I woke up with a sore throat... Want to see what I am doing about it?

Want to see what supplements I took this morning? 

I have a big weekend coming up with work tomorrow, a Halloween party tomorrow night and my workshop on Sunday. I simply cannot afford to get sick or lose my voice. That is why I am making sure to do everything I can to help my body heal and give my immune system any support I can.

This includes taking whatever supplements I have at home and eating foods that will support my body.

I will not take this lying down!

Well I suppose that is only part of the truth. I do believe that when our body shows us a symptom its not random. I believe there is ALWAYS a message behind it. Something that we have been doing that isn’t working, something emotional we are suppressing, something that we need to learn or simply that we need to give ourselves more TLC.

So this morning I did take it lying. I cancelled my morning plans and slept in. I felt I needed it and so I made the choice to do what I knew was right for me. Sure I had made plans, sure I was actually really disappointed to be cancelling them but I also knew that it was the right decision for me. I listened to my body and that was what I knew I had to do.

But I also feel its important to connect to what the message is. Why is my body run down and why is it specifically affecting my throat.

The throat is all about communication, owning your power, speaking your truth, and expressing yourself.

Although I may have caught something from one of the adorable kinder children I was working with on Wednesday, I believe that my sore throat has a lot to do with the fact that I have been focusing the last few months on owning my power and speaking my truth. Obviously there is still some resistance there hence my throat being an area of weakness (to be honest it has always been an area of weakness for me and communication and speaking my truth has also always been a challenge for me). I have always felt resistance at simply speaking what I believe and a great need to be liked. I am learning that those who are supposed to be in my life, the right people for my tribe will obviously like me regardless, especially when I speak my truth.

Life is a journey for each and every one of us and we all come across challenges. In order to move past them and not get stuck we must first identify what they are. Delve deep inside our heart where the message ALWAYS lies and simply listen. Our consciousness knows the answers; they are all there waiting for us.

We just need to listen.

For me I feel a shift and I believe that each time we are unwell or experience pain or suffering it is an opportunity for growth. We can either ignore the message and keep repeating the same mistakes, traveling away from our purpose. Which is pure love by the way. Or listen to what our body and soul is telling us, learn the lesson and move forward on our path towards alignment and wholeness.

It’s not always easy, but on the other hand it is always easy. Things flow with such ease when we follow our purpose, when we listen to our soul and move towards love rather than fear. If you are living a life by following fear you are not on the path to your highest good and greatest potential and you never will be.

Don’t let fear win.

Its love you need.

Its love we all need.

We are all love and we are all one.

It will flow.

Life will be easy if you simply move AWAY from fear and TOWARDS love.

When it comes to my journey I am choosing to check in and listen to what my body needs on a daily basis. I have learnt that it is not always linear in its progression. Sometimes you climb mountains and other times you slip and fall. But it is all about the journey, the experience and the lessons we learn along the way. You know you are on the right path if you are heading towards love, joy, wonder and happiness. If it feels good deep in your soul then simply keep going.

It’s that simple.

For true health and happiness all you need to do is make a choice. A choice about how you are going to live your life. Do it with conviction and make the commitment to yourself to live a life that is fulfilling for you. One that allows you to shine your light and come from a place of love.

P.S. Its only 2 days until my Joy workshop. If you have been living in a place of fear and are ready to move towards love then you must come join me. I will teach you how to release those feeling and beliefs that are no longer serving you so you can bring more joy into your life. Surround yourself with the frequency of joy every day and feel each and every cell in your body dance to the vibration of joy.

P.P.S. Never forget that it is your life and it is 100% your choice how you live it. Your experiences are 100% your choice. You simply need to listen.

Boosting your immune system this winter naturally!

We are currently in the heart of winter. Daily we are experiencing frosty morning, dark nights and sniffles galore. It’s the time of year when people start to feel a bit down in the dumps, have lower energy and are much more prone to getting sick. I have detailed below my top 10 tips for kicking your immune systems butt this winter so you can avoid that annoying cold or flu. These tips will equally help keep you feeling more positive during these chilly months until the warm sun rays of spring appear.

1.     Keep hydrated! This is a big one. Often during winter we forget to drink enough water due to the cold weather. However, being inside in the heating can be very drying. Hydration is so important for pretty much every body function. It will make you feel more energetic and improve your immune function. Aim for at least 8 glasses of filtered water daily.

2.     Eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables contain so many essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body functioning properly. Vitamin C found in citrus fruit and berries is particularly important during these winter months. A balanced diet of 3 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit daily will ensure you are obtaining adequate nutrition to stimulate your immune system so you can fight off any nasty viruses you come into contact with. Remember variety is key so aim to have a plate that looks like a rainbow with as many different coloured fruit and vegetables as possible.

3.     Sleep- In order to have a properly functioning immune system we need to have adequate rest. During sleep our bodies have the opportunity to rest and restore themselves. Different people require different amounts of sleep so I advise you to listen to your body. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and if you are having trouble falling asleep or waking during the night ask your health practitioner how they can help. Poor sleep is one reason people feel fatigued, sad or constantly have a low immune system.

4.     Get outside and absorb some sunlight or get on a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is one of the most important Vitamins for both the immune system and mood. It can be difficult to get enough Vitamin D during winter. Aim for 20 minutes direct sunlight mid morning or mid afternoon for best absorption. Increasing egg yolks, butter or ghee and fish can also help boost your vitamin D intake. If your blood test shows you are low in Vitamin D (as so many of us are) make sure to take a supplement throughout winter.

5.     Exercise! Exercise has been shown to be one of the best ways to boost your immune system as well as to boost mood. It can be hard getting motivated in these winter months but once you get moving you will certainly feel better. You can even exercise at home if it’s too cold and dark to go out. Check out some HIIT training videos on YouTube, pick up a skipping rope or do some jumping jacks. Anything that gets your heart pumping is great. Doing a class at the gym with friends is also a great way to increase your social interaction, which is so important for boosting mood. Aim for at least 20 minutes high intensity exercise three times a week.

6.     Use immune boosting herbs and spices such as onion, garlic, ginger and turmeric. Herbs and spices used in cooking are an excellent way to add immune boosting properties to your food. Check out my immune boosting quinoa recipe as an example: http://dionne-healthnaturally.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/immune-boosting-turmeric-quinoa.html

7.     Ensure adequate protein intake. Protein is so important as it is what your immune system is actually made up of. It also contains zinc, an important mineral for the immune system. Your neurotransmitters for positive mood are also made up of protein. To be fair amino acids from protein are the building blocks of our body so it is needed for all functions. Protein should be included in all meals and can be in the form of meat, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, legumes and dairy.

8.     Drink herbal teas. This will first of all help with hydration, will keep you warm and you can choose certain teas that have immune boosting properties. Try green tea for its antioxidants, lemongrass and ginger tea or cinnamon tea for its warming and immune enhancing ability.

9.     Start your day with a glass of warm water and the juice of ½ a lemon (you can add a dash of honey too). This is a great way to add some vitamin C into your diet. It will also help with digestion so you can better absorb all your nutrients. Did you know that the majority of your immune system is found in your gut? Therefore, keeping your digestive system healthy will help you have a better functioning immune system.

10.  Practice relaxation daily. Stress is one of the biggest contributors to lowered immune function. We have all been there, after a stressful even when we can finally relax we get sick. Make sure you are listening to your body and treating it with love. Some of my favourite forms of relaxation include meditation, deep breathing, yoga, walking, a warm bath or using essential oils. Just 5 minutes a day can make all the difference :)