Food: The Center of Dis-Ease Control
/It’s Friday, the 13th and fear abounds. An invisible organism spreads insidiously into the air we breathe, onto surfaces and faces we can’t help but touch, and within living hosts. It persists, this virus, shape-shifting. Once recognized, it morphs again to prey effectively on vulnerable populations.
Typically, I pay little attention to news. Viruses are a part of our ecosystem, and weak immune systems are always their ideal target. But COVID-19 worldwide coverage, like the virus itself, is transforming media messages into panic and sending waves of fear. The subsequent apprehension in our brains and bodies escalates stress and futile actions, weakening our innate immunity.
Distress, isolation, and washing hands with soapy water is the central advice given to stop the spread of virus. There is no entity informing us about key personal choices to strengthen our immune systems – the key to controlling our health.
So, here’s a simple guide to immune-boosting habits and foods:
Sleep. If you wake up tired, you’re likely not sleeping enough (or well enough). Disordered sleep patterns are inextricably linked to immune-related illness, especially viruses.
Be active. Just enough, not too much and, ideally, outside. Over-exercising stresses our immune systems and under-exercising weakens it.
De-stress. Cultural stress makes us vulnerable to dis-ease. Commit 1-2 to eliminate daily worry and tension.
De-toxify. Get rid of everything that has a scent – candles, room fresheners, make-up, lotion, shampoo, laundry soap, cleaners. These are toxic and wreak havoc on your immune system.
Limit electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Seriously, turn off your phones and wifi at night. EMRs are particularly damaging to young people and the elderly, with unknown long-term effects on everyone.
Stop eating sugar and refined foods. Please, just stop. Nonfoods like soda, alcohol, energy drinks, “simple” syrups in coffee beverages and many packaged foods burden the body.
Consume immune-supportive food. I’ll keep it really simple: eating single-ingredient foods from nature is the key to boosting your immune system. For example…
The rainbow. Eat whole, colorful vegetables and fruits with every single meal and snack. The colors in veggies denote the food’s phytonutrients – active plant compounds (beta-carotene, lycopene, anthocyanins, etc.) that support the organs and systems of your body. Every color of earth-derived plants contains beneficial, immune-supportive nutrients, including anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories.
Healthy fats. Omega-3 fatty acids, fats from nuts and seeds, and pasture-raised (only) animal foods are touted for so many reasons including a whole host of immune-supportive nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, E, selenium and zinc, that protect against infections.
Gut integrity. The gut is our main protective barrier that keeps foreign invaders out. When functioning optimally, we are more resistant to viruses and diseases. Eat foods that support gut lining: bone broth (again, pasture-raised without antibiotics) and fermented foods containing probiotics (kefir, yogurt, kombucha and sauerkraut) to diversity bacteria.
Botanicals. Herbs, spices, roots, berries, hemp and other healing plants have been therapeutic since the beginning of time, because they work. By all means, add substance and flavor to your foods to increase potent immune benefits with ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, rosemary, thyme, elderberry and many herbal teas.
Healing foods are most effective when we simultaneously release lifestyle burdens. The science of disease is complex, yet human immunity against viruses is stronger when our bodies have the ingenious immune-supportive benefits of nature-made foods and plants.
If your health is complex, if you think you’re at high risk of acquiring COVID-19, and/or if you’d like more detailed, personalized nutrition advice for you and your family, please reach out to schedule a consultation.
REFERENCES
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757