Issue 17 - 2017

28
TIP TOP HEALTH
Natural Health:
Immune-Boosting
Q: Do you have any
tips for natural
immune-boosting
during cold season?
A: We get this question a lot, so I asked our Nutritionist, Diane Giammarino,
MS RDN for some suggestions. Diane G: Instead of taking Vitamin C tablets,
it’s much cheaper and more natural to eat a teaspoon of sauerkraut. Our
bodies rapidly use up nutrients like Vitamin C when we’re stressed or are
fighting an infection. Eating sauerkraut is great because the fermentation
process releases nutrients from the cabbage, making the nutrients more
bioavailable.
For example, raw cabbage has approximately
30 mg per cup of Vitamin C.
The fermentation process can increase
the Vitamin C content in sauerkraut up
to 20 times, so fermented cabbage can
have anywhere from 60 to 700 mg of
Vitamin C per cup.
Probiotics also help boost our immune systems. A good probiotic is sometimes
needed, but can be expensive and the less expensive ones are not
absorbed well into the body. Alternatively, the natural probiotics in fermented
vegetables are very well absorbed and more natural to our bodies. The
amount of probiotics in one small jar of sauerkraut can be equivalent to one
bottle of probiotics!
If you want to eat sauerkraut to help stay well this winter, start very slowly by
taking about 1 teaspoon of raw sauerkraut per day. You can purchase fermented
vegetables at most farmers’ markets and health food stores. It is also
very inexpensive and easy to make your own.
Tip Top Answers for Natural Health is a monthly column providing answers to common questions
about holistic and natural health. The column is written by Carey Davidson, CEO &
Founder of Tournesol Wellness. Submit your questions about alternative and holistic healthcare!
Email questions to healthanswers@tournesolwellness.com.