Immune Health 2.0

Immune health is incredibly important during these times. Let’s take a look at what matters.

The Foundation of Immune Health is Gut Health. 

Why? Doctors and scientists agree that 75-85% of our immune system is in our gut. So what should we do to keep a strong immune system?

• use naturally sweet foods in place of sugar, as well as natural sweeteners like local raw honey, local raw maple syrup, (find local honey and syrup here), date paste, or coconut sugar

• reduce consumption of PUFAs or polyunsaturated fats. This was one of the first things I learned in 2014 when healing my thyroid. So much of our food is made with seed oils that are made with toxic and unhealthy processes. Use natural fats like grass-fed butter, avocado oil, coconut oil, lard, tallow, or ghee. 

• stay hydrated with spring or filtered water

• drink/use bone broth that has natural collagen or use a collagen powder supplement to strengthen the lining of your gut (you can also drink slippery elm bark tea for the same effect)

• manage stress by taking time for self-care because stress disrupts digestion and leads to other bodily dysfunction like your immune system not working (epsom salt bubble baths, walks outside, listening to music you love while folding clothes, getting a pedicure or massage, having a hot drink with a friend and catching up, or anything that makes you feel human)

• avoid alcohol and check out mocktails that actually IMPROVE your health and relax you.

If you take care of your gut, then you’ll take care of your overall health. Your immune system, hormone health, and virtually every system depends on the condition of your gut. Your digestion is responsible for breaking down nutrients and providing your body with raw materials for various processes. This has to be working first and foremost.

 

What About Prevention and Building Resilience in our Immune System in Other Ways? 

Because of how our lifestyles are, supplements, teas, and particular superfoods/drinks provide great ways to keep defenses strong and fill in dietary gaps.

• Any greens that you can eat or drink will keep your lungs strong. If you notice how greens look, they remind us of what trees or our lungs look like. That’s by design. Keep intake of greens up. Strive for organic to avoid GMOs, fertilizers, and other chemicals. If you don’t like eating or drinking greens, try a powder to put in a smoothie.

• Right now, it’s wise to incorporate teas into your daily routine like licorice root for respiratory health and echinaceafor immune support. I have used licorice root for years because it has supportive benefits not just for the immune system and respiratory system, but also helps kidney and adrenal function.

• If you are cautious with herbs due to autoimmune issues like Hashimoto’s, then try Reishi mushroom as a supplement, or try astragalus. Astragalus is good for anyone looking to build resilience, and especially helps people who tend to get sick often. It will prevent and protect. Here’s an astragalus tea that’s great. There are powders and supplements too.

• With the current “thing” happening, find an immune support supplement like this that contains quercetin, C, D, and zinc. The synergistic combo of these with the quercetin gets the vitamins into the cells of your body more efficiently.

• If you take a multi-vitamin, make sure it’s food and herb based. Synthetic vitamins are not biologically available to the body in the same way, and most of them crystallize in the intestines.

• If you want to look at more types of herbal preventatives and tinctures for both prevention and when symptoms do arise, you have to check out Earthley. By using that link, you will support a non-profit organization in Pennsylvania, Health Freedom PA, who works for people to have proper informed consent and freedom to make medical decisions for themselves and their loved ones. They are proud affiliates of Earthley, and love their wholesome and effective products. 

What If I Get Sick? What’s the Best Things to Do to Get Better?

• Healthy fluids without dyes, artificial ingredients, and other chemicals. Filtered or spring water, herbal teas as listed above, bone broth, and any cold-pressed FRESH green juices will help your recovery. 

• Increased vitamin D helps as well. It’s currently recommended to take 5,000 IU a day for prevention. If you’re sick, most people can take 10,000 IU each day of illness and feel a major difference in recovery. If the sun is out, sit directly in it for 15-20 minutes and let it hit your face. The sun not only makes your body generate vitamin D, but it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and restorative in many ways. 

• Stick with soups that have a bone broth base, or contain healthy greens. Incorporate gut-friendly foods like natural, full-fat  yogurt made with grass-fed milk or an alternative milk, rice of choice (great with broth), and smoothies with greens. For this time of year, the warm beverages and broths are great.

• If you’re having trouble breathing, using a table top nebulizer is a great way to increase oxygen levels. There are several protocols involving nebulizing nano silver or bio-active silver like Sovereign Silver. Dr. Mercola has recommended using 1 teaspoon of silver when nebulizing. Others recommend alternating every hour with silver and 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Many times you are given the option to add the food-grade 3% hydrogen peroxide to your purchase on Amazon and other retailers if you need some.

• Rest and delegate tasks. Give yourself a lot of grace and take it easy. You want to keep moving a little to keep circulation and lymph flowing. Use heat to help you. Hot bathes, red light therapy, massage, and hot showers. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. There are a lot of people who can help you, and those of us treating illness at the roots are truly in this together. 

From my heart,

Lindsay