Tag: immune system

10 Tips for Cold and Flu Season

November 27th, 2012 by Paula Gallagher

Winter is around the corner and cold and flu season is in high gear. And who wants to be sick during the holidays? Not me! So here are some tips to help you keep the bugs away and stay healthy this season.

1. Vitamin D: Immune support is just one of the many benefits of vitamin D. Research has shown that if your vitamin D levels are low, your immune system suffers. Start with 1000mg per day and talk to your health care practitioner about getting your levels tested. You may need to take a lot more.

2. Sleep: Sleep may be the best treatment and prevention for cold and flu. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation suppresses the immune system – leading us to have a less than optimal fever response (fever is actually the body’s way of fighting infection), and less antibodies produced on exposure to these viruses. The result? Stronger symptoms and a longer duration of symptoms, compared to individuals who are getting adequate sleep. Continue reading “10 Tips for Cold and Flu Season”

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Fight the Flu with Veggies

November 23rd, 2011 by Paula Gallagher

A study in the journal Cell has found that eating broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can boost the immune system and help you fight off everyday bacteria and viruses.

Lab mice who skipped their veggies for 3 weeks suffered an 80% drop in the total number of protective immune cells.

So, along with these tips, adding a serving or two of veggies to your daily diet may be a good idea for the whole family.

 

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4 Tips for Healthy Kids: Back to School

September 26th, 2011 by Paula Gallagher

It’s back-to-school time. But homework isn’t the only thing your children will be bringing home. The spread of germs and viruses leading to colds and flu will probably make their way into your front door as well.

Children need to eat healthy foods and exercise every day to maintain good health, concentration and mood at home and at school. The following four steps are what I recommend to parents to prepare their children for a healthy start at school.

1. Sleep. If a child is trying to stay awake and it’s only 10 am, they are probably not getting enough sleep. Instill an early and consistent bed time. Continue reading “4 Tips for Healthy Kids: Back to School”

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Your Friends and…Your Health?

June 28th, 2011 by Debi Silber, The Mojo Coach

Take a look at your friends and I’ll tell you how you feel. It may sound crazy but the people we spend our time with give an inside view as to how we feel emotionally, mentally and even physically. For example, spend your time with negative, pessimistic and unhappy people and you’ll feel drained, spent and depleted. Spend your time with optimistic, happy, positive people and you’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Not only that, but chances are, the positive feelings you have from spending time with those people will carry over and impact both the people you speak with and the things you do long after a positive exchange is through.

If that weren’t reason enough to spend time with a more pleasant bunch, consider this. Rewarding and enriching relationships are good for your health! These types of relationships actually support and strengthen your immune system, which protects your body from breakdown and invasion. Negative relationships have been found to suppress and compromise your immune system, offering less protection and support against illness, even disease.

So with this in mind, steer clear of those “energy vampires” and go have a laugh with some fun friends! Your body and mind will benefit from it.

Are YOUR relationships good for your health? Comment and share!

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Support Your Immune System: L-Lysine

December 2nd, 2010 by Paula Gallagher

A healthy, balanced immune system is one that is able to quickly and effectively fight off infection and at the same time not overreact to irritations such as allergens or even your own body. Having the necessary nutrient reserves and avoiding foods and chemicals that suppress the immune system will support continued good health. Factors such as chronic stress, repeated use of antibiotics, environmental pollutants, and poor dietary and lifestyle habits greatly damage the immune system. As a result, healing capacity and the ability to defend against infection becomes weaker. Incorporating key nutrition elements will help to strengthen the body’s defenses.

One of those is  L-lysine. L-lysine is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced by the body. Lysine helps strengthen the immune system by adjusting body chemistry so it is less hospitable to foreign organisms and supports the body’s acid/alkaline balance. Its most common application is related to the herpes virus. Herpes viruses are dependent on the amino acid arginine for replication. Lysine counter-balances arginine (found in nuts, seeds, and meats), making it harder for herpes and other viruses to replicate. Lysine has been shown to prevent outbreaks and reduce the duration and severity of individual herpes outbreaks and other viral infections.

For more information, contact Village Green Apothecary at 1-800-869-9159

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    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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