Suggestions for Immune Support before Returning to School

1)  Create a healthy intestinal environment.  (Kefir, yogurt, fermented items, etc.)

2)  Vitamin C (at least 200mg for kids daily, 500mg for adults)
 

3)  Elderberry syrup for prevention and seasonal distress

4)  Cut out the sugar (and chemicals from processed foods)!
 

5)  Sleep! 

For more immunity tips, go here!

For an elderberry syrup recipe go here!

Immunity Pops for Good Health

Rama Pfeiffer, Founder of Freshly Grown

Used by permission

http://freshly-grown.com/immunity-pops/

It’s December right now, but I’ve officially decided popsicles are great all year round. Who doesn’t love popsicles, right? These particular popsicles are great for boosting immunity or for when you or your kiddos are already under the weather. They are packed full of hydrating and immunity boosting ingredients, plus they taste awesome. Win!

Immunity Pops

Ingredients

10 oz. coconut water

2 large oranges, juiced (should make about 5 oz.)

1 1/2 c. tart cherries (mine were frozen)

1/4th c. raw cranberries (optional, I happened to get these in my weekly box)

2 Tbs. crystalized ginger, chopped or 1 tsp. raw ginger, minced

2 Tbs. Elderberry syrup

2 Tbs. probiotics, powder form

1-1 1/2 Tbs. manuka honey or raw honey

Juice your oranges, they should make about 5 oz., then combine your orange juice with the 10 oz. of coconut water so the total liquid equals 15 oz. Add your liquid to a pitcher so it’s easy to pour. In a blender or food processor add the rest of the ingredients, pour some juice in so it has something to mix with and pulse or blend. Once ingredients are fully blended, you can add everything back into the pitcher. Pour your yummy immunity mixture into your Tovolo popsicle molds leaving a bit of room at the top. Freeze and enjoy. If you have any liquid left, it tastes like a nutrient-packed punch, so don’t hesitate to drink up! Cheers to immunity!

Coconut water = Hydration + Electrolytes
Raw Orange Juice = Vit. C
Tart Cherries + Cranberries = Antioxidants
Ginger = Antiviral, antibacterial, soothes stomach, combats inflammation
Elderberry Syrup = Antiviral, antibacterial, fights colds and flu
Probiotics = Beneficial gut bacteria that boosts our immune system and fights infection

Manuka Honey = Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal (in different medicinal class than raw honey if you want to really kick an illness and boost immunity, BUT raw honey will work if you don't have manuka on hand.  I highly recommend investing in manuka honey for your holistic medicine cabinet.  Treats a multitude of ailments.  Read more here

For the popsicle molds, I use these. They’re great. To see molds, please go to http://freshly-grown.com/immunity-pops/

Top Foods for Your Immune System: 11 Foods to Boost Your Immunity

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/06/immune-system-foods_n_1257903.html

Grandma was right -- nothing beats chicken soup for fending off sniffles. Not only does it provide the fluids needed to help fight off viruses, it's a powerful mucus stimulant so it helps clear nasal congestion as well as thin mucus. It's also thought to have a mild anti-inflammatory effect than can help ease cold symptoms. Keep some organic chicken stock on hand, because studies have found that even commercial soup is as effective as homemade.

                    

Chicken Noodle Soup:
Grandma was right -- nothing beats chicken soup for fending off sniffles. Not only does it provide the fluids needed to help fight off viruses, it's a powerful mucus stimulant so it helps clear nasal congestion as well as thin mucus. It's also thought to have a mild anti-inflammatory effect than can help ease cold symptoms. Keep some organic chicken stock on hand, because studies have found that even commercial soup is as effective as homemade.

Onion And Garlic:
If you want to punch up the healing power of your chicken soup -- or any other dish -- add plenty of garlic and onions. When combined, these flavorful healers contain numerous antiseptic and immunity boosting compounds. As an added plus, garlic helps to open clogged sinuses.

Mushrooms:
No herbal medicine cabinet should be without mushrooms. They increase the production of cytokines, which are cells that help fight off infection. They also contain polysaccharides, which are compounds that support the immune system. The most potent cold- and flu-fighting shrooms are shitake, maitake and reishi.

Citrus Fruits:
Citrus fruits contain hefty doses of powerhouse vitamin C. Studies have found that this antioxidant can reduce cold symptoms by 23 per cent, and all that's needed is just one to eight grams (1,000 to 8,000 milligrams) to do the trick. Besides citrus fruits, other foods that have high amounts of vitamin C include papaya, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts and red bell peppers.

Yogurt:
Studies have shown that eating a cup of low-fat yogurt each day can reduce your susceptibility to colds by 25 percent. The beneficial bacteria is Lactobacillus reuteri which has been found to block the replication of viruses that invade the body when we get sick. Not all brands have that particular bacteria, so check labels and be sure to go organic.

Immune-Boosting Supplements:
While yogurt is a great source of probiotics, some have more than others and we can really benefit by taking an additional supplement. Other immune-booster "musts" are vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acid.

Hot Tea:
Hot tea is soothing and a great home remedy, helping to thin mucus and ensure proper hydration. For added health benefit, sip green or black tea -- both are filled with flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants.

Ginger:
Ginger comes to the aid when we're sick in some powerful ways. Besides soothing a scratchy throat, it has chemicals called sesquiterpenes that target rhinoviruses -- which are the most common family of cold viruses -- as well as substances that help suppress coughing. Ginger is also a natural pain and fever reducer and a mild sedative so you -- ll feel more comfortable and be able to rest easier. Add a couple of tablespoons of shredded gingerroot to your tea, or make ginger tea (it comes in tea bags, but you can also simmer fresh sliced ginger to make a potent brew).

Honey:
Honey has numerous medicinal properties and because it coats your throat it is a natural way to soothe sore throats. It also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to help fight infections from viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Skip the common clover honey that you'll find in the supermarket as it has the lowest antioxidant level. Look for buckwheat honey, which has the highest. (A note of caution: never give honey to children under one years of age because their immune systems are not developed enough to ward off infantile botulism, which is carried in honey spores.)

Black Pepper
It's ironic that black pepper -- the spice best known for making you sneeze -- can ward off the sniffles. Black peppercorns are high in piperine, a compound known for its anti-fever and pain-relieving qualities.

Spices
Make recipes more flavorful with garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano -- while spicing things up, you'll also get an added kick of immune-busters, too.

3 Healing Soups

by Mao Shing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., PhD - http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mao-shing-ni-lac-dom-phd/3-healing-soups

The healing power of soup: something that both scientists and grandmothers can agree on. From helping you lose weight to warming you up from the inside out to boosting your immunity, soup is a winter staple that you shouldn’t be without.

 

An ancient Chinese proverb states that a good doctor uses food first, then resorts to medicine. A healing soup can be your first step in maintaining your health and preventing illness. When you slowly simmer foods over low heat, you gently leach out the energetic and therapeutic properties of the foods, preserving the nutritional value of the food and making it easier for your body to assimilate the nutrients.Here are soup suggestions that will keep you in tip-top shape all winter long.

 

1. Immune-Boosting Soup

Your immune system needs a lot of minerals to function properly and the typical Western diet does not always hit the mark. Keep in mind that boiling can destroy half of the vitamins found in vegetables, so cook soup over a low heat.

 

Simmer these ingredients for 30 minutes to 1 hour: cabbage, carrots, fresh ginger, onion, oregano, shiitake mushrooms (if dried, they must be soaked first), the seaweed of your choice, and any type of squash in chicken or vegetable stock. Cabbage can increase your body’s ability to fight infection, ginger supports healthy digestion, and seaweed cleanses the body. Shiitake mushrooms contain coumarin, polysaccharides and sterols, as well as vitamins and minerals that increase your immune function; the remaining ingredients promote general health and wellbeing. Eat this soup every other day to build a strong and healthy immune system.

 

2. Winter-Warmer Hearty Soup

You always want to eat for the season, and warm soup provides what the body craves in cold weather. When you simmer foods into a soup, you are adding a lot of what Chinese nutrition would call “warming energy” into the food. Warming foods to feature in your soups include: leeks, onions, turnips, spinach, kale, broccoli, quinoa, yams, squash, garlic, scallions, and parsley. As a spice, turmeric aids with circulation, a great boost against the cold weather.

 

3. Detoxifying Broth

As a liquid, soup is already helping you flush waste from your body. When you choose detoxifying ingredients, such as the ones featured in the recipe below, you are really treating your body to an internal cleanse. This broth supports the liver in detoxification, increases circulation, reduces inflammation, and replenishes your body with essential minerals.

 

Simmer the following detoxifying foods for 1 to 2 hours over a low flame: anise, brussels sprouts, cabbage, Swiss chard, cilantro, collards, dandelion, fennel, garlic, fresh ginger, kale, leeks, shiitake mushrooms, mustard greens, daikon radish, seaweed, turmeric, and watercress. Strain to drink as a broth, or if you prefer, leave the cut vegetables in tact and enjoy a bowl.

 

You can be very creative when making soup, and the above recipes are just guidelines. The sky is the limit, so feel free to play with the ingredients and methods. Note: It is always best to serve soups fresh – for each day it spends in the fridge, the therapeutic value decreases.

Super Immune-Building and Healing Spice Mix

Source unknown

Mix the following and store in an air-tight container:
3 tsp. ground Indian turmeric
3 tsp. ground cumin
3 tsp. ground Indian coriander
1 tsp. ground fennel
1 tsp. powdered ginger
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

Billie Bakhaski, a Heart to Heart subscriber adds this informative note:

This super immune building and healing spice mix is great starter for making "dal" (Indian lentils). 

It works in 2 steps: you boil your lentils in one pot till soft. You would put a little olive oil in the bottom of a second pot, to make the "tarka" (spice/flavor).  Add the spices and cook them till there's a little bit of sizzle.  Add a finely chopped onion and tomato (also chopped fine) and continue to cook until they cook down into paste. Add a clove or 2 of smashed garlic and a tablespoon of fresh grated ginger.  Cook just a little while longer; then add this entire mixture to the simmering lentils (once they're soft) and add salt to taste. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped cilantro

Typically this is eaten with rice or flat bread (a warmed pita is perfect).

Take care when handling turmeric...it is really difficult to get out of clothes.

Tips and Tidbits

Make Ahead Recipes are definitely a great time saving tip for Christmas, just as they were for Thanksgiving!  I was able to spend more time with our family last week when they were all here because of this time-saving tip!   

http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/p/desserts.html

Push Pins Help in Painting ~ While painting a stool for the smaller grandchildren to stand on while washing their hands, my husband stuck a push pin in the bottom of each of the four feet of the stool.  That enabled him to neatly paint all the way down to the bottom of each foot without making a mess.
 
A Great Mathematics Link ~ Mathematics ~ Thanks to Diana Bishop for sending this!

Winterize Your Home by making sure you have enough insulation.  Having insulation blown into your attic will pay off in not only your heating bills but also during the summer when your air conditioner is running.  Even if you don't have air conditioning, your home will stay cooler.  Check all your windows, and if you have storm windows, make sure they are secure.  Do an internet search for many more ideas on winterizing your home that could save you much more.  This is only a start!·         

Natural Immune Supporters - Oil of oregano capsules, echinacea, goldenseal root in capsule form and goldenseal tea.  The tea flavor is not bad after adding stevia, a natural sweetener, and it beats getting on an antibiotic from the drug store.