Winter Warmers and Natural Immune Boosters

Here in Australia, we are well and truly in the thick of winter. We’ve been hitting record lows this last fornight, with temperatures all around the country being the coldest we have seen in decades!

Flus, colds and sore throats spread like wildfire in these conditions, and as such it is especially important to be aware of our health during the colder months. So in this article I would like to present to you a wonderful selection of ways to keep yourself warm, and your immune system strong this winter!

Pick three, four or more of these suggestions, and stick to them!

Firstly it makes sense to keep the body warm. Your immune cells work more efficiently at higher temperatures so having a couple of layers of clothing is good for trapping air in between and creating a warming thermal layer. Chinese medicine tells us to keep the kidneys warm so as not to lose our vital chi energy which can weaken our immune system.

Wearing a hat will stop a lot of heat being lost by your head

and wearing a scarf will help stop  bacteria and viral infections entering your  body.  Keep your hands and feet warm, too, or soon the rest of your body will too quickly feel cold.

Keep the body moving for cardio vascular fitness, so swimming or jogging is good. Skin brushing daily will improve blood and lymphatic circulation, help to boost general immunity as well as keep the extremities of your body warm.

Keep the body warm internally by eating warming foods, so you might think that it is great time to eat curries (and it is) but their warming effects wear off quickly. More gentle but longer lasting warming foods would include porridge oats for breakfast. Soups, stews and casseroles with garlic ginger; onions, barley and all winter root vegetables like swede and turnip.

Interestingly, raw foods are good because our body produces more heat when digesting raw foods then eating cooked foods. Eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes. The nutritional content that you receive from raw fruits and veggies is unparalleled.

Prevention magazine says a poor diet is a top factor in making us susceptible to illness and although an all-around healthy diet is crucial, these particular foods help us best flex our immunity muscles. Although there are a heap more delicious foods, it then lists the top five foods that give your body the best immunity:

• Beef

• Sweet potatoes

• Mushrooms

• Tea

• Yogurt

Suggested Recipes

Ginger tea is a great winter warmer and keeps the body warm for a while. Simply grate some fresh root ginger and, gently simmer for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink for an invigorating boost to the system.

For some more recipes to help naturally fight colds and flu, check out my article, ‘Sore Throats: Natural Remedies that Work‘.

It has been said that you can fight off a cold with a few cups of black or green tea a day which strengthens the immune system.

Tea is a great source of polyphenols. Polyphenols clean up free radicals which are damaging compounds that can hurt your DNA and accelerate aging, according tonutritionist Heidi Skolnik in an interview on Good Morning America. Antioxidants take care of the free radicals, and tea has more antioxidants per part than fruits and vegetables.

(In fact, tea is known to have a HUGE amount of health benefits. Just read my ‘What’s in a Cup of Tea‘ article for more info!)

If you’re not already, make sure to take a good quality multi mineral and vitamin supplement.

Drink plenty of freshly squeezed lemon juice which can be diluted with water or in teas, as well as salad dressings. This will go a long way in restoring acid-alkali balance, helping to in maintain the body’s internal “climate” at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments. Apple cider vinegar will do the same.

Drink plenty of water to avoid for healthy body systems to avoid dehydration.

Avoid caffeine and refined sugar. Caffeine robs your body of minerals and vitamins, and it dehydrates you. Nutritionists say refined sugar decreases energy levels, messes up weight distribution, weakens immunity and your ability to think clearly.

Nurture your soul with:

• Good times with friends.

• Express gratitude out loud for all of your blessings.

• Enjoy some healing mind-body energy treatments.

• Spend time in meditation or prayer.

For those still lucky enough to have bath in their home, you cannot beat a luxurious aromatherapeutic bath. Try 2 drops of jasmine and three drops of your favourite citrus essential oil and swirl in the bath with your body.

Any way that you can alleviate stress – do it! Your body responds to your emotions and it can easily manifest a cold and sore throat if you feel anxious.

Don’t hibernate indoors, the fresh air stimulates the thyroid gland and any exercise will release those feel good endorphins.

Nurture yourself with good quality sleep depending on your needs but that can be anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a night. In Chinese medicine they say that any hours of sleep before midnight are worth at least double of those after the witching hour strikes! What makes a good night’s sleep will depend on you personally but will between 6 to 10 hours.

Last but not least LAUGH!

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system.

Research results indicate that, after exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including:

• An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells.

• An increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There are many T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to “turn it up a notch.”

• An increase in the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections.

• An increase in gamma interferon, which tells various components of the immune system to “turn on.”

• An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the greatest quantity in body, as well as an increase in Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video; there also was a lingering effect that continued to show increased levels the next day.