Tag Archives: boost immune system

Boost Your Health and Immunity (Part 2)

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Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Twenty years ago, I went to a doctor for a wound that wasn’t healing. I explained that I was healthy and ate a lot of vegetables. He said to continue eating well and to also take Blackmore’s Bio Zinc (an Australian product. *Note: not to be taken if pregnant) as there wasn’t enough zinc in the soil. Within a few days I was healed. I was shocked. This really opened my eyes to the state of the food cultivation industry.

In this post I’ll highlight special health boosters, food, vitamins, supplements and amazing celery that can strengthen immunity and health. More health boosting factors can be found in the post “Boost Your Health and Immunity (Part 1)“.

In general, good, food-sourced supplementation can be helpful as a boost or if you have a deficiency and especially if there isn’t enough fresh fruit and vegetables around, but be careful if you’re pregnant, breast feeding, or on medication and check with your doctor first. Also, supplementation shouldn’t replace real food and should be done intermittently. Our intelligent and adaptable bodies could become less efficient at extracting the regular vitamins and minerals from food.

Avoid popping vitamins like candy. Some vitamins such as vitamin C will be excreted by the body if there’s an excess the body can’t use but other vitamins or minerals can be dangerous in excess, such as vitamin A.

Try to get food-derived vitamins if possible, but don’t worry if you can’t – studies have shown that lab-created vitamins will still help if there’s a deficiency.

Even now, all fruit and vegetables still have great benefits and such a complex mix of hundreds of compounds that work together in your body to nourish it, keep it working properly (elimination!) and keep it vibrant. Get organic, if you can. If you can’t, wash well.

Powerful everyday foods that boost health:

Fruit: oranges (can be acidic in body tissues – boost alkalinity with lemon juice taken at the same time), lemons, pears, pineapple, bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries (wild if possible), kiwis, acai berries

Vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bell peppers (more vitamin C than an orange!), seaweed (all types, provides iodine which many people lack, and helps remove heavy metals from body allowing the whole system to function better), alfalfa sprouts (considered an almost complete food due to its nutrient profile and density – grow your own in a jar!)

Wholegrains: quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, oats, spelt (an ancient form of wheat), brown rice (wholegrains contain nutrients in the “germ” that are great for both physical and mental health. Studies have shown that a lack of these in the diet is linked to depression. Pizza-addicted teenagers definitely need them!)

Nuts: almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts

Seeds: sesame seeds (especially black seeds), tahini (sesame paste), pepitas (pumpkin seeds – high in zinc), chia, flax (when I take flax oil daily, I really see the difference in my skin!), sunflower seeds

Oils: olive oil (best not cooked), coconut oil and sesame oil (withstand high cooking temperatures and can also be taken raw), fish oil

Fats: grass-fed butter in moderation (especially if you’re not getting enough sunlight – it contains vitamin D), avocados (packed with vitamins too!)

Spices: black pepper, thyme, curry powder, curcumin

Herbs are wonderful too! (And powerful, so check with your doctor for any medicine interactions.): garlic, cilantro, thyme, ginger, astragalus, lemon balm, echinacea (start now as it takes a while to become effective)

Super Supplementation: Look for standardized extracts that are food-sourced, if possible

  • Ester-C (is better absorbed and less acidic, otherwise use ascorbic acid – vitamin C). Getting enough C is important not only to reduce the length and severity of flu symptoms, but also “Vitamin C inhibits the excessive activation of the immune system to prevent tissue damage“. Why is this so important? As viruses such as Covid-19 do their damage, doctors are seeing patients having over-active immune responses where the body’s own immune system actually starts damaging tissues in the body thereby weakening the body further. Good effects are seen with dosages of 2-3 mg per day. (*Note: always check with your doctor first.) Also, slow-release forms or smaller dosages of 200 – 250 mg spread out through the day have been shown to have greater bioavailability (your body makes better use of it).
  • Quercetin (found especially in yellow onions)
  • Bio-Zinc (or zinc sulphate)
  • B12 (food-sourced or try the fabulous Vegemite! – but not for those on low-sodium diets)
  • American ginseng (In Asian medicine, ginseng can be “cooling” or “heating” to the body, so the type is chosen according to the individual’s current health condition. Since health is rooted in balance, you wouldn’t want a cooling ginseng if your body is “cool” (has too much yin – cold hands and body plus watery eyes are indications.) American ginseng is considered neutral, so it’s good for everyone. Best if used prior to feeling unwell, to strengthen body.
  • Astragalus Membranaceus (not other forms) general tonic, immune system booster
  • Elderberry (used for centuries to reduce flu symptoms – and less concentrated syrup form is available for kids)
  • Hawaiian spirulina (similar to seaweed in that it helps remove heavy metals from body, allowing the whole system to function better)

Celery Juice

My sister had a debilitating skin condition that appeared suddenly on her hands, face and body after taking multiple types of antibiotics for dental issues. After taking all kind of doctors’ prescriptions, she took celery juice, and it’s the only thing that helped to clear her skin: 16 oz of celery juice (not the fiber), on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, every morning. Wait 20 minutes before consuming anything else.

