Load up on vitamins D and C (5 brussel sprouts have more vitamin C than an orange).
Antioxidants like zinc, iron, vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids help immune function. FYI: Zinc is considered a micro-nutrient to antioxidants.
Cut the sugar…eating 100g of sugar significantly hampers the ability of white blood cells to rev up to attack bacteria for at least 5 hours! (A sweetened yogurt can have from 12-22g of sugar)! Sugar intake should be lower than 49g per day.
Indulge in the flavor of the season: pumpkin! 1/2c. of pumpkin provides a daily dose of vitamin A…see our Powerful Pumpkin smoothie recipe below!
For an added bonus dose of nutrients, grab a wheat grass shot—1 per day will do. Because it contains all known minerals, is rich in protein, vitamins A, B, C, E and K--basically the nutritional equivalent of 5 pounds of raw organic veg! It also contains blood-boosting chlorophyll.
5. Last but not least, mentally slow down…meditate, journal, or clear your mind and your brain another way. Get that albatross off your back; breathe deeply, and be in your world as effortless and weightless as possible.
Note: Consult your physician before trying any of these remedies; if you are sick for more than 3-5 days, a visit to your physician will definitely be in order.
POWERFUL PUMPKIN SPICE SMOOTHIE*
½ c. canned pumpkin
½ c. unsweetened almond or rice milk
crushed ice (to taste)
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice or cinnamon
1 TBL ground flax seeds
1 scoop vanilla or plain protein powder, or 1 TBL any nut butter
1 TBL honey or ½ banana or 2 dates
blend and enjoy!
*recipe inspired by NASM's pumpkin smoothie
We also talked to Sinisa Rasberger, owner of Chicago Health Foods. Sinisa said he has been making this handy "COLD AND FLU" kit for over 15 years...and it really works! Follow the protocol in the kit and you will feel better in 48 hours. Here a description of the kit:
"COLD & FLU KIT"
Contents are:
Eldelberry: Eldelberry contains antioxidant flavonoids that protect cell walls against foreign substances.
Take 1 tablespoon every 3 hours. This interval is critical for quick recovery.
Pelargonium Sidoides: Clinically proven to relieve the cold symptoms and speed up recovery time.
Take 3 chewable tablets every 3 hours. This interval is critical for quick recovery.
Vitamin C with Rose Hips: Clinical studies show that intake greater than 200 mg. vitamin C per day reduced the duration and severity of common cold symptoms. Furthermore, separate clinical studies show that taking 500 mg. vitamin C per day reduces chances of getting a common cold by 50%.
Take 3 tablets per day during the cold and 1 per day as prevention
Also, Sinisa mentioned a critical item not in the kit...a 35 billion shelf stable probiotic with 8 critical strains and a prebiotic blend. "Probiotics - good bacteria are our first line of defense against cold and flu virus. The good bacteria lives in our mucus membrane and our digestive tract. Once someone sneezes near us, airborne virus lands in our mucus membrane and if we have a healthy probiotic flora, virus gets killed. If not, it multiplies inside our cells and our bodies get the high fever to combat the viral infection." Gross, but true!
I am heading over to Chicago Health Foods to buy a kit this weekend... just in case. Right now, Sinisa is offering a special to our blog readers: Simply print this post, or show him the post on your phone to receive the kit at only $34.99 (Regular price for the kit is $42.29). Enjoy...and stay well!