Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Oliver Hale on Unsplash There are a few things that we keep rather close to us, but unfortunately we don’t clean them or change them regularly enough! A great example is your pillows and sheets. Pillows and Sheets Let’s be honest – most …
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that it’s definitely time to get your flu shot! We are just about in the full swing of flu season and taking precautions to …
With so many people coming down with the flu this time of year, we’re all trying everything we can to fight off the nasty virus. Of course, getting the flu shot is highly recommended, especially for the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with compromised immune systems. However, certain foods can also help decrease your risk of coming down with the virus. Here are some major immune boosting foods to help you get through this time of year.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great fall food, and they’re packed with Vitamin A, which helps fight off free radicals that can wreak havoc on your immune system.
Yogurt
Yogurt is full of healthy, natural probiotics, which help maintain the balance of healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal system and work to keep your immune system healthy and strong.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain a healthy serving of zinc, which strengthens your white blood cells and helps combat illness.
Tuna
Tuna fish is a great source of selenium, which helps protect cells from free-radical damage and boosts your natural immunity.
Green Tea
A hot cup of green tea can help soothe cold and flu symptoms when they’re already there, and green tea in any form has great antioxidant benefits that can help fight off illness.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/29/6-foods-that-help-fight-flu/
We are moving into the cold and flu season and the CDC is urging many of us to get this season’s flu vaccine. The reason for this is a higher mortality rate connected to cold weather and the flu. Yet most individuals do not realize that pneumonia is the big killer and that many deaths related to the flu actually occur because of a concomitant or secondary pneumonia infection.
Unfortunately in many recent seasons the best guess by experts has not always targeted the strains of influenza reaching our shores and spreading infection and although immunized, infection can still occur. The great news is that there is strong preventative action you can take to protect yourself from lung infection aka pneumonia – the real killer.
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPV) stimulates resistance to 23 out of 80 pneumococcal bacteria; the vast majority of pneumonia infections are caused by the 23 serotypes contained in the vaccine. The vaccine is injected into the body to stimulate the normal immune system to produce antibodies that are directed against pneumococcal bacteria. All adults over the age of 65 are candidates for the injection and it is usually given around September but it is not too late. Usually one dose of PPV is all that is needed. Yet in some circumstances a second shot is recommended for those over 65 who had their first dose when they were under 65, if five or more years have passed since the first dose. For more information on PPV contact the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-232-4636.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash When kids go back to school in the fall, the abundance of germs comes back, too. All it takes is one cough or sneeze in the classroom for the whole class to catch a cold! Besides sitting next to …
Sarah Comeau on Unsplash Whether you wear contacts for medical reasons or just to make a fashion statement, it’s pretty common knowledge that regular care for your contacts is important. Germs and other forms of bacteria can do permanent damage to your eyes, and even …
Aloe Vera, a well-known soothing herb, can be traced back to ancient cultures. In fact, this plant has played a major role in natural medicine for over 5,000 years! Aloe Vera is part of the lily family, Liliaceae, alongside garlic and onions, two foods also well-known for their great health benefits.
This soothing herb promotes health-boosting effects from the active constituents it provides – vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and more. Altogether, Aloe Vera offers around 200 nutritious ingredients! Most of the Aloe Vera leaf is filled with a clear, gel-type material, made up of around 99% water. When it comes to medicinal use, Aloe Vera can be used either on the skin or ingested in supplement form. Its soothing abilities for the skin may be the most well-known of its many benefits, but there are endless others you may not know about!
Vitamins & Minerals
Aloe Vera naturally contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, and Choline. It’s also a wonderful source of B-Vitamins, providing Vitamins B1, B2, B3 (Niacin), B6 and even Vitamin B12, which is found in very few plants. The plant also offers a whopping 20 minerals to help you reach optimal health, including Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Iron, Potassium and Copper.
Digestive Health
This soothing herb is great for your overall digestive health. It’s known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract, rid the body of unhealthy bacteria, and keep the healthy bacteria well-balanced. It works as an “adaptogen”, which means it enhances your body’s ability to adapt to external changes in the environment and better fight off infections. It levels out all the organs and systems in your body, adapting to these changes in order to provide whatever health benefits you need. For example, whether you are constipated or have diarrhea, Aloe Vera’s adaptogenic properties will help to even out the digestive process and relieve the issue.
Immune Health
The polysaccharides in Aloe Vera offer a fantastic boost for overall immunity; they stimulate the white blood cells, the cells in your immune system responsible for fighting viruses. Aloe Vera also has great antioxidant benefits, which help your body fight “free radicals”. Free radicals are damaging compounds your body creates naturally as a result of aging, or because of unhealthy lifestyle factors like poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise, etc.
Skin Health
Often used in cosmetics and other skincare products, Aloe Vera is widely known for its soothing effects on the skin. Since it is made up of over 99% water, it’s great for hydrating and smoothing your skin. Aloe Vera is also very effective in healing more harmful skin damage, including burns, cuts and wounds. It may also be used topically for bug bites and sunburns – keep this in mind during the summer months! Aloe Vera acts as an analgesic, or soothing agent for burns, cuts, bites and wounds. It also works as an antipruritic (helps prevent itching) and an astringent (allows body tissue to contract to help stop bleeding).
Fights Infections, Detoxifies the Body, and Reduces Inflammation
Aloe Vera’s health-boosting ingredients include a helpful lineup of substances that increase antimicrobial activity to fight off unhealthy bacteria, viruses and fungal infections. Aloe Vera also helps detoxify your system by absorbing toxins in your intestines when it moves through the digestive system, and it aids in inflammation reduction with ingredients like B-sisterole, which helps slow down the body’s inflammatory response.
Source: Top 12 Benefits of Aloe Vera