If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you probably know that I used to get sinus infections and bronchitis 3, 4, 5 times a year. I learned how to boost my immune system, and I started out with just one supplement someone told me about many many years ago. Cat’s Claw. It’s inexpensive, and it works. It doesn’t work today, or tomorrow, but I took it for months and noticed I stopped getting sick so much! It wasn't long after that I changed my diet, no refined sugars, gluten or dairy. That made my health better than it had ever been.
Do you need to boost your immune system?
How would you know if you did? Here’s a few things that might be happening:
- Chronic fatigue
- Recurrent colds/infections that are longer in duration
- Wounds that are slow to heal (even just a small cut that doesn’t heal quickly)
- Excessive allergies
- Dry itchy skin/eczema
- Chronic dry nose/eyes
- Digestive problems, including diarrhea, cramping, constipation
If you have any of these symptoms it’s time to do something about it! Here are a few great things you’ll need to do if you want your health to progress instead of regress.
Drink, Drink, Drink
Water, that is! Alcohol will depress your immune system. Water is H2Oxygen. Your body needs oxygen, and disease doesn’t like oxygen. Find out how much you should be drinking and do it. Remember, I’m talking water here!
Vitamin D
If you’re low in Vitamin D, you’re gonna have poor immune function. Here’s a great Vitamin D supplement that has helped us a ton. This one is a pretty high dose and got Chuck's D from around 15 to the upper numbers of normal rather quickly. Only do this with your health professional's supervision.
Fix Your Gut
Did you know 70-80% of your immune system is in your gut? Fix it! Probiotics are a great start, but are you going to the bathroom? Your body will thank you if you work on great bowel habits. I’ll be talking about THAT in a future post. I’m not talking about taking Metamucil or some sort of laxative to clean you out. I’m talking about getting the right nutrition. I was constipated most of my life and tried EVERYthing to stop it. When I met Natural Calm Magnesium, my life changed. And I’ve been a ton healthier. It also helps you relax and sleep better. Speaking of sleep....
Sleep
Are you getting restorative sleep? If not, you’re probably feeling pretty lousy. More sleep probably won’t stop you from getting sick, but skipping some zzzz’s could affect your immune system, making you susceptible to everything that comes down the pike. Studies show that people who don’t get enough sleep, or good quality sleep, are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus.The more sleep loss you have, the higher your levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) will be. CRP is a marker of inflammation and heart disease.
How much sleep? Most adults need 7-8 hours of good sleep each night. Teens need 9-10 and kids may need 10 or more.
Like what you’re reading? It’s from my class 28 Days to a Healthier You. You'll get lots of details on how to build your health, your nutrition, sleep and cleaning house!
Have you ever seen a functional doctor? I always wanted to go to one, but I never found one that took my insurance.
I went on a quest to find out if there was a functional doctor somewhere in Maryland, where I live, that would take my insurance. I don’t have the greatest insurance so I wasn’t hopeful.
However my niece found this doctor and absolutely loved her. And then I had two other people tell me that they loved her too. So I looked at my insurance and guess what? They tak...
Read more...I went on a quest to find out if there was a functional doctor somewhere in Maryland, where I live, that would take my insurance. I don’t have the greatest insurance so I wasn’t hopeful.
However my niece found this doctor and absolutely loved her. And then I had two other people tell me that they loved her too. So I looked at my insurance and guess what? They tak...
I remember being a wee little thing and my mom touching my knee and asking, "Does it hurt there?"
“Uh huh.”
She touched my big toe “does it hurt here?”
“Uh huh.”
She touched my shoulder “does it hurt here?”
“Uh huh.”
Then she touched the tip of my nose, and my face brightened! It didn’t hurt there!
We can all agree that no kid should have to be in pain all the time. But can you agree that adults shouldn’t have to be in pain all the time too?
“Uh huh.”
She touched my shoulder “does it hurt here?”
“Uh huh.”
Then she touched the tip of my nose, and my face brightened! It didn’t hurt there!
We can all agree that no kid should have to be in pain all the time. But can you agree that adults shouldn’t have to be in pain all the time too?
What a whirlwind week I had. After a car accident, the paperwork can be so time consuming. Plus, going to the chiropractor, and then finding another car. OMGoodness! So, this is late, but I've been thinking of you and wanted to share with you a few of my favorite recipes.
Happy Cooking!!
Which one of these recipes will you be trying soon?
Happy Cooking!!
🍤 𝙂𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝘿𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 (option), 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 (option), 𝙎𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙉𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨
This is amazing over rice, and you can make it without the butter at all if you want. Still it tastes unbelievable. I know it sounds like a lot of garlic, but it cooks up just delicious.
Wrap in lettuce leaves!
Sharri's Butternut Squash Soup
🥬 𝙂𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝘿𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙎𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙉𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨
My friend Sharri wrote this recipe out for me real quick a long time ago. It's a real keeper.
My friend Sharri wrote this recipe out for me real quick a long time ago. It's a real keeper.
Wash squash and cut it in half lengthwise.
