Boosting Your Immune System

With the fear of swine flu running rampant, I’m sure, like me, you were reminded more than once how to properly wash your hands.  My hands are so chapped from the recommended 20 seconds of scrubbing, multiple times per day that it is painful to even write this post!  Just in case you missed this rousing lesson in hygiene, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website to learn how you too can become a hand washing pro.  Indeed proper hand washing is one of the best defenses against catching the swine flu, standard flu, or even the common cold, but what else can be done to protect our precious bodies against invaders?

  1. Eat your greens!  Alkalizing greens provide your body with blood building and cleansing chlorophyll, phytochemicals (think “fight-all-diseases”, cancer, osteoporosis and aging) along with nutrients needed for tissue repair.  Serve sauteed greens, onions and garlic over a piece of crusty bread or make a quick green smoothie!
  2. Speaking of garlic and onions…both contain high amounts of disease-fighting sulfur and are antiviral and antimicrobial.  Garlic, in particular, has been used medicinally for thousands of years to prevent and fight disease.  Found in the tombs of Pharaohs, it should also be found in the cabinets of our homes at all times!
  3. Eat brazil nuts!  Brazil nuts contain high amounts of the mineral selenium, which increase killer T cells.  I make brazil nut milk, when I can afford a little extra fat in my diet, by soaking 1 cup raw brazil nuts overnight then blending in a Vitamix with 4 cups of water, dash of sea salt and raw honey, agave, or stevia to taste.  Strain mixture in a bowl using a sieve or nut milk bag.  Other sources include: egg yolks, brown rice, sunflower seeds, molasses, and garlic.
  4. Up your inflammation and immune boosting omega 3s.  Some sources include:  Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, nuts, greens, eggs, and cold water fish.
  5. Sleep.  Adequate sleep allows the body to cleanse and detoxify the system and prepares the mind and body for the next onslaught of germs and toxins that will inevitably come our way.  Strive for 7-8 hrs per night.
  6. Drink immune boosting, antioxidant-rich green tea.  Green tea contains polyphenols that protect our cells against free radical damage.  In other words, it cleans out the bad stuff that causes disease in the first place.
  7. Spice up your life!  By spice, I mean, cinnamon and turmeric.  Both of these spices are antiviral and anti-inflammatory.  I include 1 tsp of cinnamon in my green smoothie or fresh apple juice and take a shot of water with 1 tsp of turmeric every morning.

Say Adiós swine flu!

Jillian Rose

2 thoughts on “Boosting Your Immune System

  1. Jillian
    Try typing—-it will be easier on your hands rather than writing.

    Thank you for all these fine healthy recipies

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