WHAT’S IN SEASONJanuaryVEGETABLESARUGULAAVOCADOBEETSBOK CHOYBROCCOLIBRUSSEL SPROUTSBUTTERNUT SQUASHCABBAGECARROTCAULIFLOWERCELERIACCELERYCOLLARD GREENSCUCUMBERENDIVEFENNELKALELEEKSPARSNIPSPOTATOESPUMPKINRADICCHIORADISHESSPINACHSUNCHOKESSWEET POTATOTURNIPSNUTSFRUITSAPPLESCLEMENTINESDATESGRAPEFRUITKIWILIMEMANDARINSORANGESPEARPERSIMMONSPOMEGRANATECHESTNUTSWALNUTS
SIMPLE, SAFE, ANDAFFORDABLE STEPS TOBOOST YOUR IMMUNESYSTEMWritten by Brenda HallAs soon as the very hint of cool weather arrives, we are virtually bombardedwith ads for “cold and flu season”. In place of stocking up on over the counter“cures” in your cupboard, let’s not just accept the theory that just because theseason changes, you and your family are “doomed” but plan to just strengthenyour immune system, just in case. After all, the fall and winter seasonshould be a very uplifting and joyous time! Being a researcher, natural productbusiness owner, natural life consultant and mom to five, and Mimi to 3,I would love to share what has worked well for us to maintain good health…any time of year!Begin including SEEDS daily as snacks or in your family meals. Chia seedsare a great choice! Coming from Mexico and Gualtamala, these seeds havebeen considered a form of great nutrition since 1500 BC. Traditionally,they have not only been used in meals, but also recorded as very essential infolk medicine. These jewels are 20 % protein, 25 % fiber, a great combo becauseyour average person is low in fiber causing many health issues. In ourcountry right now fiber is far more important than protein for maintaininggood health. The value of chia seeds for all ages is amazing and they containa higher content of calcium, magnesium and potassium than milk. (Animalmilk is not a good choice when taking measures to build a healthy immunesystem.) I toss chias in salads, cereal, and smoothies! (and I use them in oneof my natural sugar scrubs!) Chia seeds can also be made into a very nutritionalpudding for the kiddos. There are many seeds which will drasticallyimprove your immune system, choose now to research their abilities andinclude them in your life!Add berries into your regime…even if you have to buy dried or frozen! As Itype this, I am snacking on some dried Goji berries...worth their weight ingold, why? Goji berries are considered by many as a true superfood for goodreason. Also called “Woolberries”I hunt for unsweetened types and they are so nutritional and tasty. I spreadmine on rice cakes!Asians traditionally recognized the benefits of this fruit for whole bodyhealth. Building the immune system, strengthening eyesight, memory, wonderfulskin, and anti-ageing! The polysaccharides which are in the berriesare thought to actually assist and regulate the immune system. They help itto ward off germs and infection, but also increasing the immune responseto prevent problems such as certain allergies. Studies involving the elderlyshowed a strengthening of the immune system with the addition of theberries in the diet. Goji berries are stacked with Vitamin C and their superhigh Vitamin A content insures better skin...what an added benefit! DriedGoji berries may be snacked on, add to warm and cold cereals or soaked toadd to smoothies and yogurts. Make or grab some Elderberry Syrup andtake a couple spoonfuls daily, the antioxidants are great! I also purchasehomemade berry jellies at our famers’ markets...even though they are a bitsweetened, ( you will get far less sugar than processed canned jellies at thegrocery stores, by far! )Welcome some aromatherapy into your lifestyle! Through candles,diffusers, oil burners,or a small crockpot use essential oils to kill germsand boost your immune system! Yep, folks, it’s science. Aromatherapythrough breathing in the essential oil molecules or by massage is one ofthe best (and great smelling) means to keep your home cleansed fromyechy microbes that can decrease your immune system and make you“sick”. On the other hand, chemical fragrances may cause upper respiratoryissues disguising themselves as bad headaches, sinus difficulties,bronchitis, and other health issues…toss them out! A nice andaffordable recipe for your home diffuser is 4 drops lemon essential oil,4 drops lavender essential oil, and 2 drops peppermint oil. Many folkconsider Sage burning within the home as witchcraft or some Spiritualprocedure when in fact, burning this lovely will indeed kill germs andodors. Both white and blue sage are used by many as well as essentialoils to kill airborne creepies in your home when someone had been ill,etc. Again, this is simple science and proven effective!Deep Breathing with exercise is essential for a healthy immune systemso…even in cold weather (and you will burn more calories than inwarm weather) get up and get out! You need the negative ions outside,the oxygenating of your blood stream through deep breathing, and themovement for preventing osteoporosis, preventing heart disease, andeven some types of cancer. Even only 20 minutes of constant movementsuch as walking the dog, will build your immune system andcould cut your chance of cardiovascular disease by up to forty percent!When you or a family member is sick, get them outside! Even in thewinter, essential vitamin D can be obtained. Stress pulls your immunesystem down dramatically whereas exercise and deep breathing willhelp eliminate some of that stress. After the exercise, enjoy a very long,warm, bath. Our culture is so busy that folks, especially men, will notsoak. Soaking promotes circulation and good circulation maintainsand regulates the vital organs. A warm bath preferably with Epsomsalts, massaging the soles of your feet which will help all musclesand aches could make a world of difference in your mood, sleep, andhealth overall.Purpose now, to guard your sleep. I may have listed this last, but restfulsleep is the number one factor to maintain a strong immune systems.Folks, this means, no electronics and social media about oneand a half hours before bed. Bathe or read a book (not on electronicdevices) to decompress some. Your body does most of its regeneratingand repair work at night and especially between the hours of elevento three a.m. Your room should be dark and cool. I use a fan but somemay use the white noise apps and machines to drown out any outsidenoises. Many chronic illnesses could be reversed with proper diet andproper sleep entirely. Eating before bed may disrupt sleep becauseof the digestive process and eating a starch combined with a fat willdefinitely do so, and add weight! Strive to get 7 to 8 hours sleep andyou will have more energy and mental clarity during the day. Sleep,once again, is essential to a good functioning immune system. Yourbody must have consistency in its sleep pattern and if you have children,this will really help them stay well and be able to resist catchingillnesses from those they are around.Above all, from life experience, 36 years of marriage and parenting, aperson’s food habits will either help you stay well or hinder your goodhealth. Eat as many plant based foods as possible in your diet and farless processed empty type foods. Include lots of homemade vegetablesoups including LOTS of garlic and onions! Put on some old comedyshows and laugh a lot...it’s great for your health!