It’s that time of year. Colds and flu bugs run rampant as sales of NyQuil and Kleenex go through the roof. Ah, flu season. Are flu shots and excessive hand-washing really your only, or best, prevention? Here’s a list of my top strategies for boosting your internal army of bug fighters. With the right love and a little attention, your body’s own natural defenses will do a fabulous job of keeping you healthy and strong.

Digestion

Did you know that approximately 80% of your immune system lines your gut? That means the health of your immune system is intricately linked to how well you’re digesting your dinner.

:: Stimulate your digestive juices by incorporating the taste of bitter into your diet. An easy way to do this is to add bitter greens (endives, dandelion, arugula, and radicchio) to salads, stir-fries, and soups. You can also try some good old-fashioned bitters before dinner (you can find Urban Moonshine brand digestive bitters at Thrive Market).

:: Make sure your intestines are in great shape by incorporating probiotics into your diet. Probiotics are like super-powered housekeepers for the lining of your intestinal walls, keeping it in prime condition for maximum nutrient absorption. Try this recipe for cultured veggies or eat probiotic-rich foods like kefir, kombucha, and (plain!) yogurt. If you want to take it up a notch, I highly recommend the probiotic Megasporebiotic, which you can order by emailing us at order@eatnakedkitchen.com

Sugar

I know I’m like a broken record these days about the whole sugar thing, but it’s really a key piece to the nutritional puzzle for so many things that ail us. Sugar shuts down your immune system for up to several hours after eating it. It prevents those little macrophages from properly tackling bacteria. It’s a crime that so many cold and flu remedies are loaded with sugar.

:: Cut out the sweet stuff! If you feel that little tickle in the back of your throat, get diligent eliminating deserts (yes, even chocolate), the sugar in your coffee, and all sodas (steer clear of the sugar free varieties too – those artificial sweeteners have their own set of health hazards and you don’t want to go down that road)

:: No juice. Even orange juice. The only juice I’ll let in our house when it’s cold and flu season is a true green juice, and by “true” I mean a 4:1 ratio of vegetables to fruit or starchy vegetable, like this one. Fruit juice and even some veggie juices like carrot or beet have just as much sugar as soda even if it’s “natural” (excessive fructose is actually quite harmful to the body, but that’s the subject for another post). If you’re going to eat fruit, eat the whole thing with all the wonderful minerals and fibre that comes with it. Also, commercial juice is pasteurized (kills much of the nutritional value), all the fibre is gone, and what’s left is tasty sugary water. It’s a no-no.

Move that body

Exercise is a key component to keeping your body healthy. Particularly any exercise that involves bouncing. Your lymphatic system – the circulatory system for your immune system – doesn’t have the benefit of a heart to pump it around. It depends entirely on YOU moving your own body, and it really likes it when you bounce. So:

:: Go for a jog. Runners have some of the strongest immune systems because of all that bouncing and arm swinging. Or, if you don’t like to run, try some jumping jacks or skipping rope. But trust me, jogging is a lot easier.

:: Do some yoga. It’s not bouncing but it gets you into some wonderful positions and gets things moving. And breathing deeply with intention will help you get into your body, which is key for staying healthy.

:: Jump rope. This has become my favorite cardio workout. It’s harder than it sounds, you definitely move that lymph, and it’s a fabulous high-intensity workout.

Sleep

Your body only heals when you sleep. Read that again: your body ONLY heals when you sleep.

:: If you’re feeling a little under the weather, power down and let your body do what it needs to do to be well again. Don’t try to power through. That’ll only drag it out longer. Trust me.

:: If you’re in the prevention stage of the game, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. It’s winter. That means longer nights, shorter days. Our bodies naturally want more sleep. Give them that or they will take it in whatever way they can. So: nap, sleep in on weekends, go to bed earlier. Do whatever you need to do to get more sleep.

Water

Hydration is so important for every function in your body, not least of which is flushing out toxins. Drink up! Most of us aren’t drinking enough. (Interesting stat: the biggest nutritional deficiency in north America is water!)

:: Here’s an easy way to figure out how much water to drink: take your body weight in pounds, divide that number in two. That’s the minimum ounces of water you should be drinking daily, before anything caffeinated, alcoholic, or loaded with sugar (sugar dehydrates – did you know that?) So if you weigh 160lbs, you should be drinking 80oz of water daily. Bet that’s more than you thought.

Immune-boosting foods

Make sure your diet is filled with naturally immune-boosting foods. Here are some of the heavy hitters:

:: Bone broth – If you do nothing else on this list, add bone broth to your diet. It is truly liquid gold and one of the most nourishing, immune-boosting foods you can eat. I’ve written extensively about the benefits of bone broth and how to make it here. Drink it like tea, use it as a base for soups and stews, cook your grains in it… there are endless ways you can incorporate it into your daily routine.

:: Garlic & ginger – Handy that they make things taste so good, isn’t it? You can throw these two into anything from stir-fries, to soups, to sauces, salad dressings and teas.

:: Miso soup – This Japanese staple is an immune-boosting superpower. I make a nice hearty version.

:: Omega 3 fatty acids – Otherwise known as fish oil. Your gramma was right, this stuff is great for you. Make sure to get a brand that’s of the highest quality. My personal favorite is a capsule version (flavorless) by Biotics Research, but you would need to be  client to get access to them. A brand we give our kids and find effective is ProEFA-3.6.9 by Nordic Naturals, which you can get by emailing us at orders@eatnakedkitchen.com.

:: Dark leafy greens – Anything dark and leafy and green is very balancing to your system. You can eat them raw, steamed, lightly sautéed, or even roasted (see my Kale Chips recipe). Throw them into soups, add them to salads, drink them in a smoothie. The options are endless.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have long been known to have powerful immune-supportive properties. Here are a handful of my favorite oils and their uses:

:: Diffuse Immune Support  – this could be the single most effective thing you can do for your family this season. Immune Support oil is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon bark, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Ginger root, Nutmeg, Lemon, Orange, Red Mandarin, Thyme, Ajowan Seed and Oregano essential oils and a great way to support the immunity of anyone inhaling it at the time. Not to mention that it smells awesome. Here’s a recipe for an immune-supportive foot rub from my friend Lindsey at Homemade Mommy. I like to use the Immune Support essential oil blend mentioned above in this recipe.

:: Rub 2-3 drops of Thymus oil blend to the bottoms of your feet.  It’s a great blend to strengthen your immunity.

:: Purification essential oil is excellent for cleansing. Dilute it with some water in a spray bottle and spray it on your clothes before travel to protect you from those flying bug incubators, err…. I mean, airplanes.

Immune Boosting Gummies

All sweets are not made the same, particularly when they come from the Eat Naked household. Every year around the start of school and the fall and winter seasons, we start making gummies from The Ultimate Immune Boosting Gummy book. We make these gummies with grass-fed, pastured beef gelatin and fresh fruit or 100% fruit juice. Add some high quality supplements and you have not only a healthy snack but a real immune booster for you or your kids. We’ve put together a special “Back To School Survival Kit” just for those wanting to get started. It includes the Gummy book, gelatin, mixed ascorbate powder, and our favorite owl gummy mold. Shipping is free for those living in the US. Everything you need to start supporting strong immune systems simply and efficiently. Get the kit today!

If you do these things consistently at this time of year, you’ll be in great shape. If I left out your favorite immune-boosting strategy, post it here in the comments. I’d love to hear your ideas.

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