A Simple Guide to Boost Your Energy Post-Illness

During the cold winter season, we tend to lack the vibrant energy we have in the summer months. In addition, our bodies can feel run down from more frigid temperatures and lack of sunlight. Add in stuffy, runny noses, sore throats, and a fever, and we’d rather crawl back under the blanket with a bottle of Theraflu.

It is imperative to give our bodies permission to rest and recover at the onset of sickness, especially if we run a fever. This is our body’s way of fighting off foreign invaders. 

While, in some cases, these over-the-counter meds may help temporarily, we think you’re better off nourishing yourself with nutrient-dense, energy-boosting foods and lots of fluids in the form of tea, broths, and juices to nurse yourself back to health.

Sticking to a healthy regimen while sick will ensure that you bounce back quicker and return to normal energy levels. 

This blog will cover the myriad of ways to boost your energy after a cold or flu and what foods can help in the process.

How Can I Recover Quickly from Being Sick?

Self Care is a Must

You might think there are some shortcuts to getting better faster, but we encourage you to slow down and take your time. That to-do list and packed schedule can and should wait. So clear your calendar for a few days. Make a list of all the things you need to postpone or cancel so you can get that out of the way and recover stress-free.

Put your phone on do not disturb if you have to so you can focus on good quality sleep, nourishment, and hydration. Blue light from screens causes strain and fatigue, which depletes the little energy you have and need for healing. So the more uninterrupted time you give yourself, the quicker you will get better. However, if you try to rush things, you could prolong it and get worse.

Hydration

It is imperative to give your body proper hydration when sick. Herbal teas, electrolyte drinks such as coconut water, broths, and soups provide the body with hydration, herbs, and minerals that will help aid in recovery, especially if you lose your appetite or have a fever. Plain water also helps flush mucus, bacteria, germs, and other toxins from your system so your body can focus on getting well. Another option is to add a squeeze of lemon or sea salt for extra minerals. 

Gentle Exercise

You might be wondering, when should I start exercising again after being sick? After a few days of good quality sleep, you can start gently moving your body again. Maybe some stretching, yoga, or short walks in the sunshine. Exercise creates a demand for energy, so your body will start naturally producing it. But don’t push too hard and listen to your body. You’ll also want to make sure you’re adequately hydrated and consuming some nutrient-dense foods to replenish your energy.

Best Foods To Eat When Sick

First, let’s talk about what foods to avoid when sick, such as alcohol and caffeine, which lead to dehydration, processed foods devoid of nutrients, carb-heavy foods that will zap your energy, and anything too hard or jagged if you have strep or a sore throat.

Several foods are very nourishing to eat when sick, and many others help you recover quicker and bounce back with more energy, and when added to your daily diet will help prevent sickness in the first place!

Chicken Soup Really Is Good For the Soul

There is a reason chicken soup tops the list. The nourishing broth in chicken soup contains collagen, and the chicken itself has protein necessary for building and repairing tissue. Add some veggies such as carrot and celery for additional vitamins and ginger, turmeric and garlic for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 

Eat The Rainbow

We should always aim to eat the rainbow but, more importantly, when recovering from illness. Many people will opt for synthetic vitamins as a substitute. We recently discovered that most vitamins on the market are made artificially and isolated, which means they don’t have the same transporters as vitamins and nutrients found in fresh, whole foods. In large doses, they can sometimes do more harm than good.  

Aim to eat various brightly colored vegetables such as greens, berries, citrus, carrots, bell peppers, beets, etc. It is probably a good idea to eat vegetables fully cooked and opt for soft fruits such as banana, mango, papaya or even applesauce. Eating a multitude of vegetables will ensure you are giving your body what it needs to fight infection and heal properly with a wide variety of nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, and polyphenols that are 100% usable by the body.

And since you may or may not have the best appetite, you can opt for nutrient-dense juices such as our line of cold-pressed juices. Our juices are created to flood your body with all of the nutrients needed to boost your immune system and help you regain your energy back. 

Vitamin C Rich Foods

The most commonly known vitamin C-rich foods are citrus fruits like orange, lemon, and grapefruit. However, some people can’t ingest large amounts of citrus as it can be acidic to the stomach. Other fruits with vitamin C are strawberries and papaya. However, consider that many green leafy vegetables are also bursting with vitamin C, such as kale, collard greens, cabbage, and swiss chard.

Here at Midwest Juicery, we combine the rainbow of vegetables bursting with vitamins and antioxidants with a touch of fruit to keep sugar low and other ingredients such as ginger and turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Some of our more popular juices designed to bounce back from illness and boost your energy are All Greens Everything, Beets By Midwest which can be found in our I’m Rooted Juice Variety Pack along with 4 Carrot Gold and Sippin’ On Ginger Juice. 

What makes our juices superior?

• 100% USDA organic cold-pressed goodness sourced from local farmers.
• Our juice has the most vegetables, maximizing nutrients without sacrificing flavor.
• We have a Zero Waste Promise. Nothing we do goes in a landfill. We are 100% environmentally sustainable.
• 40% less sugar compared to other leading cold-pressed juice brands.

Whether you’re interested in one of our variety packs or juice cleanses we deliver all over the Midwest including Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We ship outside of this delivery region for an additional cost. All orders arrive in a sustainable, reusable cooler. 

First-time customers get 10% off and if you subscribe to a monthly delivery you’ll get 15% off!