Place cut side down in a baking dish lined with parchment paper
Cook at 350 until soft and slightly browned on the edged
Sautee 2 chopped onions in a little olive until they are well caramelized
Add a little butter (or oil), squash, and a bag of baby carrots, and let cook a little to pull flavors together
Cover with chicken stock and cook until carrots are done
Puree
Salt to taste
Enjoy, and see you next week!
Some of the worst headaches I’ve ever had were because of food. Caffeine withdrawal was the worst, but sugar detox is a close second. Do you have headaches?
I never thought much about food sensitivities and headaches until I married Chuck. He had migraine type headaches daily. We got him down to about two or three a month, but he was still suffering debilitating headaches every once in a while. Debilitating = laying in bed in a cool room with complete darkness and an icepack. I've never run away from a mystery, so I kept digging.
So I created....
If you’re struggling with what to cook for dinner this week, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s what I’m having. If I can't find the recipe online, I'll link to the cookbook I found it in. I get all the ingredients for all these meals at Trader Joes and Aldi. They just so happen to be in the same shopping center! Most everything comes from TJ's.
Macadamia Crusted Fish with Mango Coulis 🐟𝙂𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝘿𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙎𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙉𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨
This is one of my favorite recipes from Danielle Walker's Against All Grain cookbook. Nothing in that cookbook ever has failed, including cake!
I gained 3 pounds yesterday. Since 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of body fat, I know for sure it's not a calorie in calorie out thing. I would have had to eat over 10,000 calories! And that's laughable!
When I eat certain foods, my belly bloats so much I look pregnant. In fact, someone once told me that if you see someone with a big belly, and that's all that is big, then they probably have some food sensitivity.
When you eat foods you're sensitive to, it causes inflammation, raises cortisol, and raises insulin. This is how...
Well, last week was an interesting one for us. Monday, someone smashed our car. UGH. So I'm late on everything! And I didn't have a ton of time or energy to cook, so here's a few simple ones I chose to save my shoulder and neck.
Chuck made the first one (he doubled it), and the other ones were made in the Instant Pot. Seriously, I have to thank my good friend Stacey Brown for telling me to get over myself and get the Instant Pot. It's life changing.If you’re struggling with what to cook for dinner this week, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s what I’m having. If I can't find the recipe online, I'll link to the cookbook I found it in.
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
It's official, I'm addicted to Egg Roll in a Bowl. It's fast, easy and yummy! You can use any ground meat with this, and it works fantastically. We add fish sauce (this one is sugar free) and dragon sauce on top (please get that at Trader Joe's. It's much cheaper there). Additionally, I tend to scramble a few eggs in sesame oil and add it in at the end. De-lish!
Ribs from The Paleo Kitchen, Page 154
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
These ribs have never failed me, and I started cooking them in the Instant Pot for 25 minutes. Then I put it in the air fryer (I’m seriously addicted to this one, and so is Chuck--he's cooking all the time now!) for a bit to crisp up. Ah-mazing.
Coleslaw with ribs is so good. All I do is put a package of shredded cabbage, sliced almonds, and raisins in a big bowl, add some apple cider vinegar, and call it a day! One of our favorite meals.
There will be enough for leftovers.
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
I love how easy it is to put this meal together. And Chuck and I both love it so much! I'll probably be having it every week for a while, because it has turmeric in it, and that's been shown to reduce inflammation!
If you want to learn how to plan your own menu, click here.
If chocolate can make you happy, can some foods make you sad? I've found this to be true in my case, and I found out that of people who eliminate foods that they are sensitive to, 81% saw improvement in anxiety and depression!!
Some people say carbs make you happy, but this is...
Read more...Some people say carbs make you happy, but this is...
If you’re struggling with what to cook for dinner next week, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s what I’m having this week. If I can't find the recipe online, I'll link to the cookbook I found it in.
Baked Potatoes with Butter and Broccoli
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Sugar Free
I bought some huge Potatoes that took like 2 hours to bake!! But topping it with butter and broccoli is so yummy! No recipe for this needed. I rubbed the potatoes with butter, added Himalayan Salt, and wrapped it in foil after puncturing it all over with a fork. :)
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free
I found this recipe when researching food combining, and it looks amazing. Fried ginger? YESSS thank you. I'll let you know how it is, because it's a test recipe this week. If you use gluten free soy sauce, you'll be GF on this recipe as well.
I missed this recipe last week, and I tweaked it a ton! I just baked the salmon with salt and pepper and made this dressing to put it over greens. The fried ginger is to die for! Be careful, it's spicy. I added it to the dressing instead of garlic (Chuck is sensitive).
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
This was the fastest soup ever! I chopped up some breakfast sausage and threw it and onions in the Instant Pot, and once I added all the ingredients, 5 minutes in the pot! So fast. Chuck called it 4 stars out of 5. Definitely a keeper. Page 67 in the cookbook.
Balsamic Roast ChickenGluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
This is gonna be a simple "rub on oil and vinegar, salt and pepper, and throw it in the oven" kinda day, with some roasted veggies or a salad.
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
Oh dear, this is an amazing recipe that you're gonna savor and enjoy on a warm summer evening!
Hope these recipes make you as happy as they've made us!!
