Immune diet
- Reduce/eliminate refined sugars (candy bars, cookies, white bread, sweets)
- Reduce/eliminate damaged fats (fried foods, margarine, heated vegetable oils such as canola & sunflower, excessive use of sauces, cheeses or “snack foods”). I recommend five types of fats to my clients: … Extra virgin Olive oil, organic Butter, and virgin organic Coconut oil, oil from deep sea fish such as sardines, salmon and tuna and Evening Primrose oil to provide essential fatty acids. Coconut oil and butter are suitable for higher temperature cooking but Olive oil is only OK to 100 degrees.
- Increase fresh fruits and yellow and orange vegetables. Shitake mushrooms are tonic to the immune system.
- Stop smoking. (Ask for my support on this)
- Make sure you have enough zinc rich foods in your diet. Good sources of zinc include: fish, meats, poultry, seafood and whole grains, beef liver, egg yolks, lamb chops, lima beans, liver, mushrooms, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sardines, and soybeans and wheat germ.
- Get plenty of rest, as rest is the main fuel for the immune system. Meditation is ideal. Feel fear but release it see it as an opportunity for growth. Forgiveness is the pathway to peace in the heart. Have the humility to drop your belief systems.
- Drink 2 litres of water a day (purified preferably)
- Remove or reduce coffee. Perhaps replace with dandelion coffee.
- Avoid getting sunburnt, healthy doses of sunshine are needed for adequate Vitamin D levels, morning sunlight is especially beneficial.
- Probiotics and good digestive function also support the immune system.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine Damp foods are said accumulate in the system and turn a nice healthy system into something sluggish Examples of damp foods are dairy products, wheat, excess meat, refined carbohydrate, pork, rich meats, roasted peanuts, bananas, processed foods, sugars, late night eating and over eating. Consequently, all these foods are a no-go area when it comes to gaining health with the help of traditional Chinese medicine. This means learning to regulate the intake of products which can prove harmful to the body over time by cutting out fast and processed foods and learning to recognize which foods can work with the body to nourish it. Also ensure there is no Damp in your living environment i.e. mould on walls etc
Beneficial foods for ‘drying dampness’ include celery, lettuce, pumpkin, alfalfa, turnip, adzuki beans, chamomile tea and pau d’arco tea. Exercise is also important for eliminating ‘Dampness’. Exercise also helps move lymphatic congestion. Do not exercise during an acute infection … now is the time to rest.
SLEEP
Getting enough sleep can support immunity by helping to reduce the risk of viruses & infection. Sleep boosts our immune function, supports body weight by balancing leptin hormones, provides energy levels for the day and is vital for our mental and physical health & wellbeing. Low levels of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and sleep deprivation can suppress our immune function. Lifestyle and food choices are dependent on us to get a quality nights sleep.
Good sleep hygiene requires consistent early nights before 10pm, no white light or screens at the very least 1-2 hour before bedtime. Avoid caffeine after 3pm and all fluids after 8:30pm. Enjoy early dinners to encourage healthy digestion before bedtime. Quiet time, reading or taking an essential oil bath, listening to soft music, meditation and deep breathing techniques to promote relaxation while reducing stress for a healthy immune response.
The immune system loves peace. Silence, bliss, Oneness … the pineal. Grace, receiving in intimacy, forgiveness… the heart. Self- love, private space to allow the healing waters of rest into… the adrenals.
Symbolic peace.