I was taken by surprise when I suddenly developed a similar condition. This came after my bout of prescription medications after giving birth to twins and hemorrhaging and subsequent hospitalizations. I went straight to celery juice, and I was so relieved. See the difference in the before and after below. (Bonus: my 18-month-old girls love it!)

Before and After 1 week

Special notes on food

Citrus: is best absorbed eaten alone. But adding lemon or lime to water or other drinks is still effective.

Fruits and vegetables: if you want to drink them, blend rather than juicing. Juicing takes out the fiber, some nutrients, and increases the sugar (fructose) content of each glass you drink. Too much sugar from any source can throw your body out of balance.

Refined (processed) foods: aren’t great for the body in general, however, if you’re sick wholegrains can be harder to digest and put strain on your system. This is why it’s recommended to eat things like plain crackers and noodles such as in a non-oily, chicken noodle soup.

Sugar isn’t evil: While it’s important not to consume too much in your daily diet, having a little something sweet after a meal – for example a couple of small chocolates – can actually help digestion and also boost your mood and sense of well-being. This in turn boosts your immune system!

Super Soups: The body and nutrition must be seen as a whole system and simply isolating ingredients or vitamins is short-sighted. Meals such as soups and stews are fabulous health boosters as their effects in the body are greater than the sum of their parts (individual ingredients). Vegetables, herbs and spices work together enhancing the absorption of vitamins and minerals, the foods are easier to digest, and the liquid is nutritious and hydrating. Pressure cooking is best for preserving nutrients.

Note on drinking water: an easy check to ensure you’re drinking enough water – if your urine is dark yellow or tea-colored then you’re not drinking enough water. If it’s clear or a pale yellow (straw) color then you’re drinking enough water.

Bonus Health booster: Alkalize your body! Stress, lack of sleep, too much acid foods such as wheat, grains, animal products (meat, eggs etc.) are acidic. Most pathogens and chronic illnesses thrive in an overly acidic body. Fresh fruit and vegetables (not canned or bottled) make us more alkaline. As an emergency boost, try taking half a teaspoon of (aluminum-free) baking soda in a glass of water a couple of times a day. It helps quickly alkalize the body. Athletes have used this to help speed muscle recovery after a strenuous workout or event. Just don’t depend on this – you need the nutrients in fruit and vegetables.

I sincerely hope that any, some, or all of this information will help you to get healthier and stay healthier. Being healthy not only helps fight viruses, diseases but also keeps you aging slowly and keeps you vibrant and happy! Mood and food go hand in hand.

Warm wishes to you and your loved ones.

Aloha,

Lara

Disclaimer
This blog, its content and any linked material are presented for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing. Nothing contained in or accessible from this blog should be considered to be medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing, or a promise of benefits, claim of cure, legal warranty, or guarantee of results to be achieved. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog or in any linked material. Neither Lara Palafox nor Mana Force Media is a medical doctor or other licensed healthcare practitioner or provider. Consult with a licensed healthcare professional before altering or discontinuing any current medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health condition that requires medical attention. The United States Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any statement, claim, or representation made in or accessible from this blog or any linked material. The content of this blog and any linked material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mana Force Media or the principal author and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up-to-date. This article may contain links to other resources on the Internet. These links are provided as citations and aids to help you identify and locate other Internet resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that Mana Force Media or the principal author recommends, endorses, supports, sponsors, or is in any way affiliated or associated with any person or entity associated with the linked material, or is legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the linked material.

Boost Your Health and Immunity (Part 1)

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T Lymphocyte of the immune System _Courtesy of NASA

What are you doing, right now, for your health? Even after the latest Corona virus is gone, it’s always extremely important to care for your health. If you’ve been putting off taking better care of your health, start doing it now. It’s not just the elderly, but according to Michael Osterholm (U.S. public-health scientist and infectious disease expert), younger people in their 40s, the obese, diabetics and more, are becoming seriously ill and dying. He also warns that this is not a “sprint” but a “long marathon”. The Corona virus has been around for a couple of months and the SARS (a less deadly pandemic – looking at death rate alone), wasn’t officially “contained” for 6 months). So what to do?

