Back to School Immune Boosting Tips

Keeping both our and our children’s immune systems in check is always a work in progress. Back-to-School season is a time to get back into routines, get back on track, and it is also a transitional time from summer into fall. This often means cold/and flu season! Immune system boosting doesn’t happen over night. It is something you need to work to support on a daily basis. Some children don’t need much more than whole foods, hydration and plenty of movement in order to thrive. Others are prone to infections, food sensitivities or cold and flus, especially during times of season change. We need to work to support our children and ourselves DAILY, because prevention is the best defense against unfriendly invaders. So here are some things – both foods and supplements – that you can add into your family’s everyday routine to help keep your immune systems in check and ready for action.

1. DRINK LEMON WATER– May seem simple, but drinking fresh lemon water everyday is the absolute best way to keep your pathways of elimination (Colon, Skin, Lungs, Kidneys and Lymph!) moving. I can’t stress enough how important water is to keeping your cells and your immune system in good working order. Water is a necessity for the optimal function of every single body system. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is the most alkalizing thing you can feed your body, helping to decrease inflammation.
2. Juice Plus – This 100% non-GMO WHOLE-FOODS supplement contains 30+ fruits and vegetables, and covers your requirements for Vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as increases folate, selenium and zinc intake, and so much more. Kids get this for FREE when you order for yourself, which means the whole family can be supported for one fee.
3. Probiotics – Recent studies have indicated that the health of your immune and digestive system are directly linked to the number of healthy bacteria living in your gut. Some of these bacteria’s (namely Bifidobacterium bifidum and acidophilus) help with the synthesis of B vitamins, like B12, which can directly effect your energy levels and make for a happy nervous system. These bacterial strains are also indicated in food digestion and help to inhibit the growth of unfriendly bacteria, such as salmonellae.
4. Vitamin D – supplementation is necessary in the winter season. It will have a profound effect on your immune system and it has been indicated that it may be involved in helping to prevent the flu. VITAMIN D3 supplements are most effective when taken in drop form. It is cost effective and painless to use. Just a few drops a day has proven to be effective. For children under 50lbs, take up to 1000iu/day. For children over 50lbs, take up to 2000iu/day. Adults should take up to 4000iu/day.
5. SAGE (fresh herb)– An anti-microbial herb, excellent for a sore throat, and gentle enough for children. It acts as an astringent to the tissue, meaning it will help to clear mucus.
6. GARLIC – Ancient and time tested, very effective remedy – anti-microbial and anti-fungal – it helps to break up mucus build up in the lungs. Garlic, along with its milder cousin, onion, has been indicated to actually slow the aging process, slow oxidative damage and boost the immune system.
7. GINGER – This herb has an affinity for the digestive tract, gets blood moving toward the gut to aid in the act of digestion and therefore, elimination.
8. RAW HONEY (not for babies under the age of 1) – natural sweetener – rich in amino acids, minerals, and it’s astringent. It can kill (bad) bacteria lingering in your gut. It is one of the best things for an upset stomach, and can soothe a sore belly.

SAGE-HONEY-LEMON ELIXIR

• 2 handfuls of fresh sage OR 2-3 quality sage tea bags
• 1-2 cloves of garlic OR 2 TBS of fresh grated ginger
• 1-3 tsp of raw honey (more if the child dislikes lemon)
• Juice of 1 lemon

Roughly chop or rip fresh sage and grated ginger and place in a 1-quart glass jar or bodum, fill it will boiling water and cover for 30 minutes. Add lemon juice and sweeten with honey. Excellent for kids feeling under the weather. Will kill any throat infection and is an excellent, gentle, effective anti-microbial.

Want to get those elimination pathways moving? Join our mailing list and receive the 21-Day Simplicious Smoothie Challenge – 21-days worth of new smoothie recipes. As a BONUS, I am also including my free e-book for 6 tips for lasting weight loss!

Stay tuned this week, as we will be launching Simplicity TV – which is a mini – informative web series about cutting through all the B.S around food, health and well being so that women, especially moms can learn how to transform their bodies and nourish their souls so they can feel healthy, happy and deeply fulfilled.

Want to read more from Jenn? Check out Jenn’s latest article from STRONG Fitness Magazine – including 3 recipes for antioxidant packed vegetarian meals.

References: 

Elson Haas MD, Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Celestial Arts, 2006

James Duke, CRC guide to Medicinal Use of Spices, CRC Press, 2003

Tiffany Wyse ND, Healthy Family’s Preventing the Cold & Flu, 01/20/15

Aviva Romm MD, Winterize Your Kids! Optimizing Health with Herbs, Diet and Common Sense, 01/20/15

Longmont Healing Art Clinic, 5 Pathways of Elimination, 03/28/15

Kim Ann Zimmerman, Lymphatic System: facts, functions, and disease,http://www.livescience.com/26983-lymphatic-system.html, 03/28/15