We celebrate Womens Health Week from May 10th to May 16th this year! Because we are right in the middle of Covid19, I thought we would touch on what we can do to support a healthy immune system! I know a few years ago when our family was having some health challenges, I dove deep into research and discovered how amazing our body responds to things that it was designed to know like food, fresh air, sunlight and staying hydrated.
But the most amazing thing I learned is that our gut houses 70% of the cells that make up your immune system! You might not connect digestive problems with allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease (chronic fatigue, acne IBS) mood disorders, autism, dementia and even cancer. Many diseases that seem like they are not related are actually caused by gut problems. Gut health literally affects your entire body! The balance of bacteria in our gut influences the balance of our immune system. As an example: an unbalanced bacterial flora with too many opportunistic pathogens can shift the immune system to an increased inflammatory state which is known as "leaky gut". So what can we do to have a healthy gut that will support a healthy immune system?
Add a good probiotic to your daily routine. Probiotics are living organisms that are found naturally in foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir. They are known as good or friendly bacteria as they compete for space and food against harmful bacteria and prevent them from settling in our gut.
Next, replace processed, canned or frozen foods with whole fresh foods. Locally grown produce or growing your own fruits and vegetables will ensure that you are getting the freshest and cleanest produce possible. It is recommended that we eat 10-13 servings of fruits and veggies everyday which is a hard thing to accomplish! So when a friend told me about powdered fruits and veggies, I thought "Now that is something that could use to assure that I was getting the variety everyday to support my immune system!" But once I saw the research behind it, I was convinced that this was exactly what I needed for the insurance that my family and I were getting a variety of 20 fruits and vegetables everyday.
Let’s talk about our meat selection. If you can purchase right from a local farm that is grass feed and without added antibiotics, it makes a difference in taste but also how our body will process it. The meat is much leaner than grain feed animals. It's also higher in key nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamins, and a beneficial fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that has been tied to improved immunity and anti-inflammation benefits.
Keeping our body hydrated is so important to boost our skin health and beauty. It also cushions the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues. It helps regulate body temperature and flushes body waste and helps maintain blood pressure just to mention a few benefits. So how much water should we be drinking daily? One half your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 150lbs, you should drink 75 ounces of water each day. Seems like a lot at first, but once you get into the habit of sipping throughout your day and replacing soda with water at your meals, you’ll be getting what you need in no time.
Just like you need to maintain your car, you should maintain your body with annual health screenings. Discovering an issue like a cyst, tumor, artery blockage and inflammation is best to find in the early stages before it becomes a symptom. We offer ultrasound screenings (https://uniqueultrasoundredlands.com/Health-Screening-Redlands.php) as well as thermography screening (https://uniqueultrasoundredlands.com/Thermography-thermal-imaging.php) and for Women’s health week, we are offering 25% off.
Lastly is exercise. Getting just 30 minutes everyday will not only help you manage your weight but it also keeps your bones and muscles strong, boosts your energy levels and mental health which improves your mood. Sometimes that is all we need is to get out in the fresh air and sunshine and take a walk to get rid of the blues and including the family is a nice way to teach your kids the benefits of exercise!
As women and moms we tend to be busy taking care of everyone's needs before our own. But let’s start now and make it a habit to take time to recharge your wellness. You owe it to yourself and your family!