Do what you can, with what you have available, and what you’re capable of doing. There’s a lot of information (and misinformation) out there, so let’s cut to the most important points and keep in mind that the health of a human being lies in the strength of the whole being, not just taking care of one aspect.That’s why there will be two parts to this post, to cover a lot of ground. In the second part, I go into more detail about food, herbs, psychological and spiritual factors. But do what you can do now – and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money!

Let’s look at protection, then improving total physical health.

Protection

Firstly, preventing yourself from coming into contact with something that could make you sick, is ideal. Here is a list of simple but important things to do.

  • After being in public or touching public objects (doors, elevator buttons money etc.), wash hands up to the wrists thoroughly with mild soap and TEPID/COLD water for at least 20 seconds). Otherwise, use hand sanitizer with 60% – 80% alcohol rubbing hands until dry. (Hot water can weaken skin and open tiny fissures making it easier for organisms to penetrate.)
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth until you’ve cleaned your hands.
  • Whenever possible, avoid being in crowded public areas. (Go internet shopping and have food delivered from supermarkets!) Michael Osterholm (mentioned above) asserts that this virus can be spread even by those not showing symptoms, and it can be spread while they talk or even breathe – it’s that infectious. If possible, keep a distance of at least 6 feet from anyone who appears unwell.
  • Wear a mask if feeling unwell (WHO and CDC recommendation) The N95 type of respirator mask is more effective than the other simple paper masks. However, the regular paper mask does help to contain large droplets that are coughed or breathed out of a sick person. But is less effective in preventing a well person from getting infected.
  • If you sneeze, do it into a tissue and throw it away, or into your shirt or elbow. (Clean elbow/shirt as soon as possible. This not only prevents you infecting others but also prevents re-infecting yourself.
  • Fresh air is important for both the healthy and the sick. If you can only use an air-con where you are, make sure the filters are clean. A good flow of fresh air takes pathogens away from you (including the ones you exhale).

Improve Physical Health

Forget crazy diets that have you eating almost nothing or eating only food of a certain color, extreme cleansing or fasting. That only puts stress on your body. You want optimum health which means a fruit-and-vegetable rich, balanced diet. After researching, reading, and experimenting for decades and always staying up-to-date, this is what I’ve found to be extremely efficacious and way ahead of it’s time:

The C.A.R.E. guideline outlined by Dr. Harold Reilly directly obtained from the healing insights of Edgar Cayce:

C is for Circulation: Get your blood system and lymph system moving! Exercise, stretching, slow and deep breathing, massage, saunas, skin brushing, alternating hot/cold showers all work to improve your circulation. The heat is a big pump that needs exercise (walking is great) to keep strong and keep the blood flowing. The tiny capillaries under the skin are helped by brushing and massage. The lymph system (which doesn’t have a pump) requires muscle movement and massage to get it circulating properly. Circulation is vital for the removal of waste and toxins from the body, providing oxygen to cells and getting nutrients to where they need to go. Your lymph system is where waste products from the metabolism of food, dead cells, and invaders are gotten rid of.

A is for assimilation: This means getting your body to absorb the food. Yes, you may eat good food but how well are the nutrients being absorbed? Do you chew food thoroughly? Mastication is vital to break food into small enough particles – there’s only so much work your stomach acids can do, and people have varying amounts of enzymes and strengths of stomach acid available for digestion. According to Dr. D’Adamo this is the reason why some people can eat steak (stronger stomach acid) and feel energized, while others (with weaker stomach acid) feel sluggish. Digestion begins with the enzymes in the mouth – so chew, chew, chew!

  • Have you considered food combining? (See chart here.) Certain foods when eaten at the same time, prevent absorption of particular vitamins or make for digestive havoc. For example, fruit (which should be eaten alone on an empty stomach) ferments and creates a sour liquid that hinders good digestion.
  • Do you have a leaky gut? Many signs include constipation or diarrhea, IBS, inflammation, skin irritations and so much more. Celery juice (on an empty stomach), bone broth, and slippery elm bark – tea or capsules (on an empty stomach) are believed to be good healers for the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Do you drink water with your meal? You shouldn’t, as it will dilute the stomach acids necessary for breaking down food.
  • Do you eat fermented foods and/or take digestive enzymes? These help break down food and increase absorption of nutrients. Fermented foods increase good bacteria in the gut. Examples: sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, natto, kombucha. Digestive enzymes can be purchased relatively cheaply or can be found in raw, fresh food such as papaya and pineapple.

