Cold and flu season is in full force. Add in flying on planes with recycled air, stress about going back to work, kids going back to school and bringing home the latest bug, etc. and you've got yourself primed for getting sick. The best strategy for making it through winter without getting taken out is to ensure you're supporting your immune system all season long. If and when you do feel that tickle in the back of your throat, there are a handful of things you can do to fight off the cold before it takes hold, or at least reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. In this post, I give you with my top 8 immune-boosting and cold-fighting tips to get you through the next few months unscathed!
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Mushrooms are a delicious food to incorporate into your healthy diet. While button, cremini, portobello and oyster mushrooms are all great, there are a group of medicinal mushrooms that go above and beyond in terms of health benefits. These mushroom superfoods do amazing things for your brain, hormones, energy, mood and immune system so it's no wonder they're starting to pop up in coffee, tea, smoothies, elixirs, chocolate, etc. To learn more about these six special fungi, click the button below to be taken to my blog post at Hello Glow.
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I don't know about you guys but I think the flu shot is whack. I used to get it every year when I was younger but I've read some articles recently which suggest that it's actually not even that great at preventing the flu. In fact, a study at the University of Minnesota found that receiving a flu shot for one strain my contribute to a higher risk of contraction and severity from the flu of a different strain the following year. Additionally, I don't like the toxins that are in the vaccine. For example, Fluzone contains formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen. Yuck! No, thank you.
I am not trying to persuade you one way or another, just merely informing you of some of the risks associated with the flu vaccine, and giving you ways to boost your immunity during flu season with alternative methods! So let's get to it, shall we?
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I try to get to the farmer's market every Saturday morning. There is this guy there whose stall is always piled high with all these crazy looking mushrooms. I usually saunter over and have a bit of a gas bag, for no other reason than the fact that I like to tick the box on getting some face time in with the Fungi Man. I often walk away with maybe a handful of white buttons or perhaps some Swiss browns, without delving too far into the array of exotics he has on offer. This was primarily because I had no idea what to do with them...until it dawned on me that I could chuck them in a soup and not have to worry about the optimal cooking method for each variety. So, this past Saturday I got Mr. Mushroom to pack me a brown bag full of a little bit of everything and thus spawned this creamy and delicious mushroom soup.
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For anyone who knows me all, he/she is aware of the fact that I am on a fervent quest to heal my gut and sort out my digestion issues. I consider myself a pretty ardent person, so when I want something fixed, I use every tool in my toolbox to make it happen. I have been on this journey for quite some time now. Many stones have been unturned over the years, but I still can’t say with conviction that I have fully solved the mystery of my gastrointestinal tract. Having read many books, engaged in countless hours of personal research, consulted with conventional and alternative medicine doctors and practitioners, and spoken to anyone and everyone who happens upon my war path, I certainly have made some progress and am fairly confident with my theories. A deleterious combination of years on antibiotics and BC pills plus a high sugar / alcohol diet left me with an overgrowth of candida. Candida is actually a fungus (lovely!) which is a form of yeast. Everyone (even those steel gut lucky bastards!) is supposed to have a very small amount of the candida yeast in his/her mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and absorption but, when overproduced, candida breaks down the wall of the intestine causing Leaky Gut Syndrome (how delicious does that sound?). In Leaky Gut Sydrome, the “glue” between the cells that line the intestines is destroyed and spaces open up between the cells. With holes in the protective barrier, pieces of undigested food, microbes and toxins are able to slip through and into the body. The immune system responds and attacks these ‘foreign’ invaders causing food sensitivities to develop.
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Whether you're a snow bunny or a sun worshiper, we all feel the effects of the cold, heavy, damp, cloudy weather during winter in our bodies and minds. We spend less time outside getting sun on our skin and more time curled up under blankets in hibernation mode. This is completely natural considering the days are shorter and everything in winter slows down, including our bodies. As a particularly cold and dry person myself, I have to take extra care in winter to avoid further aggravation of these qualities and maintain my health. Even if you find that your body responds well to the colder temps outside, everyone can benefit from keeping an eye on these qualities to prevent colds, flu, sore throats, congestion, and other respiratory problems. The key to health in winter is ensuring the body’s lymphatic and circulatory systems are working efficiently. If you’re feeling a little less-than-awesome, try one or some of these winter remedies:
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