Immune System

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Winter Chai Smoothie Recipe

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Winter Chai Smoothie Recipe
  • 1 large banana
  • 1.5 cups milk - I like to use a coconut/hemp milk blend
  • 1-2 raw egg yolks (you can use the separated whites in a scramble)
  • 1 Tbs heaping nut butter - sunbutter, cashew or almond butter
  • 1 tsp chai spice blend:  30% cinnamon, 30% ginger, 15% nutmeg, 15% cardamom, 10% clove  (if you want to make it yourself, or just add a pinch of each.)

Add Ins:

  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 Tbs hydrolyzed collagen - collagen is great for joint health and reproductive health, high in amino acids that are difficult to find in other food sources.  Your hair, nails, skin, muscles and ligaments will thank you.
  • Cod Liver Oil - good source of vitamins A, D and K, as well as omega-3 fatty acids
  • 1 tsp ashwagandha powder - adaptogen herb that supports a healthy immune system
  • 1 Tbs pumpkin butter or puree, just because it's tasty
  • 1 tsp cacao nibs

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Natural Remedies for Colds & Flus

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Natural Remedies for Colds & Flus

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about cold & flu prevention, but lets face it, sometimes we get sick.  If you are like me and have a child in preschool, maybe it happens more often then you want to admit.  Here are some tips for bouncing back fast and fortified.  

·      Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant found in many foods, especially brightly colored fruits and vegetables.  It can greatly speed recovery from colds or flus.  In terms of supplementation, avoid synthetic ascorbic acid if possible in favor of mixed flavonoids or acerola powder.  (Vitamins are consistently better in their complex packages, rather than as an isolate.)

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Preparing the Immune System for Fall

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Preparing the Immune System for Fall

Lets start by clarifying one thing - the body does not have an immune system, the body is an immune system, many parts working together for continued health.  There are a lot of variables to consider – the lymphatic system, which is rich with white blood cells, the skin and mucous membranes, the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.  So, like with most things, Chinese medicine uses a “whole systems” approach to treatment.  You can use this approach yourself, by first thinking about what you can do for the health of your whole system: