Immune System Boosters

My gentle readers and patients know how I feel about keeping the immune system perky and energized... Here I give you a few easy tips that you can incorporate into your life style to assure your first line of defense is strong and thriving.

1. Drink your lemons. Lemon is the ideal food for restoring acid-alkali balance. Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in water, or adding it to tea, salad dressings (in place of vinegar), baking or cooking, helps maintain the body’s internal “climate” at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments. Apple cider vinegar is another great way to improve your body’s alkalinity, but the taste of lemons is much more pleasant!
2. Get a full night’s sleep. Everybody’s different: your body may need anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Whatever your personal sleep requirement is, get it! Sleep has been linked to balanced hormone levels (including human growth hormone and the stress hormone, cortisol), keeping weight down, clear thinking and reasoning, improved mood, and vibrant, healthy skin.
3. Eat plenty of protein. Protein is a building block for a healthy body, mind, and immune system. Diets low in protein tend to be high in carbs which convert readily to glucose, spiking blood sugar and stressing the pancreas and the immune system.
4. Drink plenty of water. This is almost, but not quite, a given; most headaches occur because despite the number of reminders, people still aren’t getting enough water! Headaches and thirst are both signs of dehydration. Especially during these hot and sultry days and nights when all we do is perspire.
5. As it happens, I am a freak about the impact of refined white sugar. If you do only one thing to boost your immune system, eliminating sugar will do the trick. You will see noticeable results in your energy levels, weight distribution, immunity and your ability to think clearly when you break the cravings and stop eating refined sugars. Many holistic nutritionists consider sugar a drug for its impact on the human body. Healthier sugars such as agave and stevia do exist, but please avoid artificial sweeteners; they are more toxic than cane sugar. It happened that I did publish an article about this and was shocked about the huge response, folks and kids are addicted. The truth still is, you are not doing yourself any favors by turning to artificial sweeteners.
6. Stock up on raw fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes. The nutritional content that you receive from raw fruits and veggies is unparalleled. Many vitamins, including C, are antioxidants and will protect cells - including those of your immune system - from damage by toxins in the environment. Dark-colored produce (berries, kale, and broccoli) tends to be higher in flavonoids, polyphenols and other antioxidants. Don’t think that vitamin and minerals supplements take the place of raw food. Organic is best when you can get it. RAW FOOD DIETS are a huge diet movement.
7. Spend more time outside. Exercise out of doors can make a noticeable difference to your health and happiness by releasing endorphins. Most of us spend 90% of our lives indoors; inhaling dubiously filtered air and other people’s germs, so take any opportunity to get out. Those who tend to spend long hours seated in front of a computer should try to take short breaks of walking outside. These breaks will increase your productivity, circulation and over all sense of well being, while giving your immune system a boost.
8. Nurture yourself. Make sure you take time to yourself, spend some time with friends, and indulge yourself in a massage, a hot bath, or an energy work session when you want one. Our bodies respond to our emotions- if you’re feeling harassed and anxious, it can manifest in a sore throat or a cold or just feeling achy all over. Create a space within yourself, in your day and your home for harmony, self-love and joy where you can honor, give thanks, pray and acknowledge the abundance in your life
9. Media breaks. Yep, turn off the boob tube and the computer and turn on the music, candles, grab a book or magazine, write a letter to a friend or loved one and be creative with your personal time. Clean out the closet, and please play with the kids and pets.
10. Wheat and gluten. Know where they are and avoid them. For kidney health, circulation and blood pressure imbalances, that’s bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, etc etc.
11. Take the wheat grass juice 6 weeks a year. This cleanses, alkalizes and energizes the whole system. And does wonders for the libido.
(www.organic-select.com)

See you around.