We are entering what is called the “cold and flu season.” Boost your immune system in preparation and keep yourself healthy with these 3 steps:
1. Eat well. This is one of the simplest and best ways to keep your immune system strong. Did you know that one gram of sugar shuts down the immune system for 4 hours and most carbs will turn into sugar as soon as they start to digest in the stomach? Carbohydrates are necessary, of course, so find balance and limit or eliminate the simple carbs (corn syrup, table sugar, honey, candy, soft drinks, maple syrup, jams/jellies, fruit drinks, brown sugar, molasses) and eat more complex carbohydrates (green veggies, whole grains or sprouted grains, starchy veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and pumpkin, beans, lentils, peas).
2. Get enough B- Vitamins. Ever feel really tired ofter you eat? B-Vitamins turn carbohydrates into glucose for energy. If B-Vitamins are not present in our body’s to break down the carbs and protein, the body’s stored energy is used to try and break them down, thus zapping us of energy. B-Vitamins are water soluble, which means the body cannot store them and the excess will be flushed out through the urine. B-Vitamins should be replenished everyday either from foods high in B-Vitamins (broccoli, spinach, parsley, beets, turnips, mustard greens, asparagus, romaine lettuce, bell peppers, turnip greens, lentils, snapper, calf’s liver) or from a plant based supplement.
3. Detoxify every 6 months. Even if you do nothing else, detox. Detoxing the colon is the first step of any good detoxification program. The colon stores a lot of excess fecal matter that can be full of toxins. Most people have an average of 5 to 10 pounds of excess fecal matter and some have even more! When the intestines are clean, the rest of the body is then able to detoxify quicker and more efficiently. Detoxing is akin to getting rid of a virus’s food storage. Without all the toxins in the body there is nothing for the virus to live on and the immune system is able to get rid of it before it affects you.
Prevent yourself from getting a cold and the flu this season with a few simple changes. First, change your diet and cut out any foods with artificial ingredients, sugars, grains, or processed food. Second, add B-Vitamins to your daily diet. If you are unable to change the foods you eat then at least give your body the proper tools to break them down. Third, detoxify: don’t allow toxins to be stored in your body for viruses to use against you.
Here’s to your health and mine! Namaste.