Cold and Flu “Season”

I say, “Season” because I don’t really believe it’s a season. Yes, many people get sick this time of year. Yes, there is a ready and willing nurse on every corner ready to give you the magic flu shot. Yes, your local drugstore will sell enough nightime-sniffling-sneezing-coughing-aching-stuffy nose-fever so you can rest medicine to choke a million horses over the next few months.

Ask your doctor if people can get the flu during other times of the year. The answer? Yes. That’s because “the flu” is always out there.  Furthermore, many people who get sick during “cold and flu season” do not have the actual flu. They likely have a cold, which is not protected by the flu shot in the first place. This graphic sums up my flu “season” theory:

It’s cold. We don’t go outside as often.

It’s the holiday season. We eat like crap.

It’s the holiday season. We are stressed.

It’s the holiday season. We don’t rest.

It’s the holiday season. We drive-thru instead of eating REAL FOOD.

So what do we do? We inject ourselves with a vaccine that isn’t really as effective as we like to think it is and cross our fingers that we don’t get sick in other ways. Keep in mind the flu vaccine does NOT protect against colds and stomach viruses.

You’re probably not sick because it’s cold and flu season. You’re probably sick because you aren’t taking time to care for yourself properly.

My point? You still have to do work, people.

A health immune system will do its job. A healthy immune system doesn’t just happen.  You have to help it along.

So, with that, I will give you my favorite suggestions to support your immune system this time of year:

1. TUMERIC!

It’s amazing stuff. Here’s an awesome blog post on it.

Not only is is amazing for your immune system, but if you DO get sick, its an awesome coughing therapy when mixed with warm honey and hot water.

2.) CUT THE SUGAR.

Sugar is the enemy of your immune system. 100 grams of sugar can suppress your immune system for 6-7 hours. One pumpkin spice latte has 49g. How many of you have the lemon pound cake too?  Add another 46g. Think about that for a second. You have just tanked your immune system for the next several hours of your day. Surrounded by people in a busy mall, perhaps. You know, where viruses live.

Keep in mind this does not apply to natural sweeteners like honey.

Also keep in mind I am NOT saying to use artificial sugar. That shiz will kill you. Really.

3.) EAT REAL FOOD

If your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize it as food, don’t eat it.

Quality protein. Green vegetables (fresh, not canned!), yummy fruits. Probiotic rich foods like raw milk or kefir, fermented foods, and apple cider vinegar.

Yes, it’s a busy time of year, which means you are more likely to drive through for something unhealthy. That said, it’s a busy time of year, which means you really don’t have time to be sick. Take the time to invest in your food.

I also want to say that it’s the holiday season and there should be some indulging going on. Have the latte. Have the poundcake, just not every day. Christmas is not complete without my mom’s hearty country breakfast. I’m not turning that down, but I’m also saving my cheat for that day and drinking kefir smoothies in the meantime.

4.) R & R

Rest and relaxation. They seem to be impossible this time of year. Make time for it.  Get plenty of sleep. Relax at the end of a long day. Make 20 minutes for some yoga or deep breathing. Read a book. Listen to music. Curl up on the couch with your blankie and sip hot tea. Figure out what calms you down, and pursue it.

5.) LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

You will be in contact with all kinds of fun bugs and viruses all winter. This means your body will be fighting them quite frequently. Feeling run down? Need a nap? Craving oranges? You might be pregnant. But you also might be fighting something and your body is asking for help. Listen and do as you’re told. Take the nap. Eat the oranges. Go to bed earlier. Your body is speaking to you and it’s your job to listen.

Look, I’m not a doctor, clearly. I may follow my own rules and still get sick. I’d rather err on the side of healthy though. Last year was the first year I was sick during the holidays in four or five years. I was eating horribly, stressing over a million things and not paying attention to how poorly I was treating myself. The result? The entire fam staying home on Christmas with a stomach virus. I’m determined to have a positive do-over this year. The thing is, I knew better. I KNOW better. This year I will do better.

Because I deserve better. You do too.

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

I have mentioned chia seeds more than once, I am sure, but today I am going to again.

I LOVE CHIA SEEDS.

Every day (usually for lunch) I have a smoothie. It is almost always the same.

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup raw milk kefir

1-2 tbsp coconut cream (excellent lymphatic system cleanser!)

A bit of coconut water, milk, or unsweetened almond milk to thin it out

2 TBSP melted coconut oil

1 TBSP of chia seeds.

I am super funny about textures, and even I can handle the chia in the smoothie. Reminds me of berry seeds so I am able to rationalize their presence.  😉

There are so many reasons to eat chia. Here are just a few:

Chia. Not just for crappy Christmas presents anymore.

Drink up!

Hey Good Lookin’! 5/31

So my naturopath has me on a few (read: tons of ) dietary restrictions right now until we figure out what is behind a slight metabolic issue I am having.  It’s not anything dramatic, but I don’t want it to become anything dramatic, so I abide by the rules and seek an answer.

The restrictions mean that I cannot have grains. At all. Very limited dairy. Plenty of protein. The hubs has a few extra restrictions for his issues, so dinners are very, very challenging for me to come up with. We have found that most GAPS diet recipes fit our needs. Sometimes a Paleo recipe works, but we are restricted on starchy veggies, so many paleo recipes are off limits to us. It has been a real struggle to find creative ways to make food taste good again.

It is probably why I didn’t blog for a bit. I didn’t have anything nice to say, and we all know what Mama said about that.

Now that I am starting to figure this thing out, I thought I would share what’s cookin’ in my kitchen these days. Every day looks much like the day before it, and so far I’m not tired of much (except meat and eggs…omg…) and I am adjusting nicely (read: reluctantly.)

I start my day with a Plantfusion protein shake. I am so incredibly tired of eggs, which is sad because I love eggs. I like the chocolate powder. I also like that it is soy, dairy, and gluten free. No weird garbage in it and all the protein is plant based.

Drink up!

It really does hold me over for quite a while, and gives me a good boost in the morning. I have only had one cup of coffee in the last 6 weeks, and I’m still upright. That says it all in my opinion.

After my shake (usually between 6 and 7am) I piddle around, and then do yoga.

About 10am, I’m starting to get really hungry again. It is at this time that I make kale chips.  If you haven’t made kale chips, they are super easy to make, and a much easier way to get kale into your body. I do not like the taste or texture of raw kale, unfortunately, but I will literally sit and eat an entire bundle of kale in chip form. No joke, I have 8 bundles of kale in my fridge right now and they wont make it to Wednesday.

Five easy steps…

Step 1: Gather your supplies. Olive oil (or whatever oil you like…just no canola or other nasty omega 6 oils.), sea salt, garlic powder, a bundle of kale, and a salad spinner, or some other way to dry it after you wash it, like, I dunno…a towel?

Step 2: Tear the kale of the stalks into 2-3 inch pieces. Rinse, rinse rinse, then spin or towel dry completely. If its still wet, they will steam and not turn into chips.

Step 3: Place dried kale into a bowl. In separate bowl, mix 2-3 tbsp of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a dash of garlic powder and mix. Drizzle over kale. Toss with your hands until all the leaves are coated.

Step 4: Spread leaves onto a cookie sheet as evenly as possible. Bake at 350* for about 15-20 minutes until edges are lightly browned and leaves are crisp.

Step 5: Eat them…and have dental floss handy.

I looooove me some kale chips.

About 1pm, my kale chips have worn off and I am ready to eat a serious meal. Or drink one, like I did yesterday. Usually I have a  raw kefir smoothie (Raw milk kefir, frozen strawberries, unsweetened coconut milk, coconut oil) or a couple scrambled eggs w/homemade salsa. We all know how I feel about eggs right now.

at least its not eggs.

Kids decided halfway through my smoothie making that they all wanted one, hence the extra ingredients at the top of the blender.  I ended up having a mesculin greens salad w/four little pieces of leftover chicken and a homemade vinaigrette with it. I used Bragg’s apple cider vinegar ($3.99 at Sprouts this week!) and the same awesome organic olive oil I use on the kale chips. 3.99 at grocery outlet…so stoked about that.

Dinner was…get ready for this…eggs. Kids had ground beef patties that my 9 yr old made w/shredded zucchini and herbs inside.  I just couldn’t do meat. The teensy bit of chicken in my salad was almost too much for me. Eggs were the lesser of two evils, it turns out. I roasted a small spaghetti squash, shredded out the “spaghetti” and made THESE “faux-tatoes” with my two fried eggs. They did not fool me, but at least I ate my veggies.

I may not be thrilled with everything I’m cookin’, but I am feeling pretty great. Can’t argue with that. I just finished my Plantfusion, so its off to yoga it up now.  Have a great weekend, gorgeous!

Interested in learning about Raw Milk??

I have mentioned raw milk several times in my posts. I am a firm believer in its benefits and have posted them before…

Today only, you can hear all about Raw Milk for free at the Healthy Life Summit going on at The Village Green Network.

Mark McAfee is basically the most amazing source for all things Raw Milk…and he is located in the very county I live in. Such a blessing to have them here!

Go HERE to listen for free! After today, it wont be free anymore!