Raw Food and Getting Sick

Sorry you guys haven't heard from me in a while, I have been sick! Yuck! I know raw foodists are not supposed to get sick but I have been sick (feeling unwell) since last Saturday. My symptoms are runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and feeling drained. I can feel myself finally starting to get better but I am still coughing and sneezing. The first thing I want to do when I get sick is figure out why! Is it because lately I have been slacking some with my diet (I have been eating french fries at restaurants, salted roasted peanuts, and corn tortillas). I had a long talk with my brother the other night and he thinks that I need to be taking probiotics to build up the good bacteria in my gut. I took a LOT of antibiotics as a teenager and combined with a healthy diet it could be very likely that my gut needs a make over. My brother makes his own keifer and says he has noticed that since he started when he gets sick it only lasts 2 or 3 days rather than an entire week. So, today I went to the store and bought probiotics and am making sauerkraut to start eating to see if getting good bacteria helps any. So anyways, I thought I would share my protocol I use when I get sick or feel myself starting to get sick. I also wanted to mention that I do end up getting sick about twice a year still which usually happens in the fall and the winter. I will say that I don't get sick as often as before I changed my diet to a healthier one and I usually am able to heal myself without going to the doctor.

My Sick Protocol:

1. When I feel myself starting to get sick I start juicing my veggies. I juice celery, cucumbers, apples, kale, ginger, and carrots and I drink as much as I can. I do this to try and build up my immune system. It is best to stay away from fruit juices or fruit in general when you are sick.

2. I eat garlic or try and use it in whatever I can. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Sometimes I cut up one or two cloves and swallow it with water.

3. I but healthy cough drops from whole foods. The brand that I buy is called Zand. This brand is sweetened with brown rice syrup and filled with healthy herbs to get you better and ease your throat.

4. Get as much rest as you can. This is something I should have done more of this time, I stayed too active and busy when my body really needed to rest.

5. Make raw veggie soups. This time I have been making raw soups with avocado, tomato, carrot, celery, onion, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. This helps me to get more garlic an onions into my body.

I am hoping that by adding more probiotics to my diet I will be able to reduce the amount and length of time that I get sick. I will keep you posted!