Since this is the season for colds, coughs, the flu and whatever is out there, perhaps it would be a good time to learn how we can build/boost our immune systems to help us avoid these or at least minimize their effects. Besides a good night’s sleep and handling our stress, we should look at a few other ways we can prevent getting sick in the first place. (Then, let’s look at the role that specific herbs and formulas have in doing just that.)
Do you get frequent colds, suffer from any chronic infections like cold sores or genital herpes? Are you concerned about getting the flu? These occur when our immune system is weakened, and the most important thing you can do to stay well is to maintain a strong immune system. Since mind and emotions have a direct effect on our physical well being, we need to discover certain ways, especially during these holiday hectic times, to find something that calms us whether it be yoga, a trip to the gym, or maybe just realizing that we don’t have to spend money we don’t have. Love and compassion are still the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and others.
Now that we have solved the mind problem…really, that is the most difficult part…let’s look at some practical, doable, things we should be doing every day of our lives. What are you eating? We don’t have a check-engine light that warns us of imminent danger; yet, nutrition, or lack thereof, “is the most common cause of low immune function.” First, are you staying hydrated? Remember that the body is made up of 70% water and the brain even more. Perhaps your headache and fatigue has an easy, cheap solution. Notice that the figure said 70% WATER. That does not mean soda and some other beverages that actually create problems for the immune system.
We really are what we eat in many ways. Avoid processed foods and practice reading ingredients. If they include a list of long chemical words you have never heard of, it is best to leave them on the store shelf. If you have a moment, check your ramen noodle package or carton. A healthy diet consists of fresh fruit, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, grains and other high fiber foods, organic if possible, along with salmon and other lean meats on occasion. Know the source of your meat and dairy products and look for words like “grass fed,” “range free,” “no hormones or antibiotics,” etc. A word about sugar to the wise. An interesting statistic: In 1915 the average refined sugar consumption was about 15 to 20 pounds; today it is more than 130 pounds per person per year. Even the 39 grams of sugar in a can of regular Coke consumed regularly can suppress the immune system’s white blood cells and cause weight gain. Watching our sugar, the type of carbohydrates we consume, selecting quality and fresh foods, and doing our own meal preparation whenever possible will strengthen our immune system and result in a healthier mind and body.
Stay tuned. The next blog will discuss how certain botanical supplements will further support the immune system. Your best medicine cabinet truly is provided to you by Mother Nature herself, something the Chinese and other cultures have known for centuries. Knowing that your accessibility to wellness “drugs” is not limited by any health insurance plan should really help your mind relax…an important immune support in itself. Have a healthy, good day as you eat and drink more wisely.
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