By Debra Raybern, N.D., M.H., C.N.C.
It is time once again to get our bodies and homes in shape for the coming
cold and flu season. Building up our immune system and keeping our homes
germ free is the order of the day.
Our family follows these simple, yet extremely effective steps to strengthen
the immune system and protect ourselves not just from the flu, but coughs,
sore throats and the common cold.
FOOD Cold weather puts an added stain on the body by depleting necessary
nutrients. To give yourself an added boost, make the foundation of every
meal a healthy choice. Now, yes, I know that almost all of us will make
some exceptions to healthy eating, especially during the holidays cookies,
pies, and an assortment of holiday treats, but since sugar will slow down
the bodies overall metabolism and immune system response, you should keep
the sweets to a minimum and the healthy fresh fruits and vegetables high. A
large fresh salad makes a great addition to any meal. Winter fruits like
apples, citrus and pears are in season and make great snacks and are
naturally sweet.
A favorite all natural sweetener at our house is the Blue Agave Nectar from
Young Living (all agave¹s are not created equal). This golden liquid from the cactus is just as sweet as sugar in taste, but with a glycemic index of 11 beats even honey and maple syrup as a healthy alternative to sugar.
Add a clove or two of raw garlic to your salad for added protection against germs. Garlic is a well-known anti-viral and anti-bacterial herb. Are you into skipping meals? Well you shouldn¹t. When you need a meal on the go, try a green drink that you can make yourself with a juicer and fresh vegetables or add 1 heaping tablespoon of Juva Power to your favorite juice (or sprinkle on salads or vegetable dishes). For capsule green foods take
Vita Green. We even carry NingXia Red sample packs in our purse for a quick pick-me-up on the go. And now there is Balance Complete a great tasting power mix with 11 grams of fiber per serving and packed with
essential goodness.
ELIMINATION To help your body defend itself, it is important to be able to
get rid of accumulated waste and toxins. This is done primarily through the
intestinal tract. The colon often becomes over burdened during the cooler
months as we gravitate to the warming soups and stews that are void of
digestive enzymes and good fiber. Make it a habit to consume plenty of raw
high fiber foods daily, even with your hot meals. For maintaining good
bowel movements, add a capsule of Comfortone formula to heal and restore
proper bowel movement not a habit forming laxative, but rather all natural
herbs, enzymes and oils that clean and heal the intestinal tract. A little
DiGize on the belly does wonders for diarrhea and constipation. Balance
Complete¹s high fiber content helps you ³go² with ease I have pregnant
mom¹s drinking a Balance Complete shake to keep them from being constipated.
WATER Not much does a body better than fresh pure water. If you are still
drinking tap water STOP. Tests from municipal water supplies around the
country show toxins such as fecal matter, bacteria, prescription drug
residue, chemicals and much more are increasing at an alarming rate. At
least get a sink or pitcher style filter for your drinking, cooking and
teeth brushing water. Recent research has revealed that brushing your teeth
with an unsanitary toothbrush lengthens the time a person stays sick.
Studies also show a link between tooth and gum health and heart disease.
All the more reason to use a toothpaste with added essential oils,
Dentarome Plus or Ultra, or drop a bit of Thieves oil directly onto your
tooth brush for an exhilarating experience. Plus be sure to add Young
Living essential oils to your water.
AIR & ENVIRONMENT Our houses stay closed much of the cold season with
the heat or fireplace warming the home. Keeping things so tightly closed,
keeps the old stale air in for breathing and re-breathing. If someone is even
a little under the weather, the air they exhale will be full of germs, now out there for everyone else to breath. An essential oil diffuser with oils such
as lemon, eucalyptus, lime, orange, grapefruit, or blends like Purification, Citrus Fresh, Christmas Spirit, RC and Thieves, will help to kill airborne germs and keep the house smelling fresh.
*** We now have proof you can share The brochure 12 Essential Oils that
WIPE OUT Disease-Causing Bacteria, Molds and Viruses is available from ESP
in picks of ten for $ 12.95. What a wonderful way to share, loaded with
scientific documentation and a chart which identifies the most powerful of
the oils. Call 1-800-336-6308 and order today......
Be sure to take advantage of the not so cold days when the doors and windows
can be opened and swap the old air for some fresh air. How about the
counter tops in the kitchen and bathroom a virtual breeding and spreading
ground for germs! Not with Thieves Household cleaner, wipes and spray.
Carry the wipes or spray with you in your purse for door knobs, handles,
grocery cart handles, toilet sets and any surface hundreds of others may
touch with who knows what. Don¹t leave home without your Thieves Spray!
EXERCISE Get moving, just 20 to 30 minutes per day for at least three days
per week will get the blood moving, which helps carry away toxins and brings
proper nutrients to the cells. It also keeps the lymphatic vessels moving
out waste. Where there is good blood flow there will be no stagnation. A
stagnant pond breeds bacteria, algae and starves the water of oxygen with an
ultimate end of death. Don¹t let your blood become a stagnant swamp. A
brisk walk in the afternoon sun, work in the garden or yard - pulling,
planting, chopping, or if you prefer to stay indoors, put in an exercise
video and get moving!
SUPPLEMENTATION - Target your supplementation program to kill the germs and
support your immune system. Our family takes the following approach to
staying well.
1. We take a broad spectrum all natural multiple vitamin mineral supplement
with added enzymes and essential oils for greater absorption -True Source.
We also take Vita-Green an essential oil packed green food supplement
high protein, high energy chlorophyll formula to invigorate the cell. Sticky
cells can¹t receive nutrition or dump toxins. We start our day with a Balance
Complete shake. We also take Omega Blue - the world's best omega 3
supplement and Longevity capsules.
2. We drink the world¹s best antioxidant, NingXia Red to crush free radicals
in their tracts, and to boost the immune system. My office is getting
several testimonies daily about the incredible results people are getting
with this product. Tests by Brunswick Labs confirm there is NO other juice
or supplement on the market today that is better!!! We have committed to
drinking 4-6 ounces of NingXia Red per day for 6 months, then we figure we
can ³top off the tank² with an ounce or two daily. What a difference the
next 6 months will bring.
3. We daily take a variety of essential oils internally*. Thieves, Oregano,
Mt. Savory, Lemon and Frankincense are routinely part of our regimen, with
others added depending on the need. For viral conditions use Melissa, and
Ravensara. *Only use Young Living Essential Oils internally, no other brand!
4. We boost our immune system specifically from Thanksgiving to Valentines
day with a little extra help. Here are some choices:
ImmuneTune a super antioxidant complex is especially helpful at the first
sign of illness. Curcuminoids, essential oils, herbals, nutritionals, all
designed to stop the spread of illness within the body.
Exodus supercharged with essential oils, this botanical and nutritional
blend provides important immune system support.
ImmuPro chewable, power-packed immune stimulant with wolfberry, medicinal
mushrooms, essential oils.
5. We make sure we have Ledum for swollen glands and RC for chest
complaints.
For added protection against illness, apply a few drops of essential oil to
the bottom of the feet - ImmuPower, Oregano, Thieves, Peace & Calming, are
good choices.
While you do not need to take everything listed above, if you will equip
yourself now with some of these powerful illness fighters and start taking
the immune system boosters now then if the flu, the cough, cold or sore
throat comes into your house you can kick him out fast!!!!!
SO the choice is yours optimal health and wellness with a little
prevention or sickness and fatigue just taking a chance. Make good health a
priority as this year comes to an end, and on into the new year. As the old
saying goes An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.