Although winter is known as a time we are most susceptible
to getting sick and we often blame the cold weather for this, we may be more to
blame than we thought. As the temperature drops, it becomes more and more
tempting to curl up on the couch and eat comfort food all day. The problem with
this is that it renders us more sedentary and what we consider “comfort” foods
are not always the most nutritious choices. In addition, the holidays often
become excuses to make unhealthy choices as we consume more refined sugars and
alcohol.
If you’re one of the many people who seem to be prone to
getting sick, particularly during the cold season, you may want to reconsider
your winter habits. According to nutrition response testing, your body knows
what it needs and when it is deprived of these necessities, it acts out. This
will put your body in a state of acute stress, which will leave certain systems
of the body, such as the immune system, weaker.
Now that the holiday season is over, it’s time to own your
health and stop making up excuses. Nowadays, we’re so accustomed to seeking
quick fixes that fit into our hectic daily lives. However, when it comes to
your health, making a quick and easy isn’t always the path to take, especially
if you’re looking for long-term results.
There has been some controversy over whether or not the flu
vaccination is a beneficial option and while some believe it’s the only way to
avoid the flu, others believe that the risk of flu vaccines are not worth it
and seek to find other alternatives. The best way to prevent the flu, as well
as any virus, is to nourish the body with whole foods. Some of the best preventative
foods include healthy fats, such as omega-3s and monounsaturated, and
lacto-fermented food, such as all-natural yogurts. More importantly, it is
crucial to avoid any sugars or refines carbohydrates as they blunt the immune
response. Foods rich in fat-soluble vitamins work wonders for the immune
system. For example, cod liver oil, if taken every day, is a highly recommended
preventative whole food. It can also be used during time of illness, in which
case you would have to increase the serving size from about half a teaspoon per
day to 3 teaspoons per day.
Medical science has proven that good nutrition is the most
important factor in supporting the immune system. In fact, there are many
recent discoveries in the healing power of some whole foods and herbs. For
example, it has been established that protein malnutrition is related to many
immune diseases. Deficiency of high-quality protein, such as eggs and fish, may
lead to depletion of immune cells and inability of the body to make antibodies
against foreign invaders. In addition, the recommended amount of all vitamins
and minerals is necessary for your immune system to perform at its optimal.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend time calculating the amounts of each
vitamin in each of your meals. A diet rich in whole foods and very low in
processed foods should ensure that you’re getting what you need.
A telltale sign of malnutrition is frequent colds and other
immune-related ailments. In a way, getting sick is your body’s way of telling
you that all is not well and that you need to make some adjustments to your
diet. If you want to avoid the unpleasant virus or infection in the first
place, Nutrition Response Testing ™ (NRT), a study of how the different points on the surface of the body relate
to the state of health and to the flow of energy in each and every organ and
function of the body, uses your own body’s signals to determine what you
need. You can read more about NRT
on our website.
For more detailed information about the connection between
the immune system and nutrition, read the following article from the Journal of
Clinical Nutrition: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/66/2/460S.long