R is for relaxation: Your body and mind need rest. Get 8 hours of sleep. Nap if you have to, to give your body a chance to recover and heal. Your body is constantly fighting off invaders, processing food and functioning in so many ways that you don’t see. There are microbes in the air and all over your skin and in your body right now which are constantly being fought off – give your body the R&R it deserves. Relaxation for the mind is necessary too. Listen to soothing music, sit in nature (beach, mountain, pasture, forest, park) and do some daydreaming. Gentle exercise such as swimming and walking can help you with both circulation and relaxation – if you allow your mind to wander and not be stuck on your “To Do” list. Take time out from anything stressful in your life. Give yourself an appointed “No Stress Time Zone” even if it’s just for 10 minutes during your day.

E is for elimination: We are organisms that constantly cycle things in and out of our bodies. When we do this efficiently, our bodies are more comfortable and energized. Elimination of waste products is done through the bowels, skin, nose, breath and mouth. If you think that because you have regular bowel movements (constipation should be rectified immediately), your elimination is fine? Then it may surprise you to hear that there is more than likely still partially undigested food trapped and rotting in your intestines.

  • Bowels: At least 70% of your food should come from fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. This will give you insoluble and soluble fiber which, together with 8-10 glasses of water, will keep things moving. Taking senna once in a while can help move things along (don’t rely on this indefinitely). Psyllium husks are also a natural food-based way to do this. Occasional saline or coffee enemas are beneficial as is the gold standard eliminator – the colonic.
  • Skin, nose: sweating through exercise, saunas (don’t use if you have a heart condition or are pregnant), hot springs or even a hot bath (with Epsom salts is good). Be wary of going to communal saunas etc. at the moment though. You can do your own sauna at home by letting a hot shower run (close door and curtain). To save water you can sit naked next to a large bowl of steaming hot water and put a blanket or sheet towel over your head, covering your body and the bowl (like a teepee). This is a great respiratory cleanser. Add just a couple of drops of lemon balm, eucalyptus or tea tree oil to the water for extra purifying benefit. Saline spray for the nostrils has been shown to reduce symptoms of colds and flu. It helps to eliminate (pathogen-containing) mucus. The neti pot is used for this in India, but a cheaper way to get the same effects is by snorting from a tablespoon, water mixed with a little salt!
  • Breath: Breathing slowly and deeply is great for eliminating stale air and toxins from the lungs and body, as well as increasing circulation. Do this several times a day or as often as you remember. It does make a difference.
  • Mouth: brushing teeth, flossing, tongue scraping (yuck but good for you), or brush your tongue with a toothbrush (I prefer this), gargling with mouthwash or salt water all help eliminate bacteria, mucus and toxins.

The C.A.R.E. protocol is a comprehensive overview of the proper functioning of the body as a whole. Yes, we can learn what foods to eat that are nutritious (see my next post), but we need to know that they are being absorbed. Yes, we can learn about exercise, but what exercise is right for you and how much so your body isn’t under stress and your immunity weakened? (It depends upon your current fitness and overall health. For example don’t suddenly start running if you’re obese as it will put too much strain on your body. However, walking is great for everyone!)

It’s important to note that all of these little differences will add up to a large improvement in health in a short time and even greater improvements over a longer period of time. It’s surprising how great the body can feel when we start caring for it better!

Please take care of yourself.

Aloha,

Lara

Disclaimer
This blog, its content and any linked material are presented for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing. Nothing contained in or accessible from this blog should be considered to be medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing, or a promise of benefits, claim of cure, legal warranty, or guarantee of results to be achieved. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog or in any linked material. Neither Lara Palafox nor Mana Force Media is a medical doctor or other licensed healthcare practitioner or provider. Consult with a licensed healthcare professional before altering or discontinuing any current medications, treatment or care, or starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health condition that requires medical attention. The United States Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any statement, claim, or representation made in or accessible from this blog or any linked material. The content of this blog and any linked material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mana Force Media or the principal author and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up-to-date. This article may contain links to other resources on the Internet. These links are provided as citations and aids to help you identify and locate other Internet resources that may be of interest, and are not intended to state or imply that Mana Force Media or the principal author recommends, endorses, supports, sponsors, or is in any way affiliated or associated with any person or entity associated with the linked material, or is legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the linked material.