass of water. Add vinegar and honey and stir. Add ice cubes. Sip and enjoy!