Better Nutrition August 2019

asktheNATUROPATHICdoctor/ANSWERS TO YOUR HEALTH QUESTIONS
Hacks for Healthy Immunity
As summer winds down and back-to-school kicks into high gear, give your
immune system a little TLC to fight off whatever’s going around /// BY EMILY A. KANE, ND, LAc
Healthy
Tip!
To reduce your heavy
metal load, focus on SMASH
seafood choices: salmon,
mackerel, anchovies,
sardines, and herring.
: I’m a teacher and I get sick
at the beginning of every
school year! It makes for a
rough start. What can I
do to break this cycle?
—Katie M., Twin Falls, Idaho
a:It can be hard to reel in the
summer schedule, which often
includes late nights, gardening, prolonged
hikes, and having fun with friends and
family. Even though most folks are more
active in the summer, they may also get
a little sloppier on making every bite
count in terms of optimal nutritional value.
Why does this matter? It can impact
your immune system, increasing your
susceptibility to illness.
To bolster your immune system, start with
the basics, as always: Stay well- hydrated,
keep a regular schedule that allows for
8 hours of sleep each night, and eat a
healthy diet. If you want to occasionally
have some ice cream, a sloppy Joe or fresh
corn on the cob slathered in butter, that’s
fine. Just don’t make a regular habit of
sugary, fried, or processed foods.
Also consider trying a 10-day detox
program before school starts up, to flush
out your system and boost immunity.
There are many different ways to do this,
but here is one tried and true formula:
Schedule your meals: If you’re a
breakfast person, your two meals of the
day should be soon after arising, and then
an early supper that’s wrapped up by 5 p.m.
If you’re not ravenous in the morning,
your scheme would be a brunch around
11 a.m., and then a light dinner around
6 p.m. This way, you can give your digestive
system a rest for at least 14 hours daily,
10 days in a row. If this schedule works for
you, you can even adopt the two-mealsdaily
plan semi-permanently.
30 • AUGUST 